Sandoval County schools celebrate state powerlifting titles at Rio Rancho Events Center

Sandoval County’s biggest powerlifting names did more than show up at home. Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho High School and Bernalillo High School each produced at least one individual state champion at the 2026 NMAA Powerlifting State Championships, turning the Rio Rancho Events Center into a two-day showcase for local strength sports.

The meet, officially called the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers State Powerlifting Championships, split the action across April 10 and April 11, with boys competing Friday and girls taking the platform Saturday. Each lifter worked through the sport’s three standard lifts, squat, bench press and deadlift, across 12 weight divisions, giving the weekend a fast pace and plenty of chances for local athletes to put up numbers in front of a home crowd.

The county results mattered because the field was not soft. The NMAA results showed Sandia won the Class 5A boys team title, Lovington captured the 4A boys crown and Carlsbad took the 5A girls championship. Cleveland finished third in the 5A boys standings, a sign that the Storm were not just represented but were among the top programs in the state race. The statewide competition was tight enough to produce a state record and a near-miss, underscoring how high the bar was at this year’s meet.

That context makes the local success stand out even more. Rio Rancho and Cleveland had already finished 1-2 in girls’ Class 5A powerlifting in last year’s meet, and this year’s home-site championships showed that Sandoval County schools remain a force rather than a one-year story. When athletes from Cleveland, Rio Rancho and Bernalillo stepped onto the platform, they did so with classmates, coaches and neighbors close by, a difference that can turn a state meet into a community event.

Hosting the championships at the Rio Rancho Events Center also gave the city a visible role in one of New Mexico’s most demanding high school sports. Over two days, the venue drew athletes, families and supporters into town, and the county schools made the most of the setting by bringing home state titles as well as team points. For Sandoval County, the weekend was proof that local programs can still dominate on the biggest stage when the lifts count most.