By Glen Rosales
Special to the SUN

As a team, power lifters are suffering from a numbers drain.

But for the athletes who pushed through, now comes the reward as three Sundevils boys and three girls head to the state tournament this weekend at the Rio Rancho Event Center.

“It’s been a little disappointing this year because our numbers are way down,” Sundevils coach Rudy Martinez said. “I’m hoping with the success of these kids who are new, hopefully it will bring in some more kids who are interested in it. But this year was a very difficult year for us.”

Still, for the boys, freshman Zoe Bendijo and junior Lucas Martinez (who attends McCurdy but competes for Española because the bobcats don’t have a power lifting team), will be both lifting in the 148 lb. weight class and junior Santi Trujillo will be competing at 165 lbs.

“I expect all three of them to be on the podium, they definitely have the potential,” Rudy Martinez said.

Lucas Martinez, who was sixth last season in his first year in the sport and looking to set a record in the bench press, enters the meet seeded third and Bendijo is fifth, “and Zoe hasn’t even tapped his potential yet,” Rudy Martinez said.

Bendijo has been lifting on his own since he was in sixth grade to help prepare for football, but being in a structured program produces better results, Rudy Martinez said.

“The discipline it takes to be a power lifter is different,” he said. “When you lift on your own, it’s hard to have the same discipline. That’s been the hardest thing with him. He’s a very, very strong kid and I can tell you right off, I had high hopes. I told him he was probably going to be on the podium this year. That was my goal for him.”

Bendijo’s work ethic in power lifting carries over into his other sports of football, basketball and track, Rudy Martinez said.

“I just wanted to work on my strength for football and other sports,” Bendijo said. “I like it a lot. How we train. We train hard to be consistent and I’m seeing a lot of progress every week. I’m gaining more pounds and building muscle at the same time.”

Trujillo is making his first appearance at state after just missing out last season.

“It’s a pretty good feeling to know that all the hard work I put in has paid off and gives me an opportunity to compete at a high level, the state level with other very successful and very strong guys,” he said.

Trujillo got into power lifting after his first season of high school football.

“But I was very small and after that season, I wanted to get stronger and bigger so I could compete with the guys on the varsity level,” he said. “I think it went pretty great. I had a pretty solid junior season, played running back and slot receiver and slot corner and linebacker.”

For the girls, senior star Olivia Suazo, who also plays tennis, is back at 105 lbs. looking to defend her state championship from a year ago.

And two fellow seniors, Michelle Herrera, also at 105, and Anna Lee Trujillo at 220, will take their final shot at the podium after repeated trips to state.

Trujillo almost grabbed a medal last year, finishing fourth.

“I’m not going lie, I messed up one of my last lifts, but it made me get better and stronger for this year,” she said. “I worked my butt to get where I am right now, so I’m super excited. I expect to be on the podium this year. I truly believe in myself and having the strength to do it.”

Herrera, who is also on the golf team, said she’s also looking to make an impact at state this year after being fourth last season.

“I understand that everything you put in is what you get out,” she said. “I have worked my butt off and of all the girls competing in 4A in the state, I made it. I want to push myself for a new personal record and getting higher weight. I’m determined to push myself. I’m very realistic and I moved up a weight class and nothings ever easy.”