Apaches win own powerlifting meet

As Gonzales lifter Josh Estrada prepared for his final attempt on the deadlift, he had a brief talk with coach Lanny Wilson.

"Coach Wilson told me that after the meet, he wasn't going to be around for the rest of the season, but to keep doing what I do and working hard," Estrada said.

Estrada had a successful lift as he won the 114-lb weight class to help the Apaches win the team championship at the Third Annual Apache Invitational Thursday at Gonzales High School. Wilson, Gonzales' head powerlifting coach, accepted the head football coach position at Harlingen South last week and will start his new job this week.

"Coach Wilson helped me improve as a lifter," Estrada said. "He did a lot for us. I'm happy for his new opportunity, but he will be missed."

Estrada wasn't the only lifter who expressed gratitude for Wilson. Daniel Rivera also had his take on Wilson.

"Coach Wilson knew powerlifting," Rivera said. "He made us stronger not just in powerlifting, but also in football. I went from a 350-lb squat to a 480."

Gonzales won its second powerlifting meet in three tries. The Apaches recorded 54 points, which included four first-place finishes, four second-places and a third-place.

In addition to Estrada's gold medal in the 114-lb class with 795 total pounds, D.J. Gonzales (165-lb, 1,045), Zack Lopez (181-lb, 1,165) and Landon Lock (198-lb, 1,465) won their weight classes. Rivera (181-lb, 1,120), Hunter Noack (198-lb, 1,265), Zach Perez-Clack (275-lb, 1,360) and Cody Jurek (Super Heavyweight, 1,260) finished second in their respective weight classes, while Dalton Couch (123-lb, 700) took third in his class.

Gonzales had a "Black" team as well. Gonzales-Black finished sixth with 8 points, and a pair of third-place finishers in Brian Dolezal (275-lb, 1,075) and Tyler Filla (Super Heavyweight, 910).

Nixon-Smiley also participated in the Apache Invitational. The Mustangs finished fifth in the team standings with 16 points, which included a pair of first-place finishers in Miguel Hernandez (132-lb, 960) and Jacob Perez (148-lb, 1,065).

"I push myself in every workout, and try to increase my weights in each practice," Hernandez said. "I have to keep improving."

Both Hernandez and Perez are gunning for big performances in the Region 5-Division III Meet on March 10 in Kingsville. Perez not only wants to do well in the region meet, he wants to take it a little further.

"I'm working for state," Perez said.

The Region 5-II Meet also will take place March 10 in Kingsville.

Girls

With a pair of first-place finishes, one runner-up and a third-place finish, the Gonzales girls powerlifting team placed third with 24 points at the Apache Invitational Thursday. The Lady Apaches finished behind Elgin (52 points) and Lockhart (32), respectively.

Laci Lock (132-lb, 615) and Elea Molina (165-lb, 750) won their weight classes, while Alexis Cerda (132-lb, 535) took second in her weight class, and Pilar Hood (165-lb, 615) finished third in her class. Gonzales has its region meet March 3 in Corpus Christi.