Powerlifters to Compete at State
By John Earp
Six members of the Jal High School Powerlifting Team have qualified for the state meet, which is to be held this weekend in Rio Rancho. Girls who qualified for the state meet were Ebany Aguilar, Leilene Chavez, and Issela Mendoza. Boys who qualified were Jesus Munoz, Jayden Walker, and Juan Maldonado.
Head Powerlifting Coach Brent Satterwhite says that everybody on the team has improved over the season, saying, “We’ve had some big improvements.” While all have shown improvement in their lifts, Satterwhite says, “I think the fun one has been Jesus Munoz, because he’s just been in my weightlifting class, he’s never done any athletics. I kind of encouraged him to come be a part of the team and to try, and he’s in 2nd place in the state going into the state meet in the 114-pound class. He’s really, really gotten excited and done a good job with it. So, you know, he’s kind of a dark horse that nobody even knew if he was strong or not, and he just came out and gave it a shot. Jayden Walker has had a really good year, and has been really committed to every meet. He struggled a little bit in the last meet, in his legs, but he’s increased his upper body strength and we know his legs are going to be there too. So, I think he’s getting ready.” Satterwhite added that Walker started track season recently which caused him some soreness and issues with his legs, saying, “He just had to kind of get through that that initial shock of running and lifting weights in practices for both sports.”
Satterwhite notes that Juan Maldonado has had “a little knee deal bothering him, so we’re just hoping we can get him there and get him some relief so he can go ahead and get up there. He’s just like a bear. He’s just strong.”
Coach mentioned Leilene Chavez, whose brother was state champion last year, so it’s kind of a family deal with them and she’s come on. She’s been as high as 2nd this year. She’s sitting, I think in 4th right now. And then we’ve got Ebany Aguilar. Last year she broke the state record in the squat, I believe, and 2 years ago, she was state champ. So, she’s certainly got what it takes to get that done and then, Issela Mendoza she doesn’t know how strong she is. So, you know, anything could happen with her. She’s sitting in sixth place, but she’s within striking distance of the top, not number one as close as she is to 2, 3, 4 and 5. I think I think it’s going to be good for her.”
Satterwhite says the training program for the team consists of four workouts per week, two leg days and two upper body days. He says, “As we get down here closer to meet time, we start taking those reps down and pushing some heavier weight, doing some partials, some negatives, different things like that to challenge ourselves a little bit more and get the feel for heavier weight. You can’t lift light weight all the time and then expect to go in there and put 50 pounds more on there and get it.
The JHS Powerlifting Team left Jal Thursday morning headed for the state meet, which is to be held in Rio Rancho Friday and Saturday.