Fairfield High School sophomore Riley Stone brought home the state powerlifting title for the 105 class from the 3A Division 1 State Championship on Thursday, March 13, in Edinburg.
Stone won first place with a squat of 270 pounds, bench press of 185 pounds, and deadlift of 290 pounds for a total of 745 pounds.
“I am unbelievably excited to bring home the state title because I have put in an unbelievable amount of work, and I have the best support group out there in my friends, family and our amazing coaches. That state ring is something I had no idea was even in the picture to accomplish, and I know that not only have I made myself proud, but I have made the coaches proud, and as an athlete that is the best feeling ever,” Stone said. “My goals for the next two years of power lifting are to keep getting stronger and go up a weight class to try to win it! This will require even more hard work and to lift a lot more, but it’s a goal I’m so excited to work for.”
Stone said that she is so thankful for her coach, Kevin Childers, as well as the support from the community.
“Coach Childers has meant more to me as a coach and a person than I even know. He has not only been there for me to push me as hard as he can, but he has been there for me as a person in so many ways. He has supported me and my goals and helped me accomplish them. I am so grateful for these past two years I have had with him,” Stone said. “I would like the community to know how grateful I am for everyone helping me with my accomplishments, and that every inch of hard work that is put in with the early morning practices and late night meets is so hard, but it gives you the drive to want to keep pushing yourself. As you keep pushing yourself results will come. It may not be right away, but no one can tell you that you can accomplish something that you put your mind to.”
In the 242 division, junior Callie Morgan grabbed fifth place with a squat of 345 pounds, bench press of 250 pounds, and deadlift of 325 pounds for a total of 920 pounds.
“It was so exciting to stand in front of so many people and claim my fifthplace title. When I understood that I was fifth in the state of Texas, it was truly amazing. My goal next year as a senior is to train harder, and place higher at state. Also, I want to beat the state record in the bench because unknowingly I attempted to tie for the state record, but it was unsuccessful,” Morgan said. “Coach Childers means so much to me. I wouldn’t be a two-time state qualifier if it weren’t for the push he gave me. It’s hard to know that he is retiring, but I know he’ll be there to watch as a judge.”
Sophomore Bry Willis placed seventh in the 148 class with a squat of 315 pounds, bench press of 200 pounds, and deadlift of 315 pounds for a total of 830 pounds.
“I’m very happy to have competed at state and placed seventh because I have now assured myself that I have room to grow. My goal for the next two years of powerlifting is to lift heavier and medal at state,” Willis said. “Coach Childers has been the best teacher and friend for me in both football and powerlifting because he has always been there to guide me and even if I may not like it, he has made sure that I put in the work to make myself stronger.”
Childers has been in education for 41 years and is retiring at the end of this school year. He has taught and coached in Fairfield for the past 18 years.
“To medal as Callie did is an awesome accomplishment, much less win a state championship like Riley, the first girls powerlifting state champion from Fairfi eld,” Childers said. “Bry did a great job of getting there and improving her total as well.”
