Aldine High Powerlifter Liz Carrizales Made up a lot of Ground in a Short Period of Time

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Aldine High School junior Liz Carrizales won regionals in her weight class and qualified for the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association (THSWPA) state tournament in her first year competing.

Aldine High School junior Liz Carrizales won regionals in her weight class and qualified for the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association (THSWPA) state tournament in her first year competing.

Aldine High School powerlifter Liz Carrizales qualified for the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association (THSWPA) state tournament in her first year competing.

Not bad for someone who only took up the sport a month before she finished in first place at regionals in her weight class.

Liz made a big splash in a short period. She won regionals (held in Alvin) with an overall score of 955 in the 220-pound weight class. In powerlifting, individuals compete in three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. At regionals, Liz scored 365 on the squat, 175 on the bench press, and 415 on the deal lift for an overall score of 955. At state (held in Frisco), she finished in the top 15 with an overall score of 920.

In addition to participating in powerlifting, Liz also plays volleyball and softball for the Lady Mustangs.

Cirilo Ojeda, Aldine High’s campus Athletic Coordinator and head football coach, said he wasn’t surprised how quickly Liz caught on as a powerlifter.

“She’s an amazing young lady,” Ojeda said. “She does a great job in the weight room and is one of our better overall athletes. We were happy for her and think she can do even better with another year of practice.”

Liz said she didn’t think much about powerlifting until she was asked to try it. Once she got in the weight room, she said she was hooked on the sport.

“I enjoy athletics, and powerlifting is now my favorite sport,” she said with a smile.

And what went through her mind when she took first place at the regional meet in Alvin to qualify for the state tournament?

“I was in complete shock,” the likable junior said. “I was super excited. I was also happy I came this far with just a month of practice.”

Liz said her best lift is the deadlift and said she needs to improve on the bench press if she hopes to earn a state championship her senior year.

While she stays busy with volleyball and softball, Liz said she would be committed to powerlifting. She dedicates two hours a day to the school weight room and works out at home.

And while she has a lot of support at school, she also has it at home from her parents, two brothers, and two sisters.

“Once they (her family) saw I was pretty good at it, they hopped on board,” said Liz, the youngest of the five in her family. “They are very proud of me.”

Liz said she would work hard during the summer to improve her bench press and has already set two goals for her senior year.

“My goals are to set the regional record and finish in the top five at state next year,” she said. “If given the opportunity, I would like to continue lifting in college.”

If Liz could win regionals and earn a trip to state with just a month of practice, imagine what she could accomplish with an entire year of training!