Topic: News: Joshua Mark Magrini saving the best for last

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Joshua Mark Magrini saving the best for last
Wins Florida HS State champs after bombing in CJ year before
By Tony Castro

Patience may be the ultimate virtue. Just ask anyone in the service industry. Remember the customer is always right. Right?

Ask anyone associated with education — especially in Hernando County.

Ask any farmer about prospects of his labor before the crops are harvested.

Ask any expecting mother about her future delivery.

Recent Springstead High graduate Joshua Mark Magrini knows all to well the significance of patience — and its extended wait for pay day.

These days, the 18-year-old Magrini is rehabbing his third serious left knee injury in three years. Each time, Florida Joint and Knee Replacement has mended his wounds led by well-known surgeon Dr. Stephen Mirabella and his team.

As fate would have it the 5-foot-5, 142-pounder tore ligaments in the same knee just after graduation that has troubled him in the past. He could continue to work at the local ice shop during the summer — but he’s in no rush to get well.

You see, his next stop is Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers this fall.

The middle son of three boys to Spring Hill’s Mark and Donna Magrini will be studying environmental engineering. He graduated SHS with a 3.3 grade point average.

More importantly, despite two severe knee injuries and an exhausting rehabilitation process, Magrini earned eight letters (seven varsity) across three sports with the Eagles.

Now, Magrini has every intention of returning to the class room in Lee County and more importantly, competing for FGCU in power lifting at 148 pounds beginning this year.

Rewind

Magrini has resided in the same home at Vicksburg Street in Spring Hill since his birth in a New Port Richey hospital.

His lack of size, however, has not diminished his capacity for athletic prowess.

In middle school, he played one season of footballand was named the team’s Most Val-uable Player in eighth grade.

In track and field, Magrini did the long jump for two seasons.

Once he matriculated to Springstead, he lettered three times in football.

In his freshman year, he played junior varsity.

He then earned the first of two varsity letters under Head Coach Bill Vonada before injuring his knee the first time in the final game of the 2004 campaign against Clearwater Central Catholic.

After earning a varsity letter in wrestling as a freshman, his initial knee injury made him forego returning to the mats.

As a junior, he unfortunately reinjured the knee and missed the entire 2005 football season.

As a senior, he remained healthy enough to play in every game. Magrini made up for lost time by accumulating a county-high four field goals (including the game-winner against archrival Hernando) and 20-of-21 extra points.

He also ranked sixth on the team in total tackles with 59 tackles, including a team-best four sacks on defense.

His niche, however, has been weightlifting.

Magrini secured four varsity letters under Head Coach Mike Garofano.

He departed as a three-time county champion — at three different weight classes — and was the school’s first-ever four-time state qualifier.

Moreover, Magrini was anointed as the school’s initial state champion in this year’s 33rd annual State Champion-ship Meet at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.

The Hernando Today, with input from the county coaches, was unanimous in their selection of Magrini as the 2007 Lifter of the Year.

“His accomplishments speak for themselves,” explained Nature Coast Technical Head Coach Charles Liggett. “He worked over his injuries. He focused in on his No. 1 priority. He was very dedicated to the sport. He was one of those guys that was thinking about winning states all year.”

Central High Head Coach Joe Nestor, an alumnus of Springstead High remarked, “Listen as a coach I was so happy when (Addison) Chipoletti and (Anthony) Roberts graduated from Hernando, same thing goes with (Josh) Magrini. Those guys were special.

“He (Josh) always had a good, solid bench,” commented Nestor. “He finally caught up with his strength in the clean and jerk. It paid off at states.”

For Coach Garofano, Magrini’s success boiled down to patience and persistence.

“Due to the knee injuries, Josh had to learn how to power clean with one leg,” recalled Garofano. “That took a while. But there he was every day lifting. I think staying healthy for the year in football really helped him. It made his (left) leg stronger. It was probably the best it’s been in years.”

From fall to rise: no pity party

Ironically, to trace Magrini’s rise you have to go back to when he reached rock bottom.

After medaling at states in 2005, Magrini entered 2006’s 32nd annual State Champion-ship at Gainesville’s Sante Fe Community College as a legitimate contender for the gold medal at 139.

After first round of the bench competition, he stood second overall. He was in perfect position to medal (top six). He was also poised to possibly win it all.

Then it happened. Magrini failed on two of his clean and jerk attempts.

He went from silver to second fiddle. He didn’t even medal.

He went from possible state champion to what SHS Wrestling Head Coach Eric Swensen called, “a choke artist.”

But instead of a pity party, Magrini worked that much harder.

“This year, his primary focus was states,” admitted Coach Garofano. “He didn’t scratch once in his cleans. Last year, was one of his worst days. This year, he had one of his best days. His family was there to savor with him. Nobody deserves this (gold) more. I couldn’t have been prouder.”

Best for last

Magrini remembered what it was like to see others on the medal podium in 2006.

“Last year, I couldn’t put it all together,” lamented Magrini. “If nothing else, I should have at least placed third. It was kinda all or nothing and I got nothing.”

What was difference a year later?

“I know the difference between a good lift and a bad one,” he retorted. “This year, I knew what to expect. It really didn’t matter what the next guy or next guy did, I knew I had to set my mark.

“Again, my bench carried me and I was gonna go far as my cleans would take.”

Ironically, Magrini responded in championship form by hoisting a personal best 320-pound bench to compliment his 230-pound clean to finish with a career-high 550-pound total.

“I was in it to win,” shared Magrini. “I wasn’t gonna settle for second place or anything else.

What Swensen said to me stayed with me. But it was like I finally got the monkey off my back at states.

“Coach Garofano worked with me practically every day not to have a repeat from last year,” he added. “Looking back, I had worked extremely hard and I have had good help.”

The three amigos

Who helped Magrini along the line?

Four-time county champion Jeff Sullivan and teammate Steve Leon were instrumental in Magrini’s push to the top.

“The three of us were together a lot,” reminded Magrini. “Steve actually talked me into weightlifting in the first place as a freshman. Weightlifting was our bond. The three of us we’re kinda the first in the weight room and last to leave. And none of us did stupid things with our bodies. We never drank or smoked or did any of the stuff that hurts other guys.”

What’s next?

“This year, I felt more into the role as mentor for my little brother, Zach,” shared Magrini. “He really made me realize why I was there spending the time I was. There’s more than winning that counts. I’ve tried helping him develop into a better lifter.

Zach just missed winning at 129 pounds, losing by five pounds in the County Championship.

Besides helping Zach what did Magrini savor the most?

“At states, no matter what I did or how I finished, I had my parents there,” explained Josh. “My dad made all my meets and my mom always comes to states. It meant a lot to have ’em there. It was so special to win it with my brother, my friends and my parents right there.”

Where’s he off to next?

“I’m not going anywhere for a while,” smiled Magrini from his recliner. “I hope future kids understand what you have to put your body through to get to do well at states. I don’t think I’m done weightlifting. I hope people will be proud of what I’ve done.”

Especially due to Magrini’s diligence, hard work and patience.