POWERING TO STATE

Meridian’s Bowers claims silver medal at THSPA’s Region 2 Championships to earn trip to state, Lady Jacket Sandley wins silver medal at regionals before placing seventh in state championships

After consistently placing at the top of their respective weight classes, Meridian’s powerlifting dynamic duo secured trips to compete at the state level.

Competing in the Texas High School Powerlifting Association’s Region 2, Division 4 Championships last Saturday at West High School, Meridian senior Dustan Bowers captured the silver medal in the 165-pound weight class to earn a trip the THSPA State Powerlifting Meet to be held March 25 at the Taylor County Coliseum in Abilene.

With five Meridian Lady Jackets qualifying for the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association’s Region II, Class 2A-1A Championships, Aletheia Sandley captured a silver medal. Sandley went on to place seventh at the THSWPA State Championships held Wednesday at Comerica Center in Frisco.

“Aletheia has pushed herself this season and met her goal of going to state,” Meridian powerlifting head coach Jim Kerbow said. “She has made her coaches very proud and did an amazing job representing Meridian ISD.”

At the regional meet, Sandley finished tied for first place in the 198-pound weight class with Bosqueville’s Carli Wright with a total of 840 pounds in the three-disciplines – squat, bench press and deadlift, but Wright was awarded the gold medal due to weight with 12.9 pounds less than Sandley. Finishing with the best squat (350) and deadlift (325) in the class, Sandley also managed a bench press of 165 pounds.

“Aletheia competed very well,” Kerbow said. “She actually tied the young lady from Bosqueville for first place. However, the young lady from Bosqueville weighed less, which moved Aletheia to second place. So we are very excited for her to be able to compete at the State Meet.”

In addition to Sandley, Summer Chen, Abby Edwards, Cortney Lunsford and Raechel Ramirez represented Meridian at the regional meet. Ramirez placed sixth in the 165-pound weight class, Edwards placed seventh in the 198-pound class, Chen finished in 10th place in the 132-pound class, while Lunsford finished in 11th place in the 132-pound class.

“I felt like our girls performed at a high level,” Kerbow said. “Every one of our girls set personal records.”

Entering the THSWA regional meet ranked third in his weight class, Bowers tied for the best squat with a lift of 480 pounds and finished with a three-discipline total of 1,230 pounds as Roscoe Collegiate’s Michael Fulton claimed the gold medal with a total of 1,265 pounds.

Led by Bowers, Meridian sent three lifters to the regional meet – Austin Pogue, who entered the regional meet ranked 11th in the 165-pound weight class, and Cesar Ramos, who stood at 10th in the 114-pound weight class with the top two in each weight class advancing to state.

In the process of claiming the silver medal, Bowers posted personal best in squat as well as bench press with a lift of 250 pounds. Pogue placed eighth with a total of 1,005 pounds.

“I thought our boys had a great day at the regional powerlifting meet,” Meridian powerlifting head coach Jim Kerbow said. “Dustan was a lockout away from first place and setting a personal best in the deadlift. We are very proud of their effort.”