By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net

For the first time this season, the Bowie High School girls’ powerlifting team won a meet championship on Saturday at the Nocona Invitational.
Bowie scored 29 points, which was six clear of Wichita Falls City View, which included winning three divisions.
Nocona’s girls also had a successful home meet with Lexi Towery claiming the 165-pound title with a three-lift combination of 645 pounds, and Deziray Graham and Jessica Vogel also had top-five finishes. Competitors must complete a squat, bench press and dead lift.
“I was really proud of all three girls,” Nocona head powerlifting coach Brandon Owen said. “Every one of them increased their weight totals, and Lexi won it, which was awesome.”
On the boys’ side, Bowie finished fourth as a team and Nocona’s Parker Marshall finally reached his target weight in lifts at 1,000 pounds.
“Parker lifted 1,000 pounds, which was his goal at the beginning of the season, so that was amazing for us, too,” Owen added.
Bowie head powerlifting coach Quentin Berend also had plenty of reasons to smile.
“All the Bowie lifters had a great day, and they just keep strengthening their regional standings,” Berend said. “The girls had a phenomenal day winning the meet with three first-place finishers and a best lifter award.
“Now we will be gaining strength in the next few weeks, and getting ready for the regional meet,” Berend added.
The regional meets are set with the girls on Feb. 28 at Whitesboro and the boys’ competition at Chico on March 6.
Kylie Robinson was the best girls’ lightweight lifter, the third time this season she has claimed such an honor. Read more, and see team standings, in the mid-week Bowie News.

Nocona’s Lexi Towery performs in the dead lift during Saturday’s Nocona Invitational powerlifting meet at Nocona Middle School. Towery won the 165-pound weight class. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)