PNG’s Carreon finishes second in state lift

Published 7:01 pm Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Two years after being a novice to the sport of powerlifting, Gage Carreon of Port Neches-Groves nearly became a state champion.

Carreon finished second Saturday in overall standings for the 165-pound weight class at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association Division I state meet in Abilene. The record-setting Region IV champion beat his regional total of 1,450 by 70 pounds but was 60 pounds behind eventual champion Daniel Leita of Port Lavaca Calhoun.

Carreon, whose regional total and 615-pound deadlift in regionals broke records, deadlifted 610 in Abilene. He squatted 585 pounds and benched 325.

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Carreon, who finished 17th at state last season, told The News earlier this month he didn’t know what a deadlift was two years ago. But the running back and fullback for the Indians has made powerlifting his passion now.

Another second-year state qualifier for PNG, Timothy Le, was 11th in the 123-pound class with 1,020 total pounds. Le squatted 400, benched 215 and deadlifted 405.

Brendon Jones of Nederland came in 12th in the 114-pound class with 895.

Division I includes schools that are classified as 5A and 6A.

The Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association held its state meet March 17 in Waco. Nederland had two lifters, Catarina Tran (seventh at 114 pounds) and Hallie Cappel (10th at 105) place in the top 10.

— I.C. Murrell

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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