Cobra junior breaks three state records
When headed to the state powerlifting meet, Industrial Cobra Miley Alaniz had plans on what she hoped to accomplish. When the meet ended, she had a second state title along with three state records, and reached the goals she was shooting for.
Alaniz, a junior, was already a defending state champ, so winning a second title was only the beginning of her goals.
“Going into the state meet, I knew I wanted to break the previous state records,” Alaniz said. “I didn’t have a particular total in mind, but I knew I wanted to break the state record total (weight lifted). I was able to break the bench press and deadlift records along with the total overall weight lifted.”
In powerlifting, lifters get three attempts in the squat, bench, then deadlift. A lifter must have at least one successful lift in all three in order not to get disqualified.
After the squat, and after setting the state record in bench press, Alaniz had an 80-pound lead over second place. She could have easily lifted a lesser weight to make sure she completed a lift and coasted her way to victory, but she still aimed for those other records.
“When I went to the deadlift platform with my comfortable lead, I still decided to choose an opener I was confident in, in order to make sure I had a clean lift,” Alaniz explained. “Going into the deadlift I was feeling good. I had done great on squat and bench and was approaching my best lift: the deadlift. When my opener of 345 moved smoothly, I knew I wanted to go ahead and attempt to break the state record with my second attempt. I approached the platform with 365 loaded on the bar and pulled it all the way up.”
With the record in hand, Alaniz had one attempt left.
“(On the final lift), knew I wanted to push myself to my limits. I tried to shoot for 380 but my body just wasn’t up for it.”
Even without the final lift, Alaniz’s record-breaking overall total was 955 pounds. She outpaced second place by an impressive 150 pounds, lifting almost eight times her body weight.
“What got me interested in joining powerlifting was when an amazing coach named Cody Carney asked my sister and I to compete in Industrial powerlifting,” said Alaniz, who started lifting weights as a freshman. “I also was inspired to lift from my cousin Destini Briseno, who is an alumni powerlifter from Calhoun High school.”
It runs in the family. Miley’s twin sister Mackenzie is also a powerlifter who brought home a second place finish in the 114 class at the state meet. Younger sister Miranda, a freshman, brought home a seventh place finish at the state meet. Miley’s older sister Desiree Alaniz, a 2025 graduate of Industrial, is continuing her powerlifting career at Missouri Valley in Marshall, Missouri.
“My sisters and I lift each other up in everything we do,” Miley said. “Growing up we were always teammates and that requires us to work together.”
Although Miley and Mackenzie both have a year to go, they both hope to continue lifting beyond high school.
“I am beyond blessed to have received my second state title in my third year competing,” Miley said. “My freshman year, I played many sports while trying to lift as much as I could, but my favorite sport–by far–was powerlifting. I knew by my junior year I wanted to pursue lifting only. I train all year long in order to prepare for the powerlifting season.
“Ever since my freshman year I knew I wanted to lift in college. With my junior year coming to an end, collegiate lifting is becoming more of a reality. At this point, I am undecided of where I would like to go, but I am excited about what my future holds,” Miley concluded.
