KC powerlifter earns second state crown: Broncos get three on podium

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – Kirtland Central’s Ethan Billey successfully defending his powerlifting state crown.

The KC junior finished first in the 114-pound weight class by lifting a combined 710 pounds in the squat, bench press and deadlift on Saturday at the New Mexico Class 4A State Powerlifting Championships inside the Rio Rancho Events Center.

“It’s an honor,” Billey said of becoming a two-time state champ. “First of all, I like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I wouldn’t be here without him.”

In addition to Billey, the Kirtland Central girls team also had senior Terryka Dowdy and freshman Mackenzie Nusser make the podium as the girls championship was decided on Friday.

Billey easily topped his weight class as state runner-up Edgar Landeros finished 60 pounds back at 650 while Deming’s Jorge Sanchez took third at 640.

At the state meet, the KC powerlifter set three new state records in squat (240), deadlift (325) and overall total (710).

“Ethan did really well in the offseason,” KC coach Travis Clary said. “Coming in, he balanced wrestling and power lifting really well. He dealt with some injuries, but he bounced back from that, and we just adjusted his plan, knowing this is where he ended up in April. So, he stuck to it. He did really well, and it’s just a testament to his discipline.”

Billey said it took dedication and consistency to hit those state records.

“Basically, consistency is the key,” he said. “You just got to believe that you’re going to lift those weights.”

“Ethan’s an extremely disciplined kid,” Clary chimed in. “He knows exactly what he wants and how he’s going to go about getting there. And when we laid all this out, he stuck to it. He didn’t deter from anything.

“What I’m amazed with is just how disciplined he is, and the way he conducts himself in the weight room,” he added. “It showed here today, he didn’t shy away from it.”

As for next year’s senior season, Billy is seeking to three-peat as he is looking to set a precedent for future KC powerlifters.

“I just want to get better and better,” Billey said. “I want to set new PRs.”

In the girls competition, Nusser and Dowdy earned silver medals in their respective weight divisions.

“Both of those ladies did phenomenal throughout the season,” Clary said. “They put it all together here, culminated in a great meet and making it all happen.”

Nusser won second at 114 pounds as she lifted a total weight of 540 pounds. In the three disciplines she lifted squat at 195, bench press at 100 and deadlift at 245.

Nusser finished behind Española Valley’s Olivia Suazo, who won the state crown with a total weight of 565 pounds.

“It was definitely difficult, and definitely challenging,” Nusser said of the state meet.

To prepare, Nusser said there were days when she didn’t want to lift, but she did anyway.

“I had to stay very disciplined,” she said. “I had to do my workouts early in the morning, and then I had weight class first period and then I lifted after school. I got myself hooked up with a trainer, and we just worked so I stayed on it.”

Of the three weight apparatuses, she improved her squat by 10 pounds at the state competition.

Looking ahead, Nusser is looking to win the state crown next season as she came up 25 pounds short of Española Valley’s Olivia Suazo.

“I want to get first,” Nusser said. “I just have train and stay disciplined, and I know I’ll get there.”

At 259, Dowdy lifted a total of 775 pounds. Her totals included 275 in squat, 160 in bench press and 340 in deadlift.

The KC senior finished second to Grants junior Savannah Ortiz, who finished with a mind-boggling 900-pound total.

“This is my second year doing it, and this is the first time I’ve placed,” Dowdy said. “It means a lot. I worked really hard, and my coaches are so insanely dedicated to helping us. So, we worked really hard all season, and it feels really good for it to pay off.”

And although she came into the state competition nervous, Dowdy set new PRs for the season as she improved her total lift by 20 pounds, increased her deadlift by 15 pounds and improved her squat by 5 pounds.

“Honestly, it was such a rush of adrenaline that I couldn’t feel it,” Dowdy said of lifting heavier weights. “I’m sure in practice it would have hurt, but in the moment, it was go, go, go.

“As soon as I hit those, I looked at my coaches and it was just a rush of emotions because I wasn’t expecting to do this well,” she added. “It was exciting to see these results today.”

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