The 2026 NMAA Boys Powerlifting Championships was held on April 10 and 11 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Wildcat pride was shining bright with our very own Jesus Olvera defending his title by winning the individual State Championship in the 4A Powerlifting 220-weight class.
Jesus Olvera joined the Deming High School Wildcat Powerlifting team as a sophomore in 2024 and rapidly developed into one of the cornerstones of the program. During his first year he went head-to-head with the defending champion in the 220-weight class, a senior from Lovington High School. Almost completing a major upset, the two athletes tied with Olvera losing via a bodyweight tie breaker. In 2025, Olvera dominated the 220-weight class, posting a 1305 pound total and winning his state championship by a 145 pound margin. He also set state records for his squat and total pounds lifted.
This year Olvera decided to focus on wresting and then after the state championships, shift his focus to powerlifting to defend his title. After only an 8-week prep, he managed to outlast fierce competitors, totaling 1300 pounds and successfully defending his title. Olvera finished his high school powerlifting career as the most decorated in our young program’s history with 2 individual State Championship titles and a runner-up finish. Olvera still holds the squat and total state records for the 220-weight class.
“Jesus’s accomplishments are immense, but they do not tell the full story of what he has meant to our program and to me.” stated Powerlifting Coach Nick Williams “Jesus carries with him a level of dignity, class, and confidence that is noticeably contagious. Jesus’s presence was missed early in the season while he was wrestling but as soon as he rejoined us, the entire atmosphere changed. He stepped up as the clear, outspoken leader of this year’s team. His love of lifting coupled with his personal success is a great recruiting tool for the upcoming season. I feel extremely blessed to have been given the opportunity to coach such a great young man. I hope he continues to compete in powerlifting and possible one day come back and help coach the team he has helped build.”