Breckenridge Texan

By Alex Kielar/Breckenridge Texan

Breckenridge’s powerlifting program will once again be well-represented on the state stage, as the Buckaroos and Lady Bucks combined to qualify 11 lifters for the upcoming state meets – matching the program’s totals from a year ago despite graduating several top performers.

Head coach Jarrod Shepperd said the consistency speaks volumes about the resilience and determination of this year’s group.

Lady Bucks Send Eight to State After Strong Home Showing

The Lady Bucks matched last year’s total with eight state qualifiers, despite graduating three of last season’s state-bound lifters – Joni Jackson, Maria Duran and Cabel Perkins. Several new faces stepped up, including Collum Perkins, who delivered one of the standout performances of the regional meet.

“Collum Perkins had a heck of a regional meet,” Shepperd said. “She really rose to the moment.”

At the Region 6 3A-D1 competition, Perkins placed second in the 123-pound weight class with a total weight of 650 pounds, added up from her 250-pound squat, 160-pound bench press and 240-pound deadlift.

The Lady Bucks won the regional meet as a team, hosting it at the BISD Athletic and Fine Arts Center on Thursday, March 5. Out of 19 regional qualifiers, they came out of the meet with 13 medalists and three regional champions on top of the team trophy and eight state qualifiers.

“They showed out at home,” Shepperd said. “I was glad they were able to perform that well in front of the Buckaroo faithful. That probably means a lot to them.”

The first-place regional champions were Isabelle Biddison, Sofia Lopez and Rihana Fuller, who all qualified for the state meet last year as well. Biddison lifted 715 total pounds in the 114-pound weight class and earned herself the Best Lifter Award, as well as the Best Squat Award. Biddison had a 280-pound squat, a 175-pound bench press and a 260-pound deadlift.

Lopez lifted a 765-pound total in the 132-pound weight class (300 squat, 150 bench, 280 deadlift), and Fuller recorded a 920-pound total in the 220-pound weight class (390 squat, 205 bench, 325 deadlift).

Second-place finishers and also qualifying for state were Chanelle Reyes (105: 200 squat, 95 bench, 160 deadlift, 455 total), Collum Perkins, Analia Palacios (165: 315 squat, 135 bench, 275
deadlift, 725 total), Kyra Canada (198: 300 squat, 140 bench, 270 deadlift, 730 total), and Rylee Fuller (242+: 215 squat, 225 bench, 235 deadlift, 675 total).

The girls’ state meet is coming up this week, taking place on Wednesday, March 19, in Edinburg at Bert Ogden Arena.

Lady Bucks Region 6 3A-D1 Results

105 – 2. Channelle Reyes: 200 squat, 95 bench, 160 deadlift, 455 total.
105 – Bomb Out. Maliyah Trujillo: 135 squat, 75 bench, 0 deadlift.
114 – 1. Isabelle Biddison: 280 squat, 175 bench, 260 deadlift, 715 total.
114 – 6. Madai Alvarado: 225 squat, 125 bench, 235 deadlift, 585 total.
123 – 2. Collum Perkins: 250 squat, 160 bench, 240 deadlift, 650 total.
123 – 3. Ashlyn Owens: 265 squat, 130 bench, 240 deadlift, 635 total.
132 – 1. Sofia Lopez: 300 squat, 150 bench, 280 deadlift, 765 total.
148 – 5. Emma McIntosh: 285 squat, 155 bench, 225 deadlift, 665 total.
148 – 6. Emily Jones: 240 squat, 135 bench, 265 deadlift, 640 total.
148 – 9. Zoey Vandygriff: 285 squat, 100 bench, 225 deadlift, 610 total.
148 – 11. Kaisan Thompson: 285 squat, 100 bench, 225 deadlift, 610 total.
165 – 2. Analia Palacios: 315 squat, 135 bench, 275 deadlift, 725 total.
165 – 7. Ashley Palacios: 200 squat, 115 bench, 240 deadlift, 555 total.
181 – 3. Bianca Gotschall: 285 squat, 150 bench, 280 deadlift, 715 total.
181 – 4. Peyton Davila: 285 squat, 155 bench, 270 deadlift, 710 total.
198 – 2. Kyra Canada: 300 squat, 140 bench, 270 deadlift, 730 total.
198 – 4. Dustie Lowrey: 275 squat, 150 bench, 260 deadlift, 685 total.
220 – 1. Rihana Fuller: 390 squat, 205 bench, 325 deadlift, 920 total.
242+ – 2. Rylee Fuller: 215 squat, 225 bench, 235 deadlift, 675 total.

Team Results

1. Breckenridge – 56 points
2. Ponder – 50 points
3. Dallas Life Oak Cliff – 19 points
4. Peaster – 17 points
5. Pottsboro – 12 points
6. Boyd – 11 points
7. Dallas A+ – 10 points
8. Bowie – 10 points
9. Iowa Park – 9 points
10. Whitesboro – 1 point

Shepperd said the state field will be stacked once again and the Lady Bucks will be facing some good athletes, such as those from Region 5, which is known for producing some of the biggest totals in Texas. Still, he believes a couple of Lady Bucks have a legitimate chance to medal.

“There are some big numbers that come out of Region 5,” he said. “But some of our girls have a chance to medal. When you have many really good lifters, nerves can get to you, but some of them answer the call and it gets them a whole step further than they thought they could do.”

Last year’s long haul to Edinburg – 488 miles and roughly eight hours on the road – took a toll on the girls before they even stepped on the platform. The team left at 5 a.m. and barely made weigh-ins.

This year, Shepperd is determined to avoid that scenario. The girls will travel a day earlier, leaving Tuesday to give themselves time to settle in, rest and prepare.

“That drive takes a lot out of them,” he said. “We’re going to try to do some things this year to alleviate some of that stress.”

The boys, meanwhile, will benefit from a much shorter and easier trip to Abilene when their turn comes at the end of the month.

Bucks Qualify Three, Earn Four Regional Medals

Buckaroos Leo Mendoza, Erik Saucedo and Eduardo Salazar qualified for the state powerlifting meet, scheduled for March 27-28. (Courtesy Photo)

Breckenridge brought 12 boys to the Region 6 Division 3 meet on Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13, at Decatur High School, 10 equipped lifters and two unequipped, with three punching their tickets to state. The three lifters to qualify for the state meet, scheduled for Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, in Abilene at the Taylor County Expo, are Erik Saucedo, Leo Mendoza and Eduardo Salazar.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Shepperd said. “We lost a lot of the lifters that went to state last year, and for us to get three back on the boys’ side is huge. That just goes to show how resilient these kids are and how determined they are to make something happen.”

Mendoza recorded a 1,365-pound total, good for fourth-place in the 181-pound weight class. The marks that added up to that total were a 525-pound squat, 350-pound bench and 490-pound deadlift.

Salazar was in third place in the 148-pound weight class with a 1,255 total. Meanwhile, Saucedo qualified for the second time in the 148-pound weight class as he earned a fourth-place finish with a 1,200-pound total.

Saucedo was one of the key storylines for the boys, as he became a returning state qualifier despite facing a tougher climb this season after moving up a weight class. The qualifying total increased with the jump, but the senior fought through it and secured the spot.

“Erik had to fight for some extra pounds this year to hit the qualifying total,” Shepperd said. “He’s qualified for state before, but he’s a weight class heavier this year than the last time he qualified. He’s worked really hard to hit those numbers.”

The fourth medal was earned by Lesavier Gutierrez, who finished in third-place in the 132-pound weight class with a 1,015-pound total but fell short of state qualifying. Guiterrez was one of the three lifters to qualify for state last year, along with 2025 graduates Jack McKay and Nathan Roberts.

Shepperd said several boys hit their qualifying totals early in deadlift attempts, then continued to push for higher medals.

“They were still competing even after they’d locked in that extra meet,” he said. “They decided they were going to try to go get gold or silver instead of settling.”

Bucks individual results

Equipped Meet

114 – 6. Kasen Hutchens: 235 squat, 130 bench, 240 deadlift, 605 total.
123 – 5. Bailey Boles: 315 squat, 180 bench, 300 deadlift, 795 total.
132 – 3. Lesavier Gutierrez: 410 squat, 220 bench, 385 deadlift, 1,015 total.
148 – 3. Eduardo Salazar: 475 squat, 305 bench, 475 deadlift, 1,255 total.
148 – 4. Erik Saucedo: 425 squat, 310 bench, 465 deadlift, 1,200 total.
165 – Bomb Out. Julio Chavez: 440 squat, 270 bench, 0 deadlift.
181 – 4. Leo Mendoza: 525 squat, 350 bench, 490 deadlift, 1,365 total.
198 – 6. Gunnar Pearce: 505 squat, 345 bench, 445 deadlift, 1,295 total.
275 – 9. Braxton Knight: 575 squat, 275 bench, 450 deadlift, 1,300 total.

Unequipped Meet

148 – 7. Tristen McNett: 355 squat, 165 bench, 365 deadlift, 885 total.
165 – 11. Brenham Walker: 405 squat, 225 bench, 405 deadlift, 1,050 total.

Team Top 10 Standings (Equipped)

1. Bells – 28 points
2. Commerce – 23 points
3. Leonard – 18 points
4. Pottsboro – 17 points
5. Peaster – 17 points
6. Wichita Falls City View – 16 points
7. Bowie – 16 points
8. Paradise – 12 points
9. Breckenridge – 11 points
10. Dublin – 8 points

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge High School’s Lady Bucks powerlifting team won the March 5 regional meet, which was held at the BISD Athletic Center. Out of 19 regional qualifiers, the Lady Bucks had 13 medalists and three regional champions on top of the team trophy and eight state qualifiers. (Courtesy Photo)