Topic: News: Manatee HS's Mike Walton Now Looks to Weightlifting

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

Wave of the Future: Manatee High's Mike Walton Looks to His Next Goal -- Olympic Style Weightlifting

Mike Walton's weightlifting career won't be measured by one missed lift.

Tate High School's Andrew Martin totaled 785 pounds at April's Class 2A FHSAA Finals and sat atop the standings in the 238-pound weight class, forcing Walton to attempt 355 pounds on his last lift in the clean and jerk. With a state championship at stake, the Manatee High senior stepped to the fourth platform on the floor of the Santa Fe Community College gymnasium.

While Walton was unable to pull the weight to his chest to complete the clean portion of his lift, he was undeterred despite having to settle for second place in his final high school meet with a 735-pound total. Walton just smiled and looked to the future -- a future in the sport of Olympic-style weightlifting.

Considering the strides that Walton has made over the past four years, his coach, Chris Pennington, knows that Walton can reach his potential.

"He's got the build and the explosion,'' said Pennington, a former Manatee High football standout and competitive lifter who also introduced Walton to Olympic-style lifting. "It comes down to how hard he wants to push himself.''

Walton topped out around 500 pounds total in the bench press and clean and jerk as a freshman. During his senior season, he was totaling 800 pounds in the two lifts during practice sessions.

Pennington is in the process of breaking down Walton's bench press and re-proportioning some of his muscle mass. Preparing for the high school season is nothing compared with the demands of an Olympic-style lifting training session, where more of an emphasis is placed on technique.

Walton has fared well in some of his early endeavors in Olympic-style lifting and Pennington has set some high goals for him.

"I had a 685 (-pound total) at states last year and my coach was talking about how I would be totaling 800 pounds this year,'' Walton said. "This year he's talking about (qualifying for) the American Open and the Pan-Am Games, and I'm like 'what?' He'll find a way to prove me wrong again.''

Walton will attend Manatee Community College in the fall and intends to transfer to the University of South Florida to pursue a degree in elementary education. He realized his calling of becoming a high school weightlifting coach this past season, but also plans to study massage therapy in hopes of setting up a side business.

"I helped Chris all during the season,'' Walton said. "There would be 50-60 kids in the weight room and Chris is only one man. Some may say I should have worked harder and that I could have worked harder, but it was almost more rewarding to coach and help out the young guys.''

Mike Walton

Manatee, senior

BY THE NUMBERS

Had the best total of any lifter at the Booker Invitational, the Manatee County meet and the Class 2A-Section 7 qualifying meet.

Totaled 725 pounds at the Booker Invitational and won his weight class by 95 pounds. Won the Class 2A-Section 7 qualifying meet by the same margin with a total of 745 pounds.

Became a two-time state medalist by finishing second in the 238-pound class at the Class 2A FHSAA Finals.

INSIDE LOOK

Walton credits former Manatee High football coach Howie DeCristofaro for introducing him to weightlifting and says DeCristofaro is like a second father. A typical day this spring for Walton started with a two-hour workout followed by a full day at Manatee High. He would work out for 2-3 hours after school before heading off to his job as a host at a Bonefish Grill restaurant. Was a competitive BMX rider as a youngster.