LOS FRESNOS — Los Fresnos is sending three girls to compete in the NAIA ranks next season.
Powerlifters Krystina Infante and Karina Medina are headed to Midland University in Nebraska, and Sara Garza will play soccer at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
Garza played center back for the Lady Falcons this season on one of the best defenses in the Rio Grande Valley.
“I love the sport and I knew wanted to keep playing at the collegiate level,” she said. “I am excited that it is close to home. I had other options, but I picked this one.”
Garza will study kinesiology and hopes to become a physical therapist. The center back loved her role on the team, especially when the team would build out from the back.
“Sara is that type of girl you cannot replace,” Los Fresnos coach Diego Luna said. “She was my captain for the last two years, a four-year varsity starter and she took command of the defense as soon as she got here. You cannot replace her.”
Luna said the girls under Garza received a master class in how to be a leader, and that her impact will be felt.
Infante and Medina were part of a Los Fresnos girls powerlifting team that has won seven straight state championships. At state, Infante finished fifth and Medina finished second in their weight class.
“It is very exciting to have this opportunity,” Infante said. “I am actually really surprised because I always doubted myself. I did not think I was going to go to state or even place at state, so I am pretty surprised.”
Infante plans on studying education in college, specifically working with special needs children. The powerlifter said they have her heart. Infante only competed in powerlifting for one year.
“For her to come out in one year and to squat, bench and deadlift what she did this year at the state level and to get a scholarship for lifting in one year is amazing,” Los Fresnos powerlifting coach Jaime Vela said.
Medina joined Los Fresnos for her senior year because of how good the program is and because of Vela.
“He is there to pick you up when you fall, when you succeed, he is basically a father figure,” Medina said. “He can take you places you never been, and when he tells you something it is because he is right.”
Medina, who plans to focus on an occupation in the medical field, finished second at state this year. She was also surprised about getting recruited and thought the state meet was her last competition.
“I feel super excited,” Medina said. “I did not think I would get the opportunity, but I got handed a piece of paper that said here is another shot. I feel super excited.”
Vela expects both to succeed at the next level.
“I think they will be extremely successful,” he said. “If they put in the work that I saw this year, the sky is the limit for them.”
