Topic: News: S. Calef & A. Trowbridge Win FHSAA 1A State Champs

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

Pierson Taylor's Steven Calef and Warner Christian's Andrew Trowbridge Win FHSAA 1A State Champs
By Nick Zaccardi

GAINESVILLE -- One state champion broke down into cheerful tears while another one, a record-breaker, sat dejected about 30 feet away.

Pierson Taylor's Steven Calef and Warner Christian's Andrew Trowbridge won Class A state weightlifting championships on Friday at Santa Fe Community College.

But only Calef, who won the 219-pound division with a 400-pound bench and a 315-pound clean-and-jerk, seemed happy about it.

"I've accomplished something very great," said Calef, who missed last year's state meet after being ruled academically ineligible. "It's something I've always wanted to do. I'm very happy with it."

Contrast those thoughts with those of Trowbridge, who set a state meet record with a 475-pound bench on his way to the 238-pound title.

"It was all right, but I'm really not too happy about it," said Trowbridge, who has signed with Liberty to play football.

"I wasn't up to par at all. Yeah, I won a state championship, but I'm not too thrilled about it."

Trowbridge came into the meet hoping to surpass an 800-pound total, but finished with a 755 after a clean-and-jerk of 280 pounds.

"I just didn't get anywhere near what I could have," Trowbridge said. "I'm not happy knowing I didn't do my best."

Panama City Beach Arnold won the team title with 20 points.

Taylor and Warner Christian were the top finishers from Central Florida with seven points apiece, good enough to tie for eighth.

Kyle King led South Sumter with a runner-up finish in the 119-pound division. He lifted a combined 410 pounds, 20 behind the winner.

Eric Whiteman (169 pounds) of Atlantic and Chris Harris (238 pounds) of Umatilla each placed fourth.