Marble Falls powerlifting performs well at Lampasas
CAPTION: Brandon Seely begins to stand while performing this squat at the Badgers Invitational. Photo by Kaydence Burditt/In Color Photography
The Marble Falls High School powerlifting team competed in the Badgers Invitational hosted by Lampasas Jan. 22.
The Mustangs finished fifth in the team competition thanks to earning 19 points. Not bad for a squad that had only one of its top lifters competing and four lifters who made their debuts.
“My top-ranked lifters had the night off,” head coach Karl “Beef” Bielfeldt said. “I was happy with our finish with some new kids lifting. I was encouraged by our first time lifters. The biggest thing is that it’s a new setting for them; they’re not used to how a meet flows. (I wanted them) to get a little bit of confidence and have them have an understanding of it’s not as slow as you think it is. There’s a quicker pace to it and you have to be paying attention. You don’t really have time to kind of back off when your platform’s going.”
Easton Carey earned a bronze medal in the 114-pound weight division in his first meet ever.
In the girls competition, Caydence Bielfeldt set new personal records in all three of her lifts.
“(She) increased her totals and increased her standing in the region,” the coach said of his daughter.
Montserrat Fregoso added a silver medal to her cabinet and Makenzie Long made her debut after not participating in 2025.
“(Long) came in and she did really well and we’re just working her back into her form, getting her used to it and comfortable again,” Karl Bielfeldt said.
The sport, which includes the squat, bench press and dead lift, has two components – the ability to lift a lot of weight and the technical part or proper form to earn a score from the judges. So a lifter may lift the weight but may not meet the judge’s criteria to earn a score.
Bielfeldt noted most of his lifters earned scores in each their lifts.
“They all finished the meet, and that was the other big thing,” he said. “You don’t bomb out and that was good for them to actually finish a meet and see that they can do it.”
Marble Falls isn’t scheduled for another meet until Feb. 14 when they compete in the Aggie Showdown at Texas A&M University. Until then, the lifters will participate in training blocks.
“You start a little bit lighter and you’re working up,” Bielfeldt said. “You can increase your volume and sometimes increase your work, your change, your volumes in your intensities up. And so if you’re going every other week, you may not be able to allow some rest and then try and hit it and add a couple more pounds to what you’re able to lift. A typical training block is anywhere from three-to-five weeks.”
The coach said he’s encouraged by a lot as the season finishes its first month of competition.
“We did well,” Bielfeldt said. “We had some (personal records) from other guys that had been lifting. I’m happy with how they placed with the other guys resting up and getting ready for (Texas) A&M when we go Feb. 14.”
RESULTS
Badgers Invitational
Boys, (squat-bench press-deadlift–total)
114 – 3, Easton Carey, 200-105-205–510; 148 – 1, Adrian Arrendondo, 515-245-425–1,185; 165 – 14, Mason, MGinty, 205-135-235–575; 198 – 2, Jesus Rodriquez, 510-335-455–1,300, 5, Travis Lutz, 420-190-420–1,030, 8, Brandon Seely, 285-190-315–790; 242 – 3, Travis Skinner, 420-265-450–1,135;
Girls (squat-bench press-deadlift–total)
114 – 5, Makenzie Long, 140-95-180–415; 132 – 2, Caydence Bielfeldt, 235-140-255–630; 242 – 2, Montserrat Fregoso, 325-125-275–725
CAPTION: Travis Lutz steadies himself before he begins his squat. Photo by Kaydence Burditt/In Color Photography
