Nine from Royal place at home meet

Juan “Kiko” Garcia helps Hunter Follett take the weight bar off its perch with 250 pounds in the bench press. Follet came back later to do 280 pounds.

Lesly Martinez, who is becoming a legend in prep power lifting, dead lifts 280 pounds.

by Sun Tribune Editor & Ted Escobar
| March 19, 2016 6:00 AM

Lesly Martinez, who is becoming a legend in prep power lifting, dead lifts 280 pounds.

ROYAL CITY — With seven boys placing, Royal High School took second place at its own power lifting meet last Saturday, and the two Royal girls who competed won championships.

“Very proud of the our boys and girls teams,” coach Paul Olsufka said. “The number of lifters is increasing each time, and the meet here may help get more kids involved.”

Royal had a total of eight boys competing. Junior Victor Garcia and sophomore Daniel Hernandez won individual titles.

Girls:

97 pounds: Abigail DeLay - freshman, first; with a total of 330 pounds: 120 squat, 70 bench and 140 dead lift. First meet ever.

“The first meet is usually a learning situation,” Olsufka said. “Now she knows what is involved and can feel more confident in her lifts and workouts during class to bring her total up.”

165 pounds: Lesly Martinez - Sophomore, first; with a total of 720 pounds: 285 squat, 140 bench and 295 dead lift.

“Lesly continues to improve each of her lifts every meet,” Olsufka said.

Boys:

148 pounds: Victor Garcia - junior, first; with a total of 885 pounds, 330 squat, 205 bench and 350 dead lift. First power lifting meet.

148 pounds: Angel Mejia - sophomore, fourth; with a total of 675 pounds, 325 squat, 350 dead lift, did not get a bench total.

“His first time, and he learned to do a weight that would get on the board to count toward his total,” Olsufka said. “Even without a bench weight he still finished fourth.”

165 pounds: Adrian Banda - freshman, fifth with a total of 925 pounds: 315 squat, 230 bench and 380 dead lift

165 pounds: Octavio Cruz - sophomore; with a total of 735 pounds. This was his first meet.

181 pounds: Daniel Hernandez - sophomore, first; with a total of 1215 pounds: 475 squat, 290 bench and 450 dead lift. Second meet he has finished first.

“He works very hard in class and after school to put up these numbers,” Olsufka said.

198 pounds: Juan “Kiko” Garcia - junior, third place; with a total of 925 pounds, 350 squat, 260 bench and 315 dead lift. Second year lifting at the meets.

198 pounds: Yovani Cruz - sophomore, fourth; with a total of 740 pounds He also missed his bench lift, trying 215. Squat 340 and dead lift 400.

220 pounds: Hunter Follett - senior, second; with a total of 1200 pounds This is his third year competing and has always done very well. squat 460, bench 280 and dead lift of 460.