Poteet’s Garcia qualifies for world bench press championships




Jalyssa Garcia attempts to squat during a weightlifting competition in 2022. Garcia will represent the U.S. at the world competition in Nov. and will compete against girls from other countries including Russia and Germany. SUBMITTED PHOTO | GARCIA FAMILY

Jalyssa Garcia attempts to squat during a weightlifting competition in 2022. Garcia will represent the U.S. at the world competition in Nov. and will compete against girls from other countries including Russia and Germany. SUBMITTED PHOTO | GARCIA FAMILY

No soy lo que piensas. The phrase, which means “I’m not what you think,” is stitched on one of Jalyssa Garcia’s lifting belts and rings true for her to her character. As a powerlifter, she has often been underestimated on first impressions. However, the Poteet senior has often caught people by surprise.

“I heard it off of a song,” Garcia said. “And that made me think, because with powerlifting, since I’m a girl, a lot of guys don’t [take me serious], but then when I go lift and people see me, they’re like, ‘Oh wow, you’re strong.’ And I can go two ways — I can go girly or I can go weightlifting.”

In the Mustang Stampede weightlifting competition earlier this year, Garcia lifted a total of 887.3 pounds, which places her as one of the top weightlifters in the world in her weight class. Garcia also is currently #1 in the U.S. for the 16-17 age group with a current recorded bench of 231.5 pounds. The champion weightlifter qualified to compete at the World Open, Sub Junior, Junior & Master Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championships in Utah Nov. 12 and 13, where she will have the opportunity to go up against some of the best weightlifters in the world in the 15-19-year-old age group.

Garcia has spent the last few years training with Garcia Elites in Natalia, a non-profit organization that has helped many athletes obtain scholarships. Her coach, Pierre Garcia of Garcia Elites, is a graduate of Pleasanton High School and believes she has set a standard with her accomplishments.

“What separates her from other athletes is just her determination to be the best,” P. Garcia said. “She’s been an example, not only our athletes, but to girls across the world.”

Garcia will graduate from Poteet in December and with plans to continue her powerlifting career at the next level. Though she is undecided where she will attend college, Garcia wants to come back and help coach some of the girls in the program. With the success that has come along, she believes other girls can follow on the path she has paved.

“If you actually work out and do the program and stay consistent, you can go places,” Garcia said. “I didn’t think I was gonna have scholarships or go to Worlds. There’s a lot of things I didn’t know I was gonna do, but here they are.”

Sponsors are currently being accepted for Garcia’s trip to the world championship competition in Utah in Nov. Donations are tax deductible and can be payable to Garcia Elites Inc. For any questions, contact Pierre Garcia at 210-323-7517.

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