Hannah Costa asked if she could take athletic PE instead of traditional PE, but she had no idea it would lead to so much more.
Costa was granted that request, but the sport she participated in during her free time – she practiced mixed martial arts to stay active and healthy – was not among the sports offered at Destrehan.
What was in the works, though, was a new powerlifting team – and Costa was among the first approached in starting that program.
Today, as the Destrehan graduate prepares to move on to the United States Air Force, Costa holds the all-time Louisiana Division I state deadlift record in the 123-pound weight class and has qualified for the state powerlifting championship tournament. She also earned regional champion honors and has been a cornerstone of a rapidly ascending powerlifting program at Destrehan.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve done and what I’ve been able to do,” said Costa. “We’re a small team but it’s growing and growing fast, and I’m really excited to see where it goes from here. My sister’s a part of the team now, she found her community here too. So that’s another realm of it. I enjoyed it so much. I wish I had another year with them.”
And no matter where it goes from here, Costa will always be part of the first team, a core that got the program established.
“Every time we’d show up somewhere with three people, we’d get some looks from people,” said Costa. “At a meet last year, they spelled our name wrong. They spelled my name wrong. And we kind of took that and said, hey, this is Destrehan High School and we’re here to show you what we can do. We got our name out there. And there a lot of schools like Lutcher and Dutchtown that dominate the sport, but they know Destrehan is coming.”
Her record setting day came at the regional championship meet and earned her the first place crown, as well as qualifying her for the state championship meet.
“Coach (Brayden) Bauer said (the record) was something I could get … once we locked in that goal, we were going after it,” Costa said. “Deadlift was my best lift, and still is. I had a personal record on squat already and deadlift was next … basically everyone was there, so we just had to do it. I was glad to bring it home for my team and my school.”
That school pride is something that meant a lot to Costa during her time at DHS.
“We say tradition never graduates here, and I will always be very proud to be a Wildcat,” Costa said. “It’s something I’ll pass down to my kids and my family. It’s an amazing community. And for me, I’m going to carry it forward – it’s a matter of what am I going to do so I can continue this tradition in my own way.”
While at Destrehan, Costa was a member of Wildcat mentors, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Music has also been a core part of her life as well. She recently began to play the guitar, but the piano is her longtime specialty. She is also a talented vocalist – “that’s something that’s been in my heart since I was little.”
“I always felt my role at Destrehan was to serve, and I’m happy I was able to serve through my music,” Costa said of lending her skills to several different programs and events.
She said the decision to enlist in the Air Force felt right and that she is quite excited for what’s ahead.
“I’m a person who has always been very scheduled – my parents taught me discipline,” said Costa. “The idea of the military brought me peace. I didn’t feel the same way about going to college … (the Air Force) feels kind of like a home away from home. I’m excited to do it. It’s a new path for me. I’ll be able to serve my country but also my people.”
The Brazilian-American said her faith is her foundation in all she does, and that she looks to be an uplifting force for the people in her life.
“If someone says ‘my day is ruined,’ I try to remind them, hey, you still have your evening, your night, for things to get better. If you ask around school, they’ll probably say I smile a little too much,” Costa said with a laugh. “I like to connect with people.”
