Cristian Martinez remembered how terribly the 2015 Texas High School Powerlifting Association state meet ended.
Martinez, competing in the 132-pound division, bombed out. And Cristian vowed never to let that happen again.
During the 2016 state meet, Martinez recorded a silver-medal finish for Bowie. He hoisted 1,105 pounds, including a 440-pound squat at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.
“Cristian kept getting better and better at each meet each year,” said Bowie powerlifting coach Quentin Berend. “He’s an extremely gifted lifter, and he’s a competitor. He wants to be best because he’s so strong-willed.”
Martinez dedicated himself to powerlifting, giving up other sports in the process. He battled through back pain to claim the silver medal.
In the end, Martinez scored five points for Bowie – he finished behind Raymon Aranda of Seagraves (1,245 pounds).

Bowie’s Cristian Martinez, shown here competing at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association regional meet in Chico, was a state silver medalist in Class 3A at 132 pounds. (News file photo by Dani Blackburn)