Ram Powerlifters Host Inaugural Home Meet, Win Multiple Medals

Sixty lifters from around the state, including high school, college and adult competitors, participated in the meet in various categories of both “equipped” and “raw” contests. Equipped contests allow competitors to wear special clothing, including bench shirts, squat suits and knee wraps, that allow them to lift heavier weights. Raw contests are conducted without any special clothing.

Lifters complete three attempts each at squat, bench press and deadlift. The qualifying total is the sum of the highest weight lifted in each of the three disciplines. ASU’s top finishers by category and weight class were:

Women’s Division

• Natalie Walker of Greenville: First Place, Collegiate Raw, 125 pounds
• Kaia Anders of Boerne: First Place, Collegiate Raw, 132 pounds

Men’s Division

• Jaylen Montgomery of Waco: First Place, Collegiate Equipped, 132 pounds
• Miguel Arroyo of San Angelo: First Place, Open Equipped, 132 pounds
• Jeremiah Fultz of Cedar Hill: First Place, Collegiate Raw, 148 pounds
• Eli Perez of Brownwood: First Place, Junior Raw, 198 pounds
• Cooper Naredo of Abilene: First Place, Collegiate Raw, 242 pounds
• Joshua Rayburn of Menard: First Place, Collegiate Raw, 275 pounds

“This was a big accomplishment for the club to be able to host a meet of its own here on campus,” said Dr. Adam Parker, professor of kinesiology and the club’s faculty sponsor. “The club president, Michael Vargas (San Angelo), did an amazing job putting this all together. Additionally, Tommy Janusz, who was the club founder and is owner of a local gym called The Bar Athletic Club, helped run the meet. There were a ton of volunteers who helped with spotting and loading, as well. Manny Campos, a member of the ASU faculty, also assisted with helping the meet run smoothly.”