Lockney's Damion Gonzales (center) is joined by members of the Lockney Powerlifting team after he qualified for the state meet.
LOCKNEY – A very unfortunate injury to Damion Gonzales’ pinky finger has caused the pre-meet favorite to withdrawal from the Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA) State meet in Abilene on Friday.
The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon in Lockney according to his mother Becky Gonzales who posted on social media, “as many of you know, Damion had an accident yesterday (Tuesday) injuring one of his fingers. He did break the tip of the bone, but is doing good. Some pain. Good news: he won’t need surgery. Thank God, but he does have some recovering to do. Unfortunately this means he cannot compete in the State Powerlifting meet this Friday. I think that hurts more than the injury. We appreciate all the calls, text and prayers for him.”
According to the THSPA website, Gonzales was the favorite going into the 2022 State meet in the 114-pound class of Division 4. Gonzales won the Region 1 title in Sundown two weeks with an overall lift total of 1,000-pounds. His closest challengers were Jacob Guerrero of Yorktown (925 overall), Tevin Meade of Miles (905 total), and Noah Estrada from Agua Dulce (900 overall).
MORE: Lockney power lifter qualifies for state meet
Gonzales had the best state qualifying lifts in the squatts at 410-pounds, and bench press at 230-pounds. He was second in the dead lift at 360.
In 2021 as a junior, Gonzales finished fourth at State with an overall lift performance of 885-pounds. He and powerlifting coach Chris Pritchard still traveled to Abilene to represent Lockney at the state meet Thursday morning, leaving with a hero’s send-off from students from Lockney’s three campuses.
