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Snyder powerlifters who qualified for the state meet pictured are (l-r) Reyes Silva, Jaci Valadez, Raelynn Suarez and Tegan Dickson. Not pictured is Bonnie Jasper.
With all the uncertainty surrounding high school athletics currently, the Snyder High School powerlifting team is doing its best to stay positive and active.
Snyder qualified five lifters for the state meet, which was to be held in Waco in late March. The suspension of athletics by the University Interscholastic League (UIL) postponed the event and a new date has yet to be announced. While they wait out the suspension, Snyder’s lifters are staying active to stay prepared for the state meet.
“We’re doing our best,” senior Tegan Dickson said. “We’re going to Tiger Health and Fitness and trying to get in all our lifts. Our coach isn’t allowed to work with us and encourage us, so we are having to go in and do a lot of it on our own.”
Dickson qualified for state for the second time after reaching the state meet last year in her first year of powerlifting.
Also qualifying for state were senior Bonnie Jasper, a four-time qualifier, and Jaci Valadez and Raelynn Suarez, both of whom are making their first trip to the state meet. After reaching the meet in 2019, Dickson hopes to put her best foot forward in 2020.
“Last year, it was really a mental game for me,” she said. “I let my mind get to me and I just didn’t have a very good meet. So, this year, I am hoping that I can stay in better control of that and meet my expectations.”
Both Dickson and Valadez are coming off regional championships, with Jasper and Suarez finishing second in their weight classes. Suarez says she can’t wait for her first trip to the state meet.
“For my first year at state, I hope I do good because I’m really excited that I’m getting to go this year,” she said. “I’ve been doing a lot of cardio. I hope everything goes good.”
Reyes Silva, the lone male lifter from Snyder to qualify for state, used one word to describe how he is feeling as he prepares for the meet.
“Excited,” he said. “I missed the state meet by five pounds last year and that sucked, so I’m excited.”
Silva won his weight class in the regional meet by 10 pounds. With his attention now on state, Silva said his goal for the meet is to set a personal record.
“For state, I think I am going to aim for a 1,750 (pound) total,” he said. “My record is 1,625. I am hoping to go for like an 800 squat. It’s exciting.”
The Snyder News will post updates on the state meet as they become available.