El Pasoan power lifters take first in competition

Judas Contreras cranks out 315 pounds on the bench press like it is just any usual routine.

And his friend Fernando Gonzales is right by his side. Both of these men work and train at EDS Gym in far east El Paso. They both placed first in the Symbolic Muscle Classic Powerlifting meet in Austin, Texas.

“Honestly it felt awesome, when they were handing out awards I didn’t expect to place, and when they called me out i wanted to jump up,” Gonzales said.

Both trainers lifted a total of 1,316 pounds between the bench press dead lift and squats in the 198 pound weight class.

“Coming from such a small town, that we can do big things you know?” Contreras said. “There is potential here, you just gotta show it.”

Contreras and Gonzales said they are not finished yet, rather they are looking to accomplish more in the coming months.

“I want to start setting records in my weight class,” Contreras said.” I know i want to become a pro eventually, because I know the potential is there I just got to go and get it.”