SMHS POWERLIFTING
This is part two 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 paper.
A three-year-journey ended in a trip to the State Powerlifting Meet for senior Eden Mendez who placed third at regionals earning a chance to compete in the state championship.
Qualifying for state was a big accomplishment for Mendez who put a lot of time and effort to make it to the highest stage of high school powerlifting.
“It means a lot because you work so hard throughout the several months,” Mendez said. “You usually start in November and then throughout that whole entire month. You just try your hardest to keep going, pushing yourself and then you’re trying to maintain weight too. It’s just a lot of hard work, so it means a lot [making it to state].”
Mendez’s journey to qualify for the state meet was not without its hurdles — from bombing out, to injuries and even in the classroom. But despite the many obstacles Mendez faced, the senior worked to overcome them.
“My sophomore year, I bombed out at trying to go to regionals,” Mendez said. “Then in my junior year, I failed out because of my grades. So this year I tried to maintain my grades more than powerlifting and then I tried to combine them. Then I tried [to overcome] my injuries because my shoulders and my hips weren’t as good. I just worked on my stability.”
Because he maintained his grades and kept his body in good shape, Mendez qualified for the regionals, being one of the top lifters in his weight class.
At regionals, Mendez felt confident going into the squat until he was unable to make his final squat attempt. It was at that moment that Mendez knew he had to switch up his mental game.
“Some of the challenges were my mindset,” Mendez said. “I started to boast because I knew I could at least get top three, so then I started thinking I was better than everyone. Then it showed on the squat because I didn’t get my last squat. I had to calm down and get back into that mindset. I needed to just focus right now and not think of everyone else because everyone else could do better, or I could bomb out.”
Refocusing on the bench press, Mendez casually observed the rest of the competition before warming up.
“I usually watch everyone, and then I see how they do,” Mendez said. “I put on music and then I’ll just focus more on the bench. I try to do more exercises, get warmed up, and then try to perform better there and try to get all three lifts.”
Mendez ended the bench press lifting 195 and moved on to the deadlift in the final lift of the day.
Knowing that deadlift was his strongest lift, Mendez outperformed everyone to secure his spot, lifting 445 pounds.
“It was my second attempt at a deadlift because it was pretty much higher than everyone else,” Mendez said. “When I got it, I knew I was going to state, and then I just kind of relaxed. It was a sign of relief because I didn’t have to push or stress, because I already made it.”
Mendez’s deadlift attempt not only punched his ticket to state, but also set a new regional record, a goal Mendez wanted to break since he started powerlifting.
For Mendez, breaking the record was special.
“I wanted the record since my freshman year because it was set in 2013,” Mendez said. “I didn’t get to get it my sophomore year because I didn’t make [regionals]. And then in my junior year, I bombed out. So this year, it meant a lot because I worked so hard over these past years to get it. When I got it, I felt accomplished because that’s what I’ve wanted for so long.”
Placing in third, Mendez qualified for the state meet where he finished in 15th place.
After making the state meet following a four year journey, Mendez is proud of his accomplishments.
“It means the world to me because you work so hard, and it’s not guaranteed,” Mendez said. “Then you see other people post all these weights; it makes you wanna go do that weight, and then you try to push yourself more. Sometimes you’re drained, and then you just realize you gotta keep pushing. Then with all your hard work, you feel accomplished by what you’ve done.”
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
