- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Clovis Today
By the People, for the People
Four Area Athletes Capture State Powerlifting Titles
Portales, Clovis, and Texico athletes shine at the New Mexico high school powerlifting championships
Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:00am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The state powerlifting championships showcase the incredible strength and dedication of high school athletes across New Mexico.Clovis TodaySeveral high school athletes from the eastern New Mexico region captured individual state titles at the powerlifting state championships held in Rio Rancho. Girls from Portales, Clovis, and Texico won their respective weight classes, while three area boys finished as runners-up in the boys finals. The Portales girls team placed second overall in the Class 4A team standings, while Clovis and Texico also had strong showings in the 5A and 1A-3A divisions.
Why it matters
Powerlifting is a growing sport in New Mexico high schools, providing student-athletes opportunities to compete at the state level and showcase their strength and dedication. These title wins highlight the talent and hard work of athletes from the eastern part of the state, building pride in their local communities.
The details
In the Class 4A girls competition, Portales' Danai Landeros (105 pounds) and Azlan Smith (181 pounds) each captured individual state titles. Landeros lifted a total of 470 pounds, edging out the runner-up by 5 pounds, while Smith lifted 750 pounds to win by 60 pounds. The Portales girls team finished second overall in the 4A team standings. In Class 5A, Clovis' Emmylee Vetterly won the 148-pound division by lifting 715 pounds, 20 more than the runner-up. Texico's Mariyah Bachicha won the 181-pound title in the 1A-3A division, lifting 770 pounds - over 100 pounds more than the runner-up.
- The powerlifting state championships were held on Saturday, April 12, 2026 in Rio Rancho.
- The boys finals took place on Friday, April 11, 2026.
The players
Danai Landeros
A powerlifter from Portales High School who won the 105-pound state title by lifting a total of 470 pounds.
Azlan Smith
A powerlifter from Portales High School who won the 181-pound state title by lifting a total of 750 pounds.
Emmylee Vetterly
A powerlifter from Clovis High School who won the 148-pound state title in Class 5A by lifting a total of 715 pounds.
Mariyah Bachicha
A powerlifter from Texico High School who won the 181-pound state title in Class 1A-3A by lifting a total of 770 pounds.
Mason Wallin
A powerlifter from Logan High School who finished as the runner-up in the 308-pound division in Class 1A-3A boys competition.
What they’re saying
“Powerlifting is such a great sport that showcases the incredible strength and dedication of these young athletes. We're so proud of all their hard work paying off with these state titles.”
— Portales High School Coach
What’s next
The top finishers from the New Mexico state powerlifting championships will now look to qualify for and compete at the national powerlifting meet later this year.
The takeaway
The success of these eastern New Mexico powerlifters demonstrates the growth and competitiveness of the sport across the state. These state title wins will inspire more young athletes to take up powerlifting and continue building the region's reputation as a powerhouse in the sport.
