The Centralia High School Powerlifting Team traveled to Yelm on Saturday, April 19, to compete in the 2025 Red and Black Open at Yelm High School — serving as the final qualifying opportunity for the upcoming Washington State Powerlifting Championships.
“Eight Centralia lifters competed with strength, determination and heart as they attempted to secure their spot at state,” girls powerlifting coach Rose Waterfield-Taylor said in an email to The Chronicle.
All eight athletes placed in their categories at the Red and Black Open. Julian Crenshaw, Olivia Friedley and Josemanuel Alatorre earned first place; Michelle Fadness placed second; Pablo Perrin Dominguez placed fourth; Sergio Sanchez placed fifth; Kaeleigh Swarhout placed seventh; and Yoselin Jimenez placed eighth.
Final invitations to state will be announced in the coming days.
“We believe we have a strong group and a good number of athletes who will plan to represent the orange and black in Olympia (on) May 3,” Waterfield-Taylor said. “… We could not be more proud of these athletes and the hard work they’ve put in this season. Some are new to the sport, others are overcoming injuries or preparing for state, and all have shown tremendous growth. As coaches, these athletes all showed up to try something new that they were enjoying to take it to the next level because we believed in them — and they have exceeded all expectations.”
Rose-Waterfield said that she and boys powerlifting coach Doug Ashmore are looking forward to seeing which athletes qualify for state, but she added that “regardless of results, these athletes have already made history. They have set the tone for what Centralia Powerlifting is and will continue to become.”
