What challenges did you face leading up to or during the meet? How did you overcome them?
“Leading up to the meet, me and some other lifters struggled with our old weight due to all the snow days and cancellations for power lifting and it was just a struggle getting our numbers back up after missing so many days that could’ve been used for practice. I overcame this problem by doubling down and really just progressively overloading myself the days before.” — freshman powerlifter Ferdieyael.
“Leading up to the meet, my biggest challenge was hitting a plateau on my squat, having to hit a certain depth. I eventually overcame this with the right amount of practice and help to refine my form.” — freshman powerlifter Heidy Quesadilla.
“This was my 2nd ever meet, so I was still a bit nervous, but I knew what to generally expect. During practice, I struggled as I’ve never done any sort of heavy weight lifting, but with good attendance, I made progress, especially with my bench numbers, as it’s not my strong suit. I was also unsure if I could truly keep up with this club as I was juggling other after school activities, like Mock Trial competitions, Student Council, and of course the newspaper, but once the first meet’s date was coming closer, I knew I could manage. I focused on my breathing, teammates and coaches hyping me up, which helped a lot with calming me down at meets. Once I stepped on the platform, I reminded myself that I trained for this and deserved to give it a shot, and that mindset helped me push through every lift.” — sophomore powerlifter Katz Paniagua.
Describe your overall experience at the Ryan Moore Championships. Share a moment during the meet when you felt especially proud–of yourself, a teammate, or the team as a whole.
“At the meet I participated in, there was a moment where one of my lift I had never done before and at that time it was over my known PR. After I managed to get it done, I felt accomplished and in a zone.” — freshman powerlifter Ferdieyael.
“The Ryan Moore championship was really fun; I would definitely do this again next year. I felt awesome toward the end, during the awards, getting 1st place.” — freshman powerlifter Heidy Quesadilla.
“My overall experience at the Ryan Moore Championships was exciting yet a little bit overwhelming, but in the best way possible. Being surrounded by so many strong and positive lifters made me feel proud to be apart of the team. A moment that really stood out to me was when I was doing my 3rd and final deadlift, thinking I couldn’t complete the 180 lb lift, as it was higher than my PR. Once I held it in the air, hearing my teammates and coaches cheer, it made me realized how much I’ve grown throughout the season.” — sophomore powerlifter Katz Paniagua.
My 1st Place Medal from the Ryan Moore New England States High School Championships.
How did the team atmosphere–coaches, teammates, energy, support–impact your performance and mindset at the meet?
“My teammates energy was always excited and pumped, pushing me to always do more. With Marcus and Heidy around, my mindset is always be at your best.” — freshman powerlifter Ferdieyael.
“The atmosphere at the meet was great, very whimsical and joyous. I had a lot of fun and wish others had gone as well.” — freshman powerlifter Heidy Quesadilla.
“The team atmosphere made a huge difference in how I performed and how confident I felt. The coaches were supportive and kept giving me helpful cues that made me feel prepared. My teammates brought so much energy, and their encouragement helped me push past my nerves. Knowing everyone was rooting for each other made the whole meet feel positive and very motivating.” — sophomore powerlifter Katz Paniagua.
Inside view at the Ryan Moore New England States High School Championships.
What did this meet teach you about yourself as a lifter, and how will it shape your goals moving forward? Would you recommend this club to any Highlanders?
“The meet taught me that I, with consistency, am able to grow and out perform myself. This will shape my goals for the future because I plan on doubling my numbers for bench, deadlift and squat. I would definitely recommend this club for people who love challenges and are prideful because powerlifting brings everyone to compete with each other and push to be better.” — freshman powerlifter Ferdieyael.
“The meet and club in general has taught me that consistency is in-fact key. The meet has also taught me ‘missing’ a lift is not a failure, but a lesson in technical adjustment. I would 100% recommend this club to any Highlander; the people here are great.” — freshman powerlifter Heidy Quesadilla.
“This meet definitely taught me to be open towards any mistakes, and to know that I am not perfect. It made me realize that I am stronger and more capable than I had previously thought, especially when I trust my training. It also showed me that stepping out of my comfort–that being joining a more active and disciplined club for the first time every in my life–can lead to really great opportunities and unforgettable moments. Moving forward, I want to continue with this club, and in the meantime, continue working hard to improve my form and increase my numbers for next season. I would definitely recommend this club to any Highlander because of how supportive and empowering the Doherty Powerlifting Team’s environment is, and how useful the information you learn is outside of the weightroom.” — sophomore powerlifter Katz Paniagua.
Doherty Memorial High School's Weightroom Morning of March 30, 2026
