Escalante faced challenges throughout the season and at the state finals.
The week leading up to the competition, team members had strep throat. Others had nagging injuries.
“They persevered, and they went through it,” said team coach Earl Martinez. “When they have faith in themselves, they can move mountains.”
Escalante’s powerlifting team had four competitors qualify for and compete at the state powerlifting championships in Rio Rancho on April 12-13. Ezekiel Martinez led the way with a fourth-place finish.
“I saw a lot of heart and determination,” Earl Martinez said. “They’re country kids … They don’t have any quit, they have a lot of fight in them.”
There were two sets of siblings in the competition — Jeremiah and Ramon Martinez, and coach Earl Martinez’s children Ezekiel and Abigail.
The competition has three parts — squat, bench press, and deadlift. Each competitor gets three attempts on each lift, and choose their weight to attempt but cannot decrease. The final score tallies the biggest successful lift on the three events.
Much of powerlifting is a mental competition as much as it is physical. Ezekiel Martinez said he and teammates have had to push through mental blocks and small nagging injuries.
But Martinez said his final placement was not the most important factor.
Earl Martinez, Ezekiel and Abigail’s father, said he has seen growth in his son’s mental toughness pay off as he pushed through the competition.
“I’m not too worried about placing, I’m just out here to have fun,” Ezekiel Martinez said. “It’s always better to compete with yourself than anyone (else).”
Jeremiah Martinez finished in seventh place in his weight class as a junior. And Abigail Martinez, representing the girls program, placed sixth.
“We’re hoping that it entices more girls to come out from Escalante for this program,” Earl Martinez said.
Ramon Martinez was disqualified from the event after his first lift attempt, when he dropped the weight too quickly over his shoulder. Earl Martinez said that he thought Ramon did not have as much faith in the official meet spotters, as compared to his teammates that are usually there. A rough way for a senior’s career to end.
“As a perfect team member as he is, he didn’t get down on himself,” Earl Martinez said. “He rallied behind Ezekiel and his brother. You can’t ask for more.”
A year ago, in their first year competing, Escalante had just two competitors make it to state: Jeremiah Martinez placed fifth and Ezekiel Martinez finished outside the top five. The program grew heavily throughout the year with more competitors joining.
Ezekiel Martinez lifted a total of 1,185 pounds in the competition, including a squat of 440 pounds that tied for third and was just five pounds behind second.
Throughout the year, Escalante competed at Shiprock, Española and Farmington. A year ago, they only competed once before state, with six competitors total. And next year, they expect even more competitors.
“Everyone’s enjoyed the season,” Ezekiel Martinez said. “I feel like that’s what counts.”