Marble Falls’ Xavier Lopez is state champion

CAPTION: The Marble Falls High School boys powerlifting team includes Aaron Dominguez (left), Adan Lopez, Chase Richard, Aaron Eyman, Aaron Arredondo, Noah Escandon, Xavier Lopez, Josue Garcia, Jose Solorzano, Oswaldo Sanchez, coach George Bermudez, head coach Richard Scales, Keaton Proctor and Josue Fonseca. Courtesy photo

Marble Falls High School senior Xavier Lopez captured an individual state championship en route to helping the Mustangs finish 11th at the Class 4A powerlifting state meet March 22.

Lopez entered the meet as the top-ranked lifter in the 198-pound weight class in the state. He had a squat of 710 pounds, a bench press of 365 pounds, and a deadlift of 710 pounds for a total of 1,785 pounds.

The Mustangs kept an eye on Beeville Jones’ Ryne Espinoza, who finished as the runner-up, thanks to a squat of 685 pounds, a bench press of 440 pounds, and a deadlift of 550 pounds for a total of 1,675 pounds.

Marble Falls head coach Richard Scales said the bench press and the dead lift were the differences this year for Lopez.

He noted Lopez worked hard on the bench press for months, especially on the technique. Powerlifting is equal parts being able to lift weight and technical. Three judges are at each platform, and each judge must agree that a lift is legal for that athlete to be awarded the weight.

Going into the deadlift, Lopez was third in the standings. But the deadlift is the Marble Falls’ team’s specialty because of its coach.

“My lift is the deadlift,” Scales said. “I take the training I learned and apply that to these kids. We did very well.”

The state record for the deadlift was 645 pounds set in 2005. Lopez set the tone immediately by deadlifting 650 pounds to break the record.

Then it was a matter of continuing to separate from the rest of the field and wowing spectators.

By the end, Lopez had deadlifted 710 pounds that propelled him to earning the award for Outstanding Deadlifter for Heavy Platform.

His goal was to deadlift 765 pounds but didn’t quite get there.

“He was lifting for fun,” Scales said. “We tried to hit it last year. But he hit it this year. It’s redemption.”

Lopez is considered a rock star in the sport, even last year when he finished as the runner-up.

“He’s an influencer,” the coach said. “He has videos that go viral. People know who he is. He squatted 710 pounds and deadlifted 710 pounds. That’s pretty superb.”

Lopez wasn’t the only Mustang to have a record-breaking day. Of the eight Mustangs who competed, six set new personal bests. The two who didn’t came within about 50 pounds of doing so.

Setting new personal bests were:

Aaron Arredondo in the 148-pound weight division with a 535-pound squat, a 365-pound bench press, and a 485-pound deadlift for a total of 1,385 pounds, good enough to finish eighth.

Noah Escandon in the 198-pound weight division thanks to a 585-pound squat, a 405-pound bench press, and a 525-pound deadlift for a total of 1,525 pounds to finish eighth.

Josue Garcia in the 198-pound weight division with a 525-pound squat, a 450-pound bench press, and a 500-pound deadlift for a total of 1,475 pounds to finish 14th.

Mynor Flores in the 220-pound weight division with a squat of 660 pounds, a bench press of 350 pounds, and a deadlift of 485 pounds, good enough for 15th.

Jose Solorzano in the 242-pound weight division with a squat of 675 pounds, a bench press of 390 pounds, and a deadlift of 500 pounds for a total weight of 1,565 pounds for 11th.

“Six had monster (personal records) where they were doing well beyond their previous totals,” Scales said. “They were doing the best they could to medal. For the most part, nobody was far off the platform.”

He was especially happy for Arredondo. Last year Arredondo failed to get a legal squat at regionals, so he didn’t advance. This year Arrendondo worked incredibly hard to advance to the state meet and made the most of his opportunity, Scales said.

“To put it in perspective, he had a 535-pound squat at state,” the coach said. “At regionals last year, it was 420 pounds. He had 100 pounds more this year on his personal record. That shows how much work and effort he put in.”

Christian Sein finished 19th in the 123-pound weight division thanks to a 350-pound squat, 210 pounds in the bench press, and 375 pounds in the deadlift for a total of 935 pounds.

Adan Lopez was seventh in the 132-pound weight division with a squat of 425 pounds, a bench press of 235 pounds, and a deadlift of 480 pounds for a total 1,140 pounds.

The coach said the results are because of the lifters and their teammates who helped wrap and fulfilled other jobs.

“We would not have been able to accomplish what we did without those people,” he said. “It was fast and chaotic. Once the bars are loaded, it’s go time. We would not have had the personal records or the day we had without them. Our family took care of each other.”

Scales noted how far the Mustangs came in a year, pointing out the heartbreak in 2023 that propelled them to what they accomplished in 2024.

Besides Lopez’s individual runner-up finish, the team was second at the regional meet last year. As the season was wrapping up in 2023, the members of the 2024 class gathered and promised the following season would be one for the ages.

They have fulfilled that, the coach said.

“I’m very proud of the boys for everything they did,” he said. “I was proud of the effort and what we accomplished as a team. They were all seniors. They all came out with a legacy. They came close to winning regionals last year. It’s a testament and cliche. If you put your mind to it, it’s happening. If you want it to happen, you’ll make it happen. ”

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CAPTION: Marble Falls senior Xavier Lopez with his Class 4A state championship medal and the plaque for Outstanding Deadlifter for Heavy Platform. Courtesy photo