Former Cotulla powerlifting athlete Jennifer Benavidez won the Collegiate National Championship in Arlington on Friday, April 14 at the 2023 USAPL Collegiate Nationals. Benavidez is a freshman at Midland University in Nebraska. She competed in the 67.5kg weight class, 148 lbs. for equipped women, and posted lifts of 215 kg. (474 lbs.) in the squat, breaking the American record, 102.5 kg. (226 lbs.) in the bench press and 205 kg. (452 lbs) in the deadlift for a total lift of 522.5 kg. (1,152 lbs.) Midland University swept all four categories and were crowned national champions.
