Members of the girls powerlifting team will compete in their final invitational meet in San Saba Thursday. 

“This is the last meet before regionals so we will be taking girls that need to up totals for regional rankings or might need to get one more meet for experience before regionals and state,” girls powerlifting coach Tyler Cleavinger said. 

So far, the team has competed in three prior invitational meets, two in which they placed first as a team. 

“I think we have a good shot of competing for the title of regional champs,” Cleavinger said. 

Senior Arianna Bermudez broke her previously held squat records of 390 pounds by squatting 400 pounds at the home meet Jan. 23. She is currently first in her weight class out of the region. 

“I’ve done two meets so far and compared to last year my squat has gotten a lot better, and I broke the squat record again,” she said. 

Bermudez has been competing in powerlifting since her sophomore year.

“I do powerlifting because I enjoy the challenge and it feels good when you achieve your goals,” she said. 

She has managed to break the records for every powerlifting event other than deadlift with a squat of 400 pounds, a bench press of 180 pounds and an overall total of 885 pounds. 

“I’m kind of bummed out about it being my last year to powerlift, but it also makes me happy to look back from how much I lifted sophomore year to now as a senior,” she said. “Being a part of powerlifting gave me discipline and courage to get under the bar and not be afraid of the number.”