SHOWCASING STRENGTH

Coming off banner season in 2024 filled with state accolades, Clifton boys & girls powerlifting improve rank at annual invitational with Lady Cubs, Cubs looking for more at Meridian meet Saturday

By hosting the annual Clifton Powerlifting Invitational meet Jan. 25 in the Clifton Middle School Gymnasium, the Cubs and Lady Cubs took another step toward qualifying for the Texas High School Powerlifting Association regionals.

After taking a week off from competition, the Clifton powerlifting teams return to action by competing at the Meridian Invitational at 8 a.m. Saturday in the Yellowjacket Gymnasium.

“I’m excited to see the kids continue to grow and improve their PR,” Clifton powerlifting head coach James Humphreys said. “The Meridian meet is a chance to polish their technique for the strict regional state judges.

“We currently have several boys and girls that are ranked at the top for Region 2. I want to see continued growth and improvement in their overall total. We have an exciting group of boys and girls lifting. They compete with passion and determination to win. It’s a desire deep within each lifter that brings out their best effort.”

Hosting the Clifton Invitation and competing among a seven-team field including West, Whitney, Crawford, Dublin, Bosqueville and Meridian, the Lady Cubs captured their second straight team title to open the 2025 season with a dominating 58 points, well ahead of runner-up West (41) and third place Bosqueville (24).

“The girls team competed very well,” Clifton powerlifting head coach James Humphreys said. “We had 13 girls lifting and six won their division. These girls are very motivated and determined to compete at a high level.”

Lady Cubs winning gold medals in their respective weight classes were Sydney Cecil (105), Layla Morales (114), Ellie King (165), Nylah Goff (181), Lenora Busby (198) and Taryn Busby (220).

Other top finishers for the Clifton girls were silver medalist Reese Finney (114), silver medalist Cameron Ritz (132), and bronze medalist Da-Kyah Light (148).

“I’m very proud of the overall effort,” Humphreys said. “There were a lot of compliments on how the Clifton lifters compete and perform the lift. Powerlifting is about lifting the weight correctly and with proper technique. It takes a lot of practice to finish the lift properly.”

Battling in a very competitive field of seven teams, the Clifton boys placed third in the team standings with 30 points behind meet champion Whitney (42) and runner-up West (38).

Top finishers for the Cubs were silver medalist Robert Morales (123), silver medalist Landon Knox (148), silver medalist Ivan Galindo (220), bronze medalist James Lincoln (123), bronze medalist Xavier Quintero (132), and bronze medalist Rowdy Bishop (220).

“It’s not about how much you lift, it’s about how much heart you put into it,” Humphreys said. “Seeing the athletes excitement and smile, when achieving a new PR, is an awesome experience. We must appreciate and never underestimate our own inner power of strength. Some of these kids really surprise themselves. That’s what the sport is all about.”

With a host of powerlifters returning from 2024 banner season, the Clifton boys and girls powerlifting teams have high hopes and lofty aspirations this season.

“Getting our lifters ranked in the top 12 and qualifying for the regional meet is the first main goal,” Humphreys said. “We have a great group of kids that love to lift and get better. The boys are strong and will compete at a high level. We have 40 kids show up for 6:30 a.m. workouts three times a week. They are all very dedicated to the sport of powerlifting and representing Clifton High School.

Led by seniors Lenora Busby, Taryn Busby, Kaitlyn Baker, and Cameron Ritz, the Lady Cubs aim to return to the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association’s Small Class 3A State Championship at Comerica Center in Frisco. Last year, Clifton sent seven girls to the state meet after qualifying 19 lifters and winning the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association’s Small Class 3A Region 2 Championship.

The Clifton boys return three regional qualifiers led by Robert Morales and Xavier Quintero in the 123-pound weight class along with Judd New in the 132-pound weight class.

“We have four girls who qualified for state returning, along with several returning regional quantifiers,” Humphrey said. “The girls won the regional meet last season and have a good chance winning the region again. We have strong girls and boys that love the weightroom.”

Competing in their first meet of the season at the Bosqueville Invitational Jan. 11, Lenora Busby received best lifter award by winning the 198-pound weight class with a total weight of1005, well ahead of silver medalist Carli Wright of Bosqueville.

Competing in a field of 11-teams, the Lady Cubs won the team title with 49 points, besting runner-up West (39) and third place Rosebud-Lott (32). Other Lady Cub medalist included gold medalist Sydney Cecil in the 105-pound class, gold medalist Kaitlyn Baker (165), gold medalist Taryn Busby (220), silver medalist Reese Finney (114), silver medalist Cameron Ritz (132), silver medalist Nylah Goff (181), and bronze medalist Ellie King (165).

For the Clifton boys, Morales received best lifter award at the Bosqueville Meet competing in the 123-pound class put up a total weight of 1020, easily surpassing silver medalist Xavier Mondragon of McGregor with 790.

Overall, the Cubs (14 points) finished seventh as a team in the 11-team field, with Rosebud-Lott (50) capturing the team title, followed by runner-up McGregor (34) and third place Axtell (27). Other Clifton boys medalists included Dario Colon-Cruz with third place in the 132-pound class, along with fifth place finishers Xavier Quintero (132), Landon Knox (148), Victor Flores (198) and Ivan Galindo (220).

“I am very proud of how hard they are working,” Humphreys said. “Clifton has some the top lifters in the region, and they will be showing their talent that day. Powerlifting is about a group of kids that challenge and inspire each other.”

Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS