Next stop... Corpus Christ, TX

WESLACO - Weslaco girls powerlifting head coach Raul Villarreal insists his squad has done everything right.

They’ve maintained a certain focus, never missed practice and sacrificed in their personal lives just to have a chance to write school history. Never before have any Panthers program captured a state championship in any sport and the powerlifters believe this year is as good as any to do just that at this Friday’s THSWPA state championship meet held in Corpus Christi. To prove the point, they’re in the weight room at 8 a.m. during spring break pumped, energetic and excited about the task ahead of them.

“I know they’re ready,” Villarreal said. “They’ve done everything a championship team should do.”

Weslaco sends eight girls to the meet, which Villarreal said will be most in the state, including six going for the first time. In powerlifting, the more people qualify, the better the chances are of winning the meet as a team.

The Lady Panthers have superheavy weights Sasha Martinez and Priscilla Ortiz as the only two who have participated at the state meet before, raising questions as to a possible lack of experience in the sport’s biggest event.

“These girls will stick with it,” Martinez said. “The first time I went to state, I won. I think they’ll do great.”

One of them is sophomore Emily Guerra, who has really sparked the team in her first year in the sport. Guerra, along with Sarah Cruz will be in the 97-pound weight class. Cindy Herrera (105), Alexsa Mora (114), Denis Martinez (181), Tashika Sandoval (198) make up the rest of the roster, along with Martinez and Ortiz, who hope to bring the state title trophy to Weslaco.

“Sasha tells me that it will be chaotic and for me to just stay calm,” Guerra said. “I’m not nervous, I’m pretty excited because it’s my first time. All the hard work, I’m ready to put it all in.”

All season long, Weslaco has had a word of the week. In their final meet, “opportunity” was the word spreading across the weight room. They know it only comes once in a lifetime. The Lady Panthers are making their third appearance to the state meet and were three points away from winning the whole thing last year. Weslaco finished in sole possession of second place while in a tie in 2008.

Is the third time finally the charm?

“I think this is the year,” Martinez said.