You could hear a pin drop in the gymnasium as he brought the weight down to his chest.
Everyone in attendance was watching Leandro Salazar attempt to bench press 405 pounds.
When he got in the air, and three white flags indicated his success at setting a new state best, the place exploded in cheers.
“I’ve hit (personal records) in the past, but nothing like that,” he said. “To have a whole room pumped up, hitting a weight like that, it’s beautiful.”
Salazar’s was one of many impressive achievements from the February 17 powerlifting meet held at Española Valley High School. The Sundevils took first place for both the boys and girls, and Escalante was second.
“That was some of the most fun I have ever had,” said Escalante’s Ezekiel Martinez. “This meet, it was just killer. I enjoyed meeting other people, everyone around here is so nice.”
Los Lunas and St. Michael’s were also at the meet, with smaller teams. The meet consists of three lifts — squat, bench press, and deadlift. Each lifter gets three tries for each category. Their total scores from the best successful lift are added and compared to others in their weight class.
Española competed earlier this season in Bernalillo.
Salazar’s bench press extends his own record, set last year at 380 pounds. The next closest bench press in the state right now is 350. ‘Chungus’ as he’s called by teammates, lifted 395 pounds on his second attempt. Then he skipped past the next round number and added 10, exclaiming, “Scared money don’t make money.”
Technically, according to team coach Rudy Martinez, only lifts at the state championships count as official records. But Salazar will almost certainly match and exceed his current personal bests by the mid-April meet.
The junior’s goal is to have a record by the end of next year that lasts as long as possible.
Rudy Martinez said that, with the way bigger weights are pushed every year, he says just a couple years. After 2023, very few records from 2022 still stand across any weight classes.
“The higher I can get it, the longer it’s going to hold,” Salazar said.
Ezekiel Martinez set a school record with his 475-pound deadlift. That sets a school record for not just sanctioned powerlifting, but for anyone recorded in the weight room. He broke the record from Dante Salazar, and is now the record holder for all three lifts.
“What it means to be is, there’s always room for improvement, no matter what,” Ezekiel Martinez said.
Española’s Bryan Almedia had another impressive lift on the day with his 565-pound deadlift. That ranks third-best in the state across all weight classes, and has surpassed last year’s state record. EJ Martinez was not far behind at 520, and Salazar hit a personal-best 515.
After Almedia gave some hugs after that lift, he collapsed on the floor in exhaustion. Right next to Salazar.
“It’s euphoric,” Almedia said. “The adrenaline rushes to your head, it’s crazy. I could run through a wall every time I hit a new (personal record).”
Nearly everyone throughout the day set new personal bests. Many already hit their expectations for the end of the season, and will now have to set new goals. Española’s energy gave everyone added strength.
“You get a 10-pound boost just being at the meets,” Salazar said. “With all the adrenaline and all the excitement.”
Salazar (275 pounds), Almedia (308) and EJ Martinez (242) all rank at the top of their respective weight classes. Martinez, last year’s state champion at 198 pounds, had been second at 220, but moving up to a higher class gives him easier competition.
Salazar and Almedia are looking to take the top of the podium after coming up short last year.
“You’re always nervous that someone’s going to catch up to you,” Almedia said. “At that point, you’ve just got to out-lift them. One v one.”
Jack Purdy, a defending state champion at 123 pounds, is now up to the 148-pound class, and is looking to improve from his current third-place position. The Española team as a whole, despite losing some competitors for what their coach called disciplinary reasons and grades, could compete for a team title.
Ezekiel Martinez is in first place in 1-3A at 242 pounds, and teammate Tayshaun Toya now leads in 165. Jeremiah Martinez is fourth at 181 pounds, and not far behind the leaders.
“Last year, we had about five or six kids, this year we have 14,” said team coach Earl Martinez, Ezekiel’s father. “For a small school, we’re pretty proud of our turnout.”
On the girls side, Escalante’s Abigail Martinez currently ranks second at 165 pounds, and Paradise Velarde is third in 220 pounds. Española’s Michelle Herrera and Anna-Lee Trujillo are both fifth in their class. And Olivia Suazo is currently second — she missed the meet while in El Paso for a tennis tournament, but scored results earlier in the week.
Rudy Martinez is back with his team this year after having to miss much of last season while hospitalized due to an illness. He was busy judging for much of the day, he said, and the athletes stepped up to in some ways coach themselves.
“There’s no way to describe that,” Rudy Martinez said. “This group is special. It’s not because of what they’re doing. They’re special because they want to do it.”
Española’s next meet will be at home on March 16.