Topic: News: Andy Lark's A Leader in Weightlifting and Life

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Andy Lark's A Leader in Weightlifting and Life
Just sit back and watch Andy Lark. That's what coaches such as Lake Brantley's Dave Tullis told other Seminole County coaches before the boys weightlifting season started. Tullis and Winter Springs Coach Reddy Cox, the area's longest tenured coaches, predicted Lark's senior season would lead him to a heavyweight title for Oviedo High School.

Tullis and Cox witnessed Lark's progression throughout the past three seasons and knew they had a relentless star to compete against in the 6-foot-1, 278-pound athlete.

"I wish I had him on my team," Cox said. "I wish I had 10 of him."

Cox had something special two years ago with the county's last heavyweight state champion in Anthony Segretario. Segretario raised the bar in Seminole when he set a county record of 745 pounds total at the 2004 state meet.

But Lark erased that record last month when he lifted 790 pounds -- 440 bench, 350 clean and jerk -- to win the Class 2A state heavyweight title. His determination carried him past a painful collarbone injury this season so that he could become the fourth athlete from Seminole to win that weight division since 1988.

Sheer will and talent helped Lark stand out in a year where three county lifters, including himself, placed at the state meet held at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville. Chris Krack, a Winter Springs senior, finished third with a 730 total and junior Ian Williams of Lyman placed 10th at 655.

Simply put, he's the strongest and most successful lifter county's ever seen.

"He's got to have heart," Cox said. "It takes a special kid to do that."

Facts and figures aside, coaches respect Lark for his intangible qualities. He claps for his opponents, he works hard in the weight room, he fought through his injury and, as Cox put, he's just a fun kid. Lark sported a blond mohawk throughout the season.

Tullis got a first-hand glimpse when he watched Lark at the Seminole Conference meet, which his Lake Brantley team won.

"He's not a selfish person at all," Tullis said. "He cheered for other people like they were his own teammates."

Lark, a senior linebacker for Oviedo, will play for the Navy this fall.