SMHS POWERLIFTING
This is part one of a multi-part series covering three powerlifters who qualified for the state powerlifting meet. The rest of the series will be published in the Sunday issue of the San Marcos Daily Record.
A year after falling out of regionals, senior powerlifter Alexa Vargas bounced back to capture the regional title and qualify for the state powerlifting meet.
Vargas, along with Eden Mendez, Kenneth Pease and I’zayah Young qualified for the state powerlifting meet under head coach Kristal Haralson.
“They each have individual qualities that they bring to the team,” Haralson said. “They’ve each had their individual journey, but my seniors, especially this year, were really there for each other. In their strengths and in their weaknesses, this is a really special class for me. After I had my son, I came back to powerlifting and I’ve had these kiddos for three years. It’s been amazing to see their growth and learning lessons that they’ve had along the way.”
Vargas is a multiple sport athlete, having competed in powerlifting, soccer and track last season.
Going into this season, Vargas has to make the difficult decision to drop a sport in order to focus on powerlifting.
“I was playing soccer, track and powerlifting [last year], so I made the decision to not do track this year,” Vargas said. “I told those coaches early in the season that I could put my focus on [powerlifting] and soccer instead of being completely thrown everywhere and only be able to go to like two practices a week. It helped a lot having the mindset [on] powerlifting.”
In the middle of playing for the playoff bound soccer team, Vargas qualified again for regionals and now looked to punch her ticket to state.
However the regional meet for Vargas didn’t get off on the right foot.
“I knew my total number that I was set second already,” Vargas said. “Knowing that I had a heavier squat than the other girls, it was, ‘Okay, I’m good.’ Then I failed my first two squats and that was kind of like, ‘Dude, what are you doing?’
“But I just took deep breaths and the team definitely helped calm me down, so it worked out.”
After failing on her first two squats, Vargas regrouped and refocused to bounce back.
“It was definitely more focusing on ‘What can you do right now?’ instead of, ‘What is everyone else doing?’” Vargas said. “They might not get that lift, but I could still get mine.
So not trying to jump weights to match theirs, but just do what I can do and hopefully get me where I need to be.”
Completing her first squat then having a successful bench, Vargas entered the deadlift in prime position to qualify for state. However, a failed deadlift attempt from one of the competitors flipped everything.
“I was already gonna make a state once everyone finished their second deadlift,” Vargas said. “[I] was guaranteed second place, so I was like ‘It’s fine.’
[First place] can get her last deadlifts, and it’ll be cool; but then she failed it. [My teammate] came out to me said, ‘You’re first.’” Vargas came home with the gold medal and punched her ticket to the state powerlifting where she later placed 14th.
For Vargas, competing at the state meet was eye-opening.
“State was definitely more for the experience,” Vargas said. “It was really fun to watch the other girls after I lifted. They’re over here doing three plates for their first attempts. It was just cool to see everyone there, and [lifting in an] arena was really cool too.”
Despite competing for just two years in the sport, Vargas has made a special connection with powerlifting and wants to continue after high school.
“Yeah, it was really close, especially since I had only started doing powerlifting my junior year,” Vargas said. “This year it all clicked for me; [I now know] I want to keep doing this even after high school.”
Vargas’ advice on other Rattler athletes wanting to follow in her steps is a simple approach.
“Focus on where you’re at right now,” Vargas said. “Don’t look too much at the bar and the weight on it. I get in my head a lot, so it just helps a lot to just be in the moment and focusing on how you’re doing.”
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
