BISHOP POWERLIFTING STATE QUALIFIERS — Badger powerlifting members recently advanced to the state meets, with the girl’s meet held Friday, March 19 in Corpus Christi and the boy’s meet to be held on Saturday, March 27, in Abilene. Pictured are front row, Bruizer DelBosque, Gizel Morales and Travis Charles; back row, Nocky Garza. (Photo courtesy of Gracie Barreto) The Bishop Badgers powerlifting squad advanced four athletes to the Texas High School Powerlifting Association state meets, with junior Gizel Morales qualifying for the girl’s state meet held this past Friday at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.

Sophomore Travis Charles, junior Bruizer DelBosque, and senior Nocky Garza will be representing the green and gold at the state meet to be held on Saturday, March 27, in Abilene.

In powerlifting, competitors are allowed three lift attempts in three different lifting techniques - bench, squat and dead lift.

The highest weight lifted in each technique is totaled to get final results.

Morales competing in the 220+ division was the lone Badger girl to qualify for the state meet with a regional lifting performance of 1,025 total pounds (240 bench, 430 squat, 355 dead lift).

Entering the state meet, Morales was ranked second in state and was eager to showcase her talent and dedication to the sport.

“I am excited and anxious because if everything falls in place, I have a great chance at winning the meet,” Morales said.

The results from the girl’s meet held Friday were not available at press time.

After competing in the state meet on Friday, Morales will be busy finalizing her performance in an independent film “Benavides Born”.

On the boy’s side, the Badgers missed first place as a team at regionals by one point.

Competing as a team in the regional meet were D.J. Cowger, Alternate J.P Escobar, Charles, DelBosque, and Garza.

Charles, ranked fourth in state in the 123 pound division, advanced to the state meet with a regional performance of 960 total pounds (170 bench, 405 squat, 385 dead lift).

DelBosque, competing in the 114 pound division, is ranked fifth in state and qualified for the state meet with 815 total pounds (160 bench, 340 squat, 315 dead lift) in regionals.

Garza is ranked sixth in state in the 165 pound division and reached the state meet with 1275 total pounds (305 bench, 500 squat, 470 dead lift) at the regional meet.

“We have a great opportunity to place at the state meet because anything can happen at this level,” Bishop Badger powerlifting coach George Luna said.