CASS Student Lifts Gold in Luzon-Wide Powerlifting Competition Debut

Report by Mary Ruth Orendain | Layout by Richamel Kyla Maniego | MSports Ph

Four hours of sleep. One final lift. A flood of tears. 

That was how Reniel Suba, a student of AB English Language Studies 2A from the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) at Tarlac State University, made his victory at the 2025 Luzon Regionals Powerlifting Championship held on April 10, 2025, at Robinsons Las Piñas. 

He bagged a gold medal in the Men’s College Division under the 59 kg weight class, lifting a total of 365kg: Squat – 120kg, Bench Press – 65kg, Deadlift – 180kg. 

Powerlifting may not be a widely known sport at TSU, but for Reniel, it all started with a friend. “I have a friend who’s into powerlifting, and I just go with him to his training sessions,” he shared. “I owe this victory to him. He encouraged me to join the team.” 

From friendly sessions to casual training routines, Reniel trained four times a week, often for four hours per session, all while juggling academics, lack of equipment, and financial limitations.

“My first competition was incredibly stressful, but also incredibly rewarding,” he said. “Balancing training with schoolwork, sleep deprivation, inconsistent meals, and financial limitations was challenging,” But despite everything, for him, it was all worth it in the end. 

The emotional high point came during his final lift. “One of the most memorable moments was the night before the competition, “I only got four hours of sleep,” Reniel recalled. “And then, ‘yung last attempt ng lift ko—I couldn't control my emotions. I just started crying because I trained so hard for this moment.” 

Now, Reniel hopes to bring that same passion to others, he encourages students to join their upcoming tryouts. “We’re working hard to grow and strengthen our team,” he said. “Your support means everything—not just for me, but for everyone striving to put TSU on the map.”