The boy’s state powerlifting meet was last week on March 21-22 and Bowie and Nocona had three athletes competing.
Only one was able to complete all three lifts and place within his weight class while the other two unfortunately did not, or bombed out.
Nocona’s Mathew Johnson competed in division four in the 275 pound weight class. The senior was competing in his last meet. It was a long shot for Johnson to bump up into the top five to earn a medal, but he gave himself a good chance to.
Johnson set a season record on both squat and bench press, squatting 540 and bench pressing 405 pounds. His deadlift of 580 was 10 pounds less than his previous high. Still, his deadlift was the fifth highest in his weight class.
His 1,525 total pounds lifted was 30 pounds higher than his season high. It was good enough to place Johnson seventh in his weight class out of 13 lifters. He was 60 pounds away from fifth place which would have gotten him a medal, but the senior could go away happy with new personal records on two of the three lifts.
Unfortunately, Bowie lifters Jorge De Leon and Robert Zambrano did not have as good of a day. Both competed in the division three meet. Zambrano was making his second appearance at the state meet after qualifying last year. He competed in the 148 weight class while De Leon competed in the 308 class.
Both had set regional records in their weight classes in the squat, which is the first lift in the event. Both knew they would have to equal or do better than those lifts if they wanted a chance of finishing in the top five and getting a medal.
Unfortunately, neither were able to complete a squat in their three attempts. Their contest was over after bombing out.

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