Aldine High School Powerlifter Brianna Ponce is a State Champion!

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Aldine High School power lifter Brianna Ponce, second from left, displays the gold medal she won at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association State Tournament in the unequipped division. Head coach Todd Polvado and teammates Paola Saenz and Liz Carrizales are pictured with her. The Aldine team finished fourth at state.

Aldine ISD is home to a state champion!

Aldine High School senior powerlifter Brianna Ponce brought home the gold medal in the unequipped division (165 pounds) recently at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association’s State Tournament.

Ponce lifted 280 pounds in the squat, 140 pounds in the bench press, and 355 pounds in the deadlift for a total of 775 pounds.

Brianna becomes the first male or female student-athlete in the history of Aldine ISD to be crowned a state champion in powerlifting.

Not bad for a program that’s only existed for two years.

Brianna and her teammates Paola Saenz and Liz Carrizales finished fourth overall at the state tourney. Carrizales, who finished first at regionals as a junior, finished fifth in her weight class, while Saenz placed ninth in her weight class.

Powerlifting coach Todd Polvado said Brianna saved her best performance for the most important meet of the year.

“Brianna was just phenomenal,” said Polvado, who has been coaching powerlifting for 13 years. “She had a great day. Brianna hit all of her lifts. She came in prepared. She also set a state record for the deadlift.”

Polvado said Brianna has a strong work ethic, which is critical to being a successful powerlifter.

“She’s a hard worker,” he said. “She’s mature and is a self-motivator with high character. You can trust her to work out independently, and she’ll do it (workout) right.”  The powerlifting season is a long one. We start training in November, and meets don’t start until January, so there is some delayed gratification before all that hard work is rewarded. A powerlifter has to be consistent and have unwavering dedication. Brianna falls into those categories. She really hit the gas this year. She was very determined.”

In addition to the gold medal she won at state, Brianna also won medals at five other meets.

Brianna said she was happy with her performance at the state.

“It meant a lot,” she said, about being a state champion. “It made me realize that it could be accomplished if I worked for it. I started lifting to get stronger and thought I’d try powerlifting. I’m glad I did.”

And it certainly worked out for Brianna.