Cavegirl Powerlifting Team State Champions

kmarksteiner0
4 days ago
4 min read

By Don Eskins

The Carlsbad Cavegirls Powerlifting team, in only its second year of existence, captured the 2026 NMAA Class 5A State Powerlifting Championship in Rio Rancho on Saturday, April 11.

Carlsbad’s girls amassed a total of 32 points en route to grabbing this year’s state title. Rounding out the tourney’s big three finishers were the runner-up Alamogordo Tigers, with 30 points, and the third-place Hobbs Eagles, with 26.

Leading the way for Carlsbad were individual state champions Campbell Foster at 165 lbs., Cassandra Bielstein at 181, and Atria Wells at 259.

Also showing well were state runners-up Pauline Siazon at 97 lbs. and Sophia Trujillo at 259 lbs.-plus. Kieana Munoz, also at 259-plus, placed fifth.

At state, participants competed in three different lifts: the Bench Press, Squats, and Dead Lift. Participants’ scores were calculated by the total amount of weight lifted for all three lifts.

Overall, 22 teams competed in the tournament. Contestants competed in 12 different weight classes at the NMAA powerlifting’s Big Dance.

The Route to a State Title

“We had to have everybody perform at a level I knew would be good enough for us to win this year’s state championship,” said an elated CHS powerlifting head coach Mike Widenor. “And for the most part, that’s just what they did. I was so proud of the efforts put out by all of our girls.”

Heading up CHS’s bid for this year’s state championship were Campbell Foster and Atria Wells, both of whom were defending individual state champions.

“Both Campbell and Atria did exactly what we needed them to do; they dominated the field,” said coach Widenor. “En route to this year’s state title, Campbell won all three events and set a new state record in the bench.

“Atria, equally impressive, set new state records in the bench, deadlift, and for overall total weight lifted,” he said. “Both Campbell and Atria were awesome in their pursuit of this year’s state championship.”

And then there was Cassie Bielstein.

“Cassie was on fire at the tournament. She was unbelievable,” said the CHS coach. “She out-benched and out-deadlifted her nearest competitor with ease.

“After winning state at 181 lbs., Cassie, who placed sixth last year, was so overcome by the thrill of it all that she cried,” said Widenor. “She’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever had. She most definitely earned every bit of this year’s state title.”

Runner-up finishes by Sophia Trujillo and Pauline Siazon also figured big in CHS’s run to the state title.

“We knew Sophia would go one or two at the meet, and with her second-place finish, she did. Her effort kept us in the hunt for this year’s state title,” said Widenor. “However, when it came to surprises, Pauline’s effort was no doubt the biggest.

“Sitting in third place, and at 88 pounds the smallest lifter in the tournament, she battled her way to a runner-up finish,” said Widenor. “The two points we got, as a result of her effort, wound up being the difference in us winning state.”

In 2025, the Cavegirls placed third at the state tournament. Driven to capture a state title in 2026 for the past 12 months, Carlsbad’s girls have finally realized their dream. The Cavegirls are a bridesmaid no more.

“I’ve always said that character counts in this business, and our kids have great character,” said Widenor. “Considerate, nice, sweet, and refreshing, all of these kids are most definitely a class act.”

Cavemen Finish 6th

Carlsbad High’s Cavemen powerlifting team placed sixth overall at this year’s NMAA Class 5A Powerlifting state tournament. Twenty teams participated in the event held in Rio Rancho on Friday, April 10.

“After placing second last year, we’d hoped to win it all this year,” said CHS powerlifting head coach Mike Widenor. “However, this year, we just didn’t perform as well as we’re capable of. But in no way was our sixth-place finish due to a lack of effort; things just didn’t go our way.”

Reenson Akwiembi, claiming a state title at 181 lbs., turned in the Cavemen’s top performance. Sean Cruz, with a runner-up finish at 275, the second.

“Reenson had an awesome tournament,” said Widenor. “On his way to the 181 lb. state title, he broke records in the Bench, Deadlift, and for total weight lifted.

“Sean, in a very tough bracket, also had a good tournament,” he said. “However, in an effort to keep him from sustaining a possible injury during the competition, we toned him down a bit. Only a sophomore, he’ll get another shot at a state title for the next couple of years.”

As with the Cavegirl’s Pauline Siazon, the Cavemen also had a huge surprise at the tourney.

“The surprise was Javier Ceniceros. At 114 lbs., and only an eighth grader, he placed fourth,” beamed Widenor. “Can you imagine that, an eighth grader competing at the state tournament? By the time he graduates, he’s going to be a star.”

Assisting Widenor on CHS’s journey to this year’s state tournament has been coach Bonnie McKenzie.

2026 State Powerlifting Tourney

Girls’ Division: April 11, 2026

Top 5 Teams:

1. Carlsbad, 32; 2. Alamogordo, 30; 3. Hobbs, 26; 4. Rio Rancho, 20; and 5. Piedra Vista, 18. (22 teams total)

Cavegirl Results:

97 lbs.: 2. Pauline Siazon, Total wt. 450 lbs.

165 lbs.: 1. Campbell Foster, Total wt. 810.00 lbs.

181 lbs.: 1. Cassandra Bielstein, Total wt. 740.00 lbs.

259 lbs.: 1. Atria Wells, Total wt. 905.00 lbs.

259+ lbs.: 2. Sophia Trujillo, Total wt. 770 lbs.; 5. Kieana Munoz, Total wt. 725.00 lbs.

Boys’ Division: April 10, 2026