- April 26, 2024
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Ashley Cain is the only Lopez lifter to advance to the state meet. Photos by Jeff Dawsey
Cain says she learned technique and mental calmness from her older brother, Michael, a former Father Lopez lifter.
Isabella Maude
Reiana Johnson
There were no paperwork miscues this season. Father Lopez junior Ashley Cain finally got her chance to compete in the district and regional meet — and she won both of them.
“The region championship has been my goal for a very long time,” Cain said. It definitely felt great winning it.”
Last season, first-year coach Leroy Fisher mistakenly signed Cain up to the wrong division for the district meet, which resulted in Cain not being allowed to complete. From then on, Cain made it a personal mission to not only dominate the district meet — which she did — but to make it to state meet. Mission accomplished.
“Winning the district and regional championship,” she said, “and getting to state after what happened last year, makes it that much more special.”
Sibling help
Cain’s older brother, Michael, who also lifted at Lopez, introduced her to the sport several years ago. He took her to the gym, and she instantly fell in love with weightlifting.
“He’s helped me reach my goal by showing me correct form and by always motivating me to keep going,” she said. “He told me he was proud of me and that he knows I will do well at state.”
Being her first state-meet experience, Cain says she doesn’t know what to expect, but she hopes to set personal bests in both her bench press and clean and jerk.
Other top regional finishers
Father Lopez’s Isabella Maude took second place in her division, and Seabreeze lifter Reiana Johnson tied for first fail to third place, due to her weighing more than the other lifters.
