(PI’s Maria Ale Vasquez won the bronze medal in the 4AD2 State Powerlifting meet. March 20, 2026. Picture by PIECHS)
By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
On March 20, 2026 a small contingent of PIECHS girl powerlifters traveled to Edinburg’s Bert Odgen Arena to compete in the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association 4AD2 State Championship Final.
Competing in the 123lb weight class, Maria Ale Vasquez came away with the bronze medal with a total lift of 845 pounds. Although Vasquez had a previous best in total lift (850), she managed to set new personal bests in the bench (185) and Dead Lift (315). Vasquez improved her total lift by 130 pounds compared to her first meet of the year. On a side note, Robstown’s Paloma Calderon won the title with a total lift of 995 pounds.
Competing in the 148-wt class, Daniela Alonso came in sixth place with a total lift of 880 pounds, setting a new personal best in the squat (405). Alonso made great strides this season as she improved her total lift by a whopping 200 pounds compared to her first meet of the year. On a side note, Silsbee’s Auryana Gilder won the title with a total lift of 995 pounds.
Last but not least was Iyairy Guzman who finished 5th in the 242-wt class with a total lift of 1040 pounds, a new personal best. Guzman also set new personal bests in the squat (440) and dead lift (350). She has improved her total lift by an impressive 190 pounds compared to her first meet. On a side note, Giddings’ Keira Blue won the title with a total lift of 1215 pounds.
The meet featured 174 lifters from 58 different schools from across Texas. The Port Isabel team finished in 19th place overall with Robstown capturing the team championship.
“Since I took over the program three years ago, I’ve always told our girls that our goal is to make it to the ‘last dance’, meaning the State Meet. And once we get there, it’s time to dance as a team and compete for a spot on the podium.” Said coach John Calvillo. “This year, two of our three girls accomplished exactly that. Our third athlete tied for fifth place but finished sixth due to bodyweight criteria. Regardless, I am extremely proud of how all three competed on the state stage and represented Port Isabel with pride.”
Coach Calvillo is excited girls program going forward as he stated, “we only lose three of the eleven girls who qualified for Regionals. We have a strong core returning and some promising young prospects coming in. Moving forward, our goal is to win Regionals as a team and ultimately compete for a state title. That’s the standard now — the bar has been raised.”
Special recognition to PI’s Saturn Trejo who received the THSWPA 4A DII Scholarship Award ($1000).