Some of the powerlifting competition shots of the lead actors and other lifters were obtained in the midst of an actual regional qualifying competition run by the Texas High School Women's Powerlifting Association.
Prior to production, the producers arranged for lead actress Corina Calderon to train with high school women's powerlifting teams in Elgin, TX and San Diego, TX. Coincidentally, the actress who plays Luz's friend Nicole in the film had previously been a member of Elgin High School's powerlifting team.
The man playing the University of Texas Admissions officer is the actual Deputy Director of UT's Admissions Office responsible for freshman admissions. The writers based the dialog in that scene on conversations with him and others in the UT admissions office.
Many roles in the film were filled with South Texas locals, including the English Teacher (an actual teacher in San Diego, TX), the Science Teacher (an actual teacher and Mayor of San Diego, TX), the Head Meet Official (a news anchor/reporter in Corpus Christi, TX), and an actual narcotics canine and his handler.