Isabella Pacheco

• Grade: 12

• Sport: Powerlifting 

• Position: Captain of girls

• Age Started Playing: 16

How would other people describe you as an athlete?

Motivated, I push myself to the limit, and very confident.

How and why did you start playing? 

I started because I would see on social media my friends lifting and I thought it was cool that you could lift heavy weights. I got into it when I came here last year and in the second semester I emailed the coach about joining.

Describe how you prepare before a game/tournament. 

Before I usually don’t eat anything because I want to make weigh ins, and I prepare by going to sleep early, clearing my mind of everything. I don’t eat anything 24 hours before the meet.

For people that have never played your sport, what do you think the average person gets wrong about it? 

I think the average person gets wrong that they think it’s not for them. They think their not strong enough but what they have to understand is that you have to get to that point with hard work and dedication, once you start you’ll see results really fast.

What personal superstitions or traditions do you have before, during or after a game? 

Before I like to eat Honey Buns, after weigh ins end I like to eat two Honey Buns and fill my mouth with sour patch kids, its super unhealthy but they tell us to load up on sugars.

Tell us about your favorite memory as an athlete either on or off the field. 

My favorite memory was squatting 330 lbs at regionals, especially how easily it flew up I was just really proud of myself. Before I did it I made a 40 lbs jump on the weight and you’re not normally supposed to do that. I was really nervous before, and when I was putting the weigh down I thought “there’s no way I just did this”.

Tell us the story about what you are most proud of yourself for.

Losing weight to get into my weight class, I did cardio, I fasted, and I’m so proud of how much I pushed myself. I try and stay disciplined, that’s the hardest part.

As an athlete, who is someone you are thankful for and why? 

Im definitely thankful for my teammates and my coach because I don’t think I would’ve gotten any of those lifts without them being there yelling at me, cheering me on, supporting me , and pushing me to my limits.

What advice would you give to your younger self when you began playing? 

Drop down a weight class and keep lifting heavier than you think you normally would. Sometimes you’d be surprised to how much you could do when you just set your mind to it.

What’s on your sports bucket list? 

Hitting a 405 squat, benching 225, and deadlifting 500.

Favorites

• Team/Sport Ritual or Tradition: When someones maxing out in practice we all gather around and cheer them on.
• Pre-Game Meal: Honey Buns
• Post-Game Meal:  Wingstop
• Exercise: Bulgarians 
• Practice: Squatting
• Hype Music: “02 lakers” by BigXthaPlug
• Sports Movie/TV Show: “All American”
• Coach: Weatherson and Alinne Flores