Ready for regionals

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | February 16, 2023 |

COTULLA COWBOYS POWERLIFTING

COTULLA LIFTERS ARE IN FINE FORM HEADING INTO FINAL REGIONAL QUALIFIERS MEET THIS WEEK

COTULLA’s Kaleb Linares clears a record-tying mark of 750 lbs. in the squat during action at the Dilley Invitational last week. Linares also set a new regional record in the bench press with a lift of 480 lbs.

Five Cotulla lifters earned gold medals while two other nabbed silver as the Cowboys captured the overall team title at the Dilley Powerlifting Invitational last Wednesday, February 8.

Cotulla finished with 52 points to top second place Dilley for the team championship at the event.

Joseph Salazar, Aydan Martinez, Gerardo Gonzalez, Robert Sanchez and Kaleb Linares all grabbed gold medals for winning their respective weight divisions.

Salazar, competing at 123 lbs., topped a total lift of 970 lbs. Martinez topped 1,340 lbs. in the 165-lb. weight class while Gonzalez finished with a total weight of 1,450 lbs. in the 198-lb. division.

Sanchez was Cotulla’s top lifter, recording a total weight of 1,770 lbs. in the 275-lb. division.

Kaleb Linares came in at 1,730 lbs. in the 308-lb. division. He set new regional records in the squat and bench press. His 480-lb. bench press eclipsed the previous mark of 435 lbs., set by Hebbronville’s Christopher Rodriguez, set in 2022. He then tied the regional record that he and Rodriguez shared in 2022 with a lift of 750 lbs.

Salazar, Sanchez and Linares are all currently tops in the region in their weight divisions while Martinez and Gonzalez both sit third in the region at their weight class.

“As of right now we have ten athletes who have qualified for regionals,” CHS Powerlifting Coach Esteban Rodriguez said. “Of these ten, five have met their state totals, as well.”

The coach also noted that he has several other lifters on the cusp of qualifying for regional competition.

Regional qualifiers include Jorge Zertuche, Marco Benavides, Jose Gonzalez, Jesus Partida, Victor Moreno, Joseph Salazar, Aydan Martinez, Gerardo Gonzalez, Robert Sanchez and Kaleb Linares.

Joe Gonzalez and Jevin Gonzalez were both second at Dilley at 148 and 220 lbs., posting lifts of 1,060 lbs. and 1,105 lbs., respectively.

Marco Benavides finished third at 148 lbs., Seasar Garcia was fourth at 165 lbs. and Jimmy Rodriguez and Josue Ortiz were both fifth at 132 abd 181 lbs.

The Cowboys will lift at the Natalia Invitational on Wednesday, February 22 in the final regional qualifying meet of the year.

The regional powerlifting meet is scheduled for March 10 in Kingsville.

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