She’s Tiny Yet Mighty

Frausto lifts her way to state podium

By Sandy Anderberg

Clarendon High School junior Elliot Frausto weighs only 103 pounds, but she used an abundance of strength to place fifth in the 105-pound weight class at the Girl’s State Powerlifting Meet last week.

To say this little lifter is strong, is an understatement, as Frausto finished with a lift total of 520 pounds to claim a medal in her division.

Frausto has been powerlifting only a couple of years and lifted last year “just for fun,” but this year she was more motivated.

“The softball girls have to do it (lift weights), but we decided to take it more serious this year,” Frausto said.

If determination was an event, then Frausto would place deep there as well. Going into the season, there were only a handful of powerlifting meets to gain the experience needed to go to the next level. However, Frausto was committed to the decision to take it more serious and she did just that.

“At first, I didn’t think I would like it, but then I went to a meet, and I liked it,” Frausto admitted.

Her growing love for the sport increased, and she quickly planned some well-timed strategy in the sport.

“When I first started, I weighed 110 pounds and lifted in the 114-pound class,” she explained. “But we saw that the competition wasn’t as tough in the lower weight-class, so we decided to lose the weight to lift at the lower weight.”

The “we” Frausto is talking about is her lifting coach Jordan Enriquez who is a coach at Clarendon schools. With his help and the help of her dad, Brandon, she lost enough weight to lift in the 105-pound class where she was able to finish with a lift total of 555 pounds, which was 30 pounds more than in her previous class.

The early season meets allowed Frausto to gain the experience she needed to top the field at the regional level by 15 pounds in total weight lifted and punch her ticket to the State Powerlifting Meet, a first for a Lady Bronco.

Frausto finished with a lift-total of 520 pounds and took her spot on the podium as the fifth strongest lifter in the 105-pound class in the state, which fed her desire to lift her senior year to bring home the gold.

“I will probably lift next year,” Frausto claimed. “I want to win first.”

The tiny lifter has a goal which is to gain more experience and understand the sport’s judges and commands.

Frausto’s ending weight lifted is not far off the lifted weight of the top four lifters at the state level. She was able to squat 175 pounds, bench press 100 pounds, and deadlift a respectable 245 pounds in the state meet.

“Elliot was determined to make it to the state meet,” Enriquez said. “It was awesome to see the dedication and commitment pay off.”

As a sidenote, Frausto lifted 260 pounds in the deadlift at state, but it was ruled she moved her foot during the lift, which is a rule infraction.

Frausto is able to call this season a success and is looking forward to getting back in the weight room next year.

“I have learned that you have to push yourself and get out of your comfort zone, and I also love how supportive all of the girls are.”