FRISCO – One Lady Duck showed her strength, and became the most powerful competitor in the state.
The Taylor Lady Ducks traveled to the Comerica Center in Frisco, to compete in the state championship meet where one competitor walked away state champion.
Analise Frais lifted 1,190 pounds in the 259 and over weight class, which made her the best lifter in the state in 4A.
Frais had a dominant run this season, consistently being in the top three at every meet she competed in. There was only one way for her season to end, and that was by being named the state champion.
“From the beginning of our season last October, Analise said she was going to win state and never faltered from that expectation despite having to chase big numbers all season,” Lady Ducks head powerlifting coach Raegan Miller said.
Frias had some competition at the top of the leaderboard as she was only 25 pounds ahead of the second-place finisher.
Frias was able to push past her limits and dig deep to find the extra strength to push her over the edge to claim first place.
Miller said Frias fought to get to the top of the mountain all season long and it came down to the last deadlift attempt that she nailed. With the state championship won, the Lady Ducks began celebrating with their teammate for her accomplishment.
“On Friday, Ana and the whole team gleamed with pride, huge smiles and happy tears in their eyes when they saw the judges give her three white lights to get her the gold medal,” Miller said. “Thay all won that day.”
Joining Frias in the 259 and over weight class was teammate Sophia Plonka, who finished in the top 10. Plonka lifted 955 pounds to earn ninth place in the leaderboard.
The Lady Ducks also had strong showings in the 148-weight class and the 220-weight class with Ri’Queleigh Holmes-Grant and Krista Randing competing in those respective weight classes. Holmes-Grant would take home 12th place lifting 820 pounds, while Randing took eighth lifting 900 pounds.
Miller said this was a fantastic experience for her team, and enjoyed that the athletes not competing that showed up to help her coach.
“The atmosphere in Comerica Center was a whole lot of fun to be a part of, and their goals were met and exceeded,” Miller said. “All the four girls who competed, the two who tagged along to assistant coach, and myself would all agree that Friday was a good, good meet day.”
With the season in the books, the Lady Ducks have a lot of momentum to build off of heading into next season where they will be looking to be back at the State meet and leaving with more hardware.
