DUBLIN – The Taylor Lady Ducks powerlifting team competed in the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association 4A-D1 Region 2 Championships on Friday, Mar. 3, and finished in third place as a team.
The Lady Ducks finished the meet with five medalists and four state qualifiers, but while they had some strong victories, they also had some tough losses.
“It was a day any team would dream to have at regionals, but I wish I could say it wasn’t filled with some heartache too. Regionals is tough,” Lady Ducks head coach Raegan Miller said. “The pressure to perform is very real. We had some phenomenal victories Friday, but also had some really hard-fought losses.”
In the 114-weight class, Zoe Moore got the Lady Ducks started with a fifth-place finish. Moore’s performance set up another solid performance from Vanessa Diaz in the 123-weight class.
Diaz finished in 10th place for the Lady Ducks, but as a team they were just getting started. As the 148-weigth class got under way, the Lady Ducks found themselves in the top three for the first time at this meet.
Ri’Queleigh Holmes-Grant finished in second place for the Taylor after lifting a total of 810 pounds. Her performance was so strong that she ended up qualifying for the state meet.
Close behind Holmes-Grant were teammates Eliana Aleman and Karina Albavera-Hall who finished in eighth and 10th place respectively. They may not have finished as high as Holmes-Grant, but their performances helped the Lady Ducks as a team claim third place at the meet.
Miller said she knows not everyone can compete at the state meet, but she is very proud of her group for what they have accomplished this season. Even though they did not all make it to the state meet, Miller said she knows her athletes competed until the very end.
“I love being able to watch them celebrate the victories, but also grow through adversity. I’m so proud of the strength they have gained physically this season, but most proud of their growth in character,” Miller said.
Next up was the 220-weigth class, where Krista Randig earned a first-place finish for her team. Randig lifted 820 pounds and also qualified for state, and it set up a dominate performance in the 259 and over-weight class.
Analise Frais and Sophia Plonka each earned first and second place respectively with both qualifying for the state meet. Frais lifted a total of 1,150 pounds, which included a 300pound bench press, which also earned her the Outstanding Lifter award.
Plonka was close behind Frais lifting a total of 915 pounds to earn second place in the same weight class.
“We hold ourselves to a high standard and have even greater expectations, so it enhances those emotions that come with both of those outcomes. I love that they compete so passionately,” Miller said.
The Lady Ducks now set their sights on the State Powerlifting meet which will be held in Frisco, March. 15-18, where the Lady Ducks will try to win their ultimate prize.
