March 15, 2019 at 05:54AM
A member of the Cleburne High School varsity cheer squad will be competing at Saturday's Texas High School Women's Powerlifting Association state meet.
Jadyn Govea became a two-sport athlete this year when she chose to join the girls powerlifting program. The CHS junior has been involved in cheerleading since elementary school and is in the midst of tryouts for her second year on the varsity squad.
She was a silver medalist in the 132-pound weight class at the Region II Division I meet, placing her among the Class 5A state qualifiers. Govea is advancing along with senior Keirstyn Catron, who is a state competitor for the second consecutive year.
"I thought powerlifting would be a fun sport to join," Govea said. "I began thinking about it at the end of my sophomore year. I'm a strong athlete, so I felt it would be a great second sport for me. I wanted to get stronger and thought it would help me improve in my cheerleading skills."
A petite 5-foot-1, Govea admits she has experienced her share of doubtful looks when classmates have learned she is a powerlifter. At the regional meet she established new personal records on all three lifts, squatting 320 pounds, bench pressing 180 and posting 315 pounds in the dead lift, for a total of 815 pounds.
"Not too many people knew that I was in powerlifting, but they do now," Govea said. "There are so many misconceptions about powerlifting — you have to be a certain size or height or build. That's so wrong."
Fellow cheerleader Jaelin Rodriguez is not one bit surprised at Govea's achievements in lifting and is very excited to see a member of the Cleburne cheer squad among the state qualifiers.
"I'm really proud of her, but not shocked by what she has accomplished," Rodriguez said. "She has been our power base all year. She is able to do a one-person stunt, in supporting a girl by herself. Jadyn is one of only a few on our team that can do that."
Govea, who is the youngest among her siblings, says she has received a lot of support from her family, as well as friends.
"My family has been really impressed," she said. "My older brothers are scared of me now. They are jealous I can lift more than them — and also very proud. It's kind of blown my mind that I can lift more than I weigh. I actually lift double my weight, which is crazy."
She credits Coach Jason Payne for his encouragement, along with Catron, who she describes as a great friend, motivator and role model.
"Coach Payne has helped me stay strong," she said. "At times I would doubt myself, but he always told me I could do this. He has really boosted my confidence. In my last section of lifts at regionals, which was the dead lift, he told me, 'lift this and you'll be going to state.' I am so excited to be going."
Payne said he has known all season that the first-year lifter would be a regional contender. He also believed state was a possibility.
"We all knew she was in regional contention," he said. "As we grew closer to regionals, which was on March 2, we knew she had a chance at state if she could break past some milestones. I think Jadyn had a mental block when she focused on how much weight she was lifting. We didn't want her making huge jumps in weight, so in practice we added weight slowly. We never want our lifters to attempt a weight unless they have attempted it in practice first.
"She knew she needed to get 300 on the squat. At the regional meet she tried 305 and was successful. Having one more attempt in the squat to better her total, she attempted 320 and lifted it with ease, after trying it several times in practice the prior week. Lifting is very psychological — you must first believe you can lift it. On the bench press, she has yet to peak finishing 180 at regionals is just a stepping stone for her.
"What Jadyn has gained in powerlifting is definitely a plus as she continues to compete in cheer. The expanded flexibility and power she has achieved will reflect in the tumbling and stunting she does as a cheerleader."
Preparing for the state powerlifting meet in the middle of cheer tryouts for 2019-20 has admittedly added to her stress level, but Govea said she doesn't mind the added weight on her mind.
"I'm excited but nervous," she said. "I know there will be a lot of strong girls competing. I have a lot to think about as this is my first time in the program. But I believe if I put my mind to something, nothing is impossible. I'm glad Keirstyn will be competing, too. She pushes me. She tells me I have to get this and that I can. She is such a great motivator.
"I really love powerlifting. This is a dream come true for me. I'm coming back next year for sure. I'll be the only veteran senior on the team, so I'll have to strengthen my leadership skills. I'd also like to get more cheerleaders to try powerlifting.
"Powerlifting teaches discipline and self-control. I'm a better listener now. I also feel I can do my own thing. I know who I am, and what I can do. I plan to keep on, with that in mind."
When it comes to his two state qualifiers, Payne believes there is definite strength in Cleburne's numbers in their skills, passion and heart. After finishing seventh at state in 2018, Catron moved up a weight class this year. She met the qualifying lift total of 925 pounds to advance to state after placing fourth at regionals.
"Keirstyn has been awesome this year," Payne said. "She is such a leader and motivator on the team. We are very excited for her as she goes after a state medal again this year. Having her as a veteran headed back to state has, and will continue, to help Jadyn as this will be a new level of competition for her."
Catron was pleased to see four Lady Jackets advance to regionals this year, which she took quite personally as a recruiter for the girls' program.
"Last year it was just two of us, so I was happy to see four compete at this year's regional meet," Catron said. "I have really tried to recruit girls to come out for powerlifting and it was great to have a team of 10 this year. Jadyn has brought such a good vibe to the team — she's always happy. I'm believing for great things for both of us.
"Having been at state last year, I know what to expect. But that doesn't make me any less nervous. I've been doing everything in my power to compete with the other girls in my new weight class."
Saturday's 5A and 6A contest will be at 8 a.m. at the Extraco Events Center in Waco. Cleburne will also be represented at the boys' state meet in Abilene later this month following Wesley Free's qualifying performance at the March 9 regional meet.
A member of the Cleburne High School varsity cheer squad will be competing at Saturday's Texas High School Women's Powerlifting Association state meet.
Jadyn Govea became a two-sport athlete this year when she chose to join the girls powerlifting program. The CHS junior has been involved in cheerleading since elementary school and is in the midst of tryouts for her second year on the varsity squad.
She was a silver medalist in the 132-pound weight class at the Region II Division I meet, placing her among the Class 5A state qualifiers. Govea is advancing along with senior Keirstyn Catron, who is a state competitor for the second consecutive year.
"I thought powerlifting would be a fun sport to join," Govea said. "I began thinking about it at the end of my sophomore year. I'm a strong athlete, so I felt it would be a great second sport for me. I wanted to get stronger and thought it would help me improve in my cheerleading skills."
A petite 5-foot-1, Govea admits she has experienced her share of doubtful looks when classmates have learned she is a powerlifter. At the regional meet she established new personal records on all three lifts, squatting 320 pounds, bench pressing 180 and posting 315 pounds in the dead lift, for a total of 815 pounds.
"Not too many people knew that I was in powerlifting, but they do now," Govea said. "There are so many misconceptions about powerlifting — you have to be a certain size or height or build. That's so wrong."
Fellow cheerleader Jaelin Rodriguez is not one bit surprised at Govea's achievements in lifting and is very excited to see a member of the Cleburne cheer squad among the state qualifiers.
"I'm really proud of her, but not shocked by what she has accomplished," Rodriguez said. "She has been our power base all year. She is able to do a one-person stunt, in supporting a girl by herself. Jadyn is one of only a few on our team that can do that."
Govea, who is the youngest among her siblings, says she has received a lot of support from her family, as well as friends.
"My family has been really impressed," she said. "My older brothers are scared of me now. They are jealous I can lift more than them — and also very proud. It's kind of blown my mind that I can lift more than I weigh. I actually lift double my weight, which is crazy."
She credits Coach Jason Payne for his encouragement, along with Catron, who she describes as a great friend, motivator and role model.
"Coach Payne has helped me stay strong," she said. "At times I would doubt myself, but he always told me I could do this. He has really boosted my confidence. In my last section of lifts at regionals, which was the dead lift, he told me, 'lift this and you'll be going to state.' I am so excited to be going."
Payne said he has known all season that the first-year lifter would be a regional contender. He also believed state was a possibility.
"We all knew she was in regional contention," he said. "As we grew closer to regionals, which was on March 2, we knew she had a chance at state if she could break past some milestones. I think Jadyn had a mental block when she focused on how much weight she was lifting. We didn't want her making huge jumps in weight, so in practice we added weight slowly. We never want our lifters to attempt a weight unless they have attempted it in practice first.
"She knew she needed to get 300 on the squat. At the regional meet she tried 305 and was successful. Having one more attempt in the squat to better her total, she attempted 320 and lifted it with ease, after trying it several times in practice the prior week. Lifting is very psychological — you must first believe you can lift it. On the bench press, she has yet to peak finishing 180 at regionals is just a stepping stone for her.
"What Jadyn has gained in powerlifting is definitely a plus as she continues to compete in cheer. The expanded flexibility and power she has achieved will reflect in the tumbling and stunting she does as a cheerleader."
Preparing for the state powerlifting meet in the middle of cheer tryouts for 2019-20 has admittedly added to her stress level, but Govea said she doesn't mind the added weight on her mind.
"I'm excited but nervous," she said. "I know there will be a lot of strong girls competing. I have a lot to think about as this is my first time in the program. But I believe if I put my mind to something, nothing is impossible. I'm glad Keirstyn will be competing, too. She pushes me. She tells me I have to get this and that I can. She is such a great motivator.
"I really love powerlifting. This is a dream come true for me. I'm coming back next year for sure. I'll be the only veteran senior on the team, so I'll have to strengthen my leadership skills. I'd also like to get more cheerleaders to try powerlifting.
"Powerlifting teaches discipline and self-control. I'm a better listener now. I also feel I can do my own thing. I know who I am, and what I can do. I plan to keep on, with that in mind."
When it comes to his two state qualifiers, Payne believes there is definite strength in Cleburne's numbers in their skills, passion and heart. After finishing seventh at state in 2018, Catron moved up a weight class this year. She met the qualifying lift total of 925 pounds to advance to state after placing fourth at regionals.
"Keirstyn has been awesome this year," Payne said. "She is such a leader and motivator on the team. We are very excited for her as she goes after a state medal again this year. Having her as a veteran headed back to state has, and will continue, to help Jadyn as this will be a new level of competition for her."
Catron was pleased to see four Lady Jackets advance to regionals this year, which she took quite personally as a recruiter for the girls' program.
"Last year it was just two of us, so I was happy to see four compete at this year's regional meet," Catron said. "I have really tried to recruit girls to come out for powerlifting and it was great to have a team of 10 this year. Jadyn has brought such a good vibe to the team — she's always happy. I'm believing for great things for both of us.
"Having been at state last year, I know what to expect. But that doesn't make me any less nervous. I've been doing everything in my power to compete with the other girls in my new weight class."
Saturday's 5A and 6A contest will be at 8 a.m. at the Extraco Events Center in Waco. Cleburne will also be represented at the boys' state meet in Abilene later this month following Wesley Free's qualifying performance at the March 9 regional meet.