‘Iron Aggies’ bring powerlifting to NMSU

When Adrianna Apodaca left high school, she looked around the state for college powerlifting clubs. 

Apodaca graduated from Mayfield High School, where she competed in powerlifting, and took third place in the state competition. 

She knew she wanted to continue competing, but the only college powerlifting club in the state was in Albuquerque, at the University of New Mexico. 

She wanted to stay closer to home for college, so she founded the New Mexico State University “Iron Aggies” Powerlifting Club in Las Cruces.

In powerlifting, Apodaca told the Las Cruces Bulletin she has “found a lot of mentors” as she trains for competitions.

Powerlifting is a competitive sport that includes three lifts: The squat, the bench press and the deadlift. Those competing seek to lift the maximum weight in the three disciplines.

“It brings you so much closer to your teammates than any other sport,” Apodaca said when asked why she was drawn to the competition.

She cited the support from her high school teammates as one reason she qualified for state, where only the top-eight lifters qualify, and that she was looking for the same type of support in college.

She said that at the club, members receive “emotional support, mental support and physical support” about not just powerlifting, but other things including their time at school and their personal lives.

The club looks to promote straight training, discipline and community among the powerlifting community at the university.

Apodaca said that she and the club’s financial advisor, Alejandra Amaya, are working on getting the financial ability to go to meets. The club received an invite to participate in a competition in Phoenix, AZ. 

There are competitions throughout the country and the world for powerlifters, she said.

Apodaca evangelizes powerlifting and said that students at NMSU should at least give it a chance. 

“Even if they don’t know if they want to just try something, you don’t know if you like it until you try it,” she said.

The club is welcome to men and women of all experience levels of powerlifting. The club’s Facebook page says non-students who want to sponsor, partner or volunteer to help the new club out are also welcome.

So far, Apodaca said the club has received “a lot of traction and community support” and she thanked her supporters, including Amaya.

Apodaca said anyone who is interested in joining the club can find information on their Instagram page at @nmsu_iron_aggies or email any questions to ironaggies@gmail.com.