Cove sends three athletes to state powerlifting meet

By TJ MAXWELL

Cove Leader-Press

A week after Copperas Cove senior Arianna Eseroma punched her ticket to the 2021 State Powerlifting Meet in Corpus Christi with a second-place finish in the 148-pound weight division at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association (THSWPA) Region 2 Division I meet at Elgin High School, two Bulldawgs earned their way to the state meet at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA) Region 2 Division I at Cleburne High School on Saturday. Tyler Morrow qualified with a first-place finish in the 114-pound classification while Thomas Holman earned a spot with a second-place finish in the Super Heavyweight classification.

Last Saturday, Eseroma and eight other Lady Dawgs competed for a spot at state during the regional meet at Elgin High School where they finished seventh as a team out of 30 teams with nine points.

Eseroma finished second in her weight class with a total of 830 pounds (squat 315, bench press 185, dead lift 330) behind College Station’s Sidney Shipley 855 pounds (375, 160, 320).

Jiya Edwards earned another fourth-place finish in the 165-pound class with 855 pounds (320, 190, 345).

Alyssa Mamolejo finished fourth in the 97-pound class with 530 total pounds (195, 105, 230) and Michaela Grimm finished seventh at 97 pounds with 310 pounds (115, 60, 135).

In the 105 classification, Athena Aviles finished ninth with 465 pounds (180, 80, 205).

Leeann Edmond had a 10th-place finish in the 114 classification with 550 pounds (205, 125, 220).

Kyleigh Wheetley finished 13th in the 259 classification with 480 pounds (200, 80, 200).

Gabrielle Edouard didn’t register totals in the 148-pound class.

Other 12-6A lifters to qualify were Paige Bridenstine of Harker Heights (1st 114 lbs - 800 total 320, 170, 310) and Lagi Ahsang of Ellison (1st 259+ lbs - 1,200 total, 485, 250, 465).

The THSWPA 6A State Meet is scheduled for this Thursday with weigh-ins running from 1-2:30 p.m. and competition beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Morrow and three other Dawgs registered totals at the boys’ regional meet at Cleburne High School on Saturday where they also finished seventh with 13 points out of 41 teams.

Morrow took the top spot in the 114 classification with 1,025 total pounds (370, 200, 455). He beat the next competitor by 225 pounds in Burleson Centennial’s Coal Aylesworth 800 pounds (295, 175, 330).

Holman totaled 1,575 pounds (630, 405, 540) in the Super Heavyweight class for a second-place finish behind Cleburne’s Josh Rangel 1,770 (750, 420, 600).

Tyrese Francis earned a fifth-place spot in the 181 classification with 1,400 pounds (570, 330, 500)

Last, but not least, Dan Llanez finished sixth in the 308 classification with 1,425 pounds (575, 305, 525).

Zeke Sheridan of Ellison was the only other 12-6A lifter to qualify. He finished first in the 242 classification with 1,515 total (580, 335, 600).

The boys’ state meet will be held next week at a time and date to be announced.