Marble Falls powerlifting ends season at state

CAPTION: The Marble Falls High School powerlifters who competed at the state meet include Tyler McIntyre (kneeling, center), Arnulfo Salazar (middle row, left), Daniel Dominguez, David Dominguez, Julio Gaytan, Adrian Arredondo; Xavier Soza (back row, left), Josue Fonseca, Keaton Proctor and Jaxson Bales. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls High School powerlifting program completed its season at the state meets recently.

The Mustangs were led by Arnulfo Salazar, who finished fourth in the 181-pound weight class thanks to a 615-pound squat, a 395-pound bench press and a 575-pound dead lift for a total of 1,585 pounds.

“When we looked at it, Nulfo was the one who had a really solid chance at medaling in the top five,” head coach Karl “Beef” Bielfeldt said. “Going into it Nulfo was the one that was sitting third. State is a different animal as far as it’s a bigger environment, it’s not as a high school gym. So there’s more space, it doesn’t feel the same as a high school meet or as a regional meet.”

The boys state meet was at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene March 27.

Other lifters included Tyler McIntyre, who was 10th in the 114-pound weight class with a 295-pound squat, a 170-pound bench press and a 450-pound dead lift for a total of 915 pounds, David Dominguez, who finished seventh in the 123-pound weight class thanks to a 425-pound squat, a 225-pound bench press and a 465-pound dead lift for a total of 1,115 pounds, Adrian Arredondo, who finished 18th in the 148-pound weight division with a 530-pound squat, a 285-pound bench press and a 405-pound dead lift for a total of 1,220 pounds, and Keaton Proctor, who was 21st in the 242-pound weight class thanks to a 600-pound squat, a 350-pound bench press and a 495-pound dead lift for a total of 1,445 pounds.

“I had two other lifters who had an outside chance at getting in the top five. It just would have required some kids to have off days and some bombouts or disqualifications or something like that.

As for the girls, Montserrat Fregoso was eighth in the 242-pound division thanks to a squat of 370 pounds, a bench press of 135 pounds and a dead lift of 305 pounds for a total of 810 pounds.

Teammate Caydence Bielfeldt finished 13th in the 132-pound division with a 275-pound squad, a 150-pound bench press, and a 275-pound dead lift for a total of 700 pounds.

The state meet was at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg March 20.

CAPTION: Montserrat Fregoso steadies herself on the squat platform and locks her back before she starts to bend at the knees to lift the weight. Courtesy photo

“There a lot of strong girls once all the regions got there and so it was a good learning experience for Caydence,” he dad said. “She got to experience it and understand how it works a little bit differently than some meets. It didn’t go the way she wanted it to and she fought through it, and I was proud of her for that. For Montserrat, same thing. It’s a different environment and a couple of things were different, and so she really had to fight. We look forward to next year with these girls. Hopefully we keep building this program.”

The coach noted the Marble Falls lifters each set new personal records at the meet.

Proctor recorded a 600-pound squat. Bielfeldt said.

“I think it was his first time at state and so it was a good experience to be able to finish off a senior year and actually make it to state and get that experience,” he said.

McIntyre, who had already set the regional record in the dead lift with 420 pounds, decided to add more weight to his dead lift. He lifted 450 pounds.

“So he saw a little bit more room on it, too,” Bielfeldt said. “He’s a sophomore, and I expect him to come back next year. We have some things to work on, and he knows it. But he’ll be back next year breaking that regional record again and maybe breaking the state record.”

Dominguez also did well with the dead lift by lifting 500 pounds.

“That jumped his positioning and kept him at seventh,” the coach said. “That was the same thing with Tyler. He went from the bottom of the pack and moved himself up to ninth. We have a bunch of guys who are really good at dead lift. You never really know how they’re going to shake out because they pull so well.”

He added that Salazar, even though he was fourth at state, left motivated for better results in 2027.

“We’ll get some things cleaned up and make another good run next year so hopefully we can still be able to take six or so next year,” Bielfeldt said. “We’re going to work towards actually putting a team that not only wins regionals but has a good shot of getting a team award at state.”

CAPTION: Caydence Bielfeldt gets low on this squat and is able to lift it for a score at the state meet. Courtesy photo