Lytle Independent School District

The Pirate powerlifters competed in their final meets at the end of February bringing home medals and plaques, and prepping one lifter for Regionals. Senior Jaden Araujo is advancing to the THSPA Region V Championships in Kingsville at the JK Northway Coliseum on March 13. He will represent Lytle in the Division III Meet and compete in the 114-weight class.

Last year, Jaden advanced to both the Regional Meet and the State Meet, and he is determined to make one final return to the state platform before he graduates. Since joining the powerlifting program as a freshman, his progress over the past four years has been nothing short of impressive.

We will have a send-off on March 12 at 9:30 a.m. at True Value Hardware on Main Street as he heads out to Kingsville for weigh-ins. If you are in the area, please join us to wish him luck!

Matador Invitational
The boys finished up their regular season at the Matador Invitational hosted at Seguin High School on Feb. 28. With over 25 schools in attendance, it was a packed and highly competitive meet lasting around seven hours. The energy in the gym was intense as lifters knew this was their final opportunity of the season to put up their biggest numbers and secure a spot at regionals. For a boy to qualify, he must finish in the top 12 of his weight class within his specific region and division which is no easy task in such a competitive field.

We entered seven lifters into the meet, with five completing their full competition. The athletes were pushing limits and taking big jumps, which naturally led to more scratches. In powerlifting, three missed attempts in a row result in a “bomb-out,” meaning the lifter cannot continue and finishes without a total. Minor injuries can also unexpectedly end a meet early as a precaution to prevent more serious damage. Even when it feels like just a small inconvenience, as coaches, we have to remind our lifters that no lift is worth a long-term injury even if it feels minor in the moment. While various types of setbacks are part of the sport, they also reflect the level of effort and heart our boys brought to the platform.

Despite the challenges, we walked away with some “metals” instead of medals! In a unique twist, Seguin awarded the top three lifters with Texas-shaped metal plaques instead of traditional medals. What a really awesome touch to finish the season! Senior Jaden Araujo claimed first place in the 114-weight class, and junior Isaac Ytuarte earned third place in the 198-weight class.

Below are the stats of our competitors:

Natalia Meet
On Feb. 25, a group of seven first-year Pirate powerlifters competed in the Natalia meet. With over 60 lifters in attendance, the energy was high, the lifts were quick, and the competition was tough.

With new lifters, year one is about learning. It’s about understanding commands, attempt selection, meet-day nerves, and making the typical beginner mistakes. That’s part of the process. You don’t truly understand what powerlifting entails until you step on the platform and experience it for yourself.

It was awesome to watch these boys step out of their comfort zones and load up weight they once thought was out of reach and go even heavier in competition. While we did have some scratches, what stood out most was the fight. Every time they approached the bar, you could see the hunger in their eyes. They didn’t back down from the weight. They battled it.

Out of our new lifters, Junior Ezekiah Aguilar was the only one to earn a medal. He earned a third-place medal in the 165-weight class, and his story is one worth sharing. 

Last year as a sophomore, Ezekiah tried out for the team and unfortunately did not make it. He was disappointed, but instead of walking away, he made a promise. He said, “I’m going to make it next year. I’m going to train and work on my form.” When this school year began, he came back to tryouts as a junior, keeping his promise. His form had improved tremendously, and his confidence was different. He earned his spot on the team. Out of the three meets he competed in this season, he brought home two medals. Ezekiah is living proof that setbacks do not define you. Hard work, consistency, and a clear goal do.

We are proud of all of our young lifters for finishing their first season strong. They laid a foundation this year. Now, they understand what it takes, and that’s where real growth begins. We hope they return next year to continue their training and grow stronger. 

Below are the team stats:

We are incredibly proud of all of our lifters. From start to finish, this season tested our lifters, fueled their drive, and showcased their relentless grit, growth, and dedication to the sport. While we are sad to see our seniors preparing to move on, we are excited about the underclassmen who will step up next year.

- Coach Gomez and Coach Gonzales