By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
The Port Isabel ECHS girls powerlifting team competed in the THSWPA Region V 2026 Regional Championships held March 3 at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. The meet featured 136 lifters from 18 schools located throughout the San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Rio Grande Valley.
The Port Isabel results are as follows:
Competing in the 105-wt class, Emily Orduna won the bronze medal with a total lift of 610lbs (Squat:280, Bench:110, Dead Lift:220), while Leann Shamlin came in 4th a total lift of 540lbs, setting a new personal best (PB).
Competing in the 114-wt class, Natalissa Arambul came 8th place with a total lift 565lbs (PB).
Competing in the 123-wt class, Maria Ale Vasquez won silver with a total lift of 850lbs (Squat:360, Bench:180, Dead Lift:310) (PB). Vasquez qualified for the state meet.
Competing in the 148-wt class, Daniela Alonso was the grand champion with a total lift of 890lbs (Squat:395, Bench:205, Dead Lift:290) (PB). Alonso qualified for the state meet.
Competing in the 181-wt class, Brigette Albino Cortez came in 5th place with a total lift of 785lbs (PB), and was followed by Dariadna Garcia who came in 6th with a total lift of 780lbs.
Competing in the 220-wt class, Nataly Olmedo came in 7th place with a total lift of 550lbs (PB).
Last by not least was Iyairy Guzman, who won bronze in the 242-wt class with a total lift of 1035lbs (Squat:420, Bench:270, Dead Lift:345) (PB), becoming the first PI lifter this season to surpass the 1k total lift mark. Guzman qualified for the state meet.
Meanwhile the boys team wrapped up their last regular season powerlifting meet, as PIECHS hosted the Port Isabel LBQ Invitational 2026.
The meet featured 138 lifters from among 15 competing schools and was the last opportunity lifters could qualify for regionals. Unfortunately for the Port Isabel team, only three out of the nine competing athletes posted a total lift during the meet, as six of the lifters ‘bombed out’ or were disqualified.
A total lift is only recorded when a lifter successfully posts a lifted weight in the squat, bench press, and dead lift. A lifter bombs out when they failed to register a lift in one or more of the required three lifts.
All three of the successful lifters competed in the 165-weight class.
Miguel Arano finished in fourth place, setting a new personal best with a total lift of 1160lbs (Squat:455lbs, Bench:285lbs, Dead lift:420). Arano set personal best in all three lifts and has improved his total lift by 135lbs compared to the first meet of the season.
JJ Hernandez came in seventh with a total lift of 965lbs (Squat:335, Bench:255, Dead lift:375). Just a sophomore, this was Hernandez first meet of the season.
On the heels of Hernandez, was Ivan Gomez who finished in eighth place with a total lift of 960lbs (Squat:420, Bench:190, Dead Lift:350) (PB).
In regards to the meet, “I host this meet to raise money for the state (meet) and spoil the kids”, stated head powerlifting coach, John Calvillo. “Those guys were in so we pushed the limit. I wanted them to feel (the) weight they will attempt at state.”
On a side note, returning state champion, Saturn Trejo bombed out as well in regional meet. An unfortunate situation, considering she had won gold in all four meets she competed in this season, and was poised to make another state appearance.