Topic: News: 2008 Florida High School Boy's State Championships

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

Eagles On The Board
By Marty Miller

DAYTONA BEACH - While it was not a first-place trophy, Springstead High junior Steve Sullivan did very well for himself Saturday at the 34th annual Class 2A state weightlifting tournament at Embry Riddle University in Daytona Beach.

Sullivan, appearing in his first state tournament, finished in third place at 139 pounds with a combined lift of 480 pounds for the best showing of any of the five county representatives at the tournament.

Besides Sullivan, Springstead lifter Zach Magrini finished in eighth place at 119 pounds, Stephen Nelson came in 12th place also at 139 pounds and Luis Delgado was 15th at 219 pounds.

Nathan Brazeau, the lone representative for Central, wound up finishing in 17th place in the 199-pound weight class.

While in last year's state tournament, Springstead's Josh Magrini won the state title at 129 pounds, this year the closest anyone from Hernando County could do was the third-place spot earned by Sullivan.

The Eagle sophomore, who won the 2A, Section IV title, made four of his six attempted lifts.

First-place winner Kris Slimick of Sarasota High had a combined total of 525 while Adam Watkin of Jupiter lifted 505 pounds.

"I was shooting for first place but I thought I would need one of my best days. And in the bench press I did, but not in the clean-and-jerk," Sullivan said.

Sullivan bench pressed 250 pounds, and then missed his first attempt at 265 before making it on his last try.
In the clean-and-jerk, the Eagle sophomore and soccer player made his lifts at 205 and 215, but missed his last lift at 225.

"We were hoping for better and Sullivan could have lifted another 10-15 pounds, but it still wouldn't have put him in second place," said his coach, Mike Garofano. "I was real happy for him but after he made his second lift on the clean-and-jerk, then he had a decision on how much you go up. But because we're at the state meet and you want a chance to medal, we decided to go up 10 and he had it close, but he didn't make it."

Garofano said that any miss in the competition puts more pressure on a lifter.

"Basically, we knew when the bench was a little low, we had to go up on the clean-and-jerk and it complicates things," indicated the fifth-year Garofano.

Other results
For the other three Springstead lifters, although they did not medal Saturday, they still did well by making the state tournament.

Magrini had combined lifts of 215-165--380 while Nelson had lifts of 245-185--430.

Magrini missed two of his six lifts on the day, but both proved costly.

"In the bench press, I did 215 easy but when I tried 225, I couldn't lock it up. Then at 175 in the clean-and-jerk, I got through the hardest part, which for me is the clean. Then after I jerked it, I thought I had it locked up, but they (officials) ruled it no good. I had a strong day. I tried lifts I've never tried and it just didn't turn out my way."

In the team standings, Springstead finished in 25th place with four points while Spruce Creek and Sarasota tied for first place with 21 points.

Delgado came in 15th place at 219 pounds with lifts of 330-245--575.

Delgado also appeared to make his last two lifts in the clean-and-jerk, but they were ruled no good by the officials.

"They have been really tight with their calls," Garofano said. "If there was any movement out of context, they'll call it. But they were fair and consistent, and that's really what you want."

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

Partin irons out state title defense as DeLand finishes in tie for 3rd
By Buddy Shacklette

DAYTONA BEACH -- Faced with earning another state title, Brandon Partin delivered.

He acknowledged he was nervous and feeling the pressure of trying to repeat as a state champion Saturday at the Class 2A state weightlifting meet at Embry-Riddle's ICI Center.

"This year I felt the pressure more just because of expectations," said Partin, a senior at DeLand.

As a junior, Partin wasn't necessarily favored -- much less expected -- to win the state title in the 183-pound class.

But as a defending state champion his second time around, he knew exactly what the expectations were.

So how did he respond?

By putting up some career-best numbers to pull away from the field.

Partin came in at 395 pounds on the bench press, nailed a second lift of 405, then stunned everyone with a career-best 420 pounds on his final lift.

That effort alone gave Partin a 50-pound lead heading into the clean and jerk, and he only needed to fend off Spruce Creek's Cody Wolfe to repeat as a state champion.

Twice as nice

Brandon Partin became the sixth DeLand weightlifter to repeat as a state champion. The lifter's weight is in parentheses:

· Willie Carter, 1977 (181) and 1978 (181)

· Warner Gibson, 1977 (114) and 1978 (114)

· Mike Gibson, 1988 (132) and 1989 (132).

· Mike Stokes, 1987 (148) and 1988 (165)

· Chris Gomez, 1991 (123) and 1991 (123)

· Brandon Partin, 2007 (183) and 2008 (199)

SOURCE: FHSAA

How they fared

The winners of the weight classes at Saturday's Class 2A state finals that included West Volusia competitors. The top six earned a medal.

Bench press and clean and jerk totals are in parentheses:

119 POUNDS

1. Nick Albert, Palatka, 460 pounds (255-205)

2. Juan Gonzalez, DeLand, 425 pounds (220-205)

154 POUNDS

1. Carlos Jefferson, Orange Park, 610 pounds (325-285)

13. Matt Calkins, DeLand, 530 pounds (285-245)

183 POUNDS

1. Justin Broxton, Mosley, 660 pounds (345-315)

11. Isaiah Whack, Deltona, 555 pounds (295-260)

199 POUNDS

1. Brandon Partin, DeLand, 725 pounds (420-305)

219 POUNDS

1. Chas McLeod, Sarasota, 775 pounds (475-300)

6. Nick Ciciarelli, DeLand, 630 pounds (335-295)

12. John Melton, Pine Ridge, 600 pounds (305-295)

HEAVYWEIGHT

1. Pete Marron, Riverview, 795 pounds (455-340)

14. Clayton Berry, Deltona, 450 pounds (450-0)
"I thought he had way more in the bag on his clean and jerk. When I got 305 I pretty much knew I had it in the bag. He, actually, made me real nervous," Partin said. "I didn't expect to hit 420 (on the bench press). I was hoping for 405 or 410. I think the pressure really helped."

Partin came in at 280 pounds on the clean and jerk and then proceeded to nail lifts of 290 and 305 pounds to put away any would-be challengers.

He became just the sixth two-time state champion in DeLand history and the school's first since Chris Gomez repeated in 1991.

"Last year was a lot more dramatic. You have no idea how stressful this was this year," Partin said. "I definitely think that coming into this one I was way nervous compared to last year. Last year it was 'I'm just going to do my best and I've got another year.' "

With the help of teammates Juan Gonzalez, Nick Ciciarelli and Matt Calkins, Partin and DeLand placed in the top five for the fifth straight year. With 13 team points, the Bulldogs tied Lake Brantley for third.

Gonzalez took a shot at catching eventual champion Nick Albert of Palatka but had to settle for runner-up honors at 119 pounds.

Gonzalez tried to make a 35-pound jump on his final clean and jerk attempt at 240 pounds, which would've pushed him into the lead, but he couldn't clean it and was left with a 205 effort, which tied Albert for the best mark in the class.

Gonzalez's 425-pound total left him second to Albert's 460 total.

Ciciarelli, meanwhile, earned a medal placed sixth with a 630-pound total at 219.

Sarasota's Chas McLeod took the title with a 775-pound total that included a bench press of 475 that established a new state record for the weight class.

Pine Ridge junior John Melton totaled 600 pounds to finish 12th in the 219 class, but should return next season for another shot at a state medal.

DeLand's Calkins placed 13th with a 530-pound total at 169. He was 11th after a bench press of 285, but fell short on his final two clean and jerk attempts at 265 and finished with a 245 in that category.

Deltona lifters Isaiah Whack and Clayton Berry missed out on state medals but accorded themselves well.

Berry was third in the heavyweight class after a bench press of 450 pounds,, but he injured his shoulder on his final bench press attempt at 470 and couldn't compete further.

After missing the clean and jerk portion, he finished 14th in class. The senior entered the meet seeded fifth.

Whack, meanwhile, placed 12th in the 183-pound class with a 555-pound total.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

No light weights at BCHS - Lifters bring home state
Written by Bob Gerard   

The BCHS weightlifting team captured the state championship this past weekend in Daytona Beach. The Cat lifters did it in style, defeating two-time state champions Arnold 30-18 in head-to-head competition.

The Cats were outstanding in all weight classes, with Lucious Lee winning the individual state title for the second year in a row. Lee is the only two-time winner in BCHS history. He took the 199 class with a 705 total in the bench press and the clean and jerk.

Beyond Lee’s state title, the Cats racked up four runners-up spots and a fourth-place trophy.
√ Greg Williams placed second in the 169 class with a 590 total in the two events.
√ Ryan Young placed second in the 119 class with a 400 total.
√ Thomas Braddy was state runner-up in the 238 class with a 700 total in the bench and clean and jerk.
√ Joey Cordova was second in the heavyweight class with a total of 745.
√ Ethan Munson placed fourth in the heavyweight class, lifting 705 in the two events.
It was the first state championship of any kind for a Baker High sports team since 1993.

The Wildcats have won four state championships in weight lifting in the school’s history. The victory put the Cats in a very elite field, according to Coach Bobby Johns. Only eight other schools have four weight lifting titles to their credit.

The win was also a milestone for Johns. He has won four state championships as a coach and two runners-up medals.

“As a team these young men did an outstanding job representing Baker County High School,” said Athletic Director Melody Coggin. “A state championship has been this team’s goal and focus from day one.”
The championship team also included Denzel Mack and Clayton Williams.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

Three from Keystone earn state medals
By Cliff Smelley

Keystone Heights boys' weightlifters Garrett Strickland, Dennis Taylor and Sam Thiesen earned medals at the Florida High School Athletic Association Finals, which were held April 18 in Daytona Beach.

The top six lifters in each weight class earned medals. Strickland was the highest placer of the six from Keystone who qualified for the state finals. He was fifth in the 154-pound class with a 515-pound total. His bench press of 280 pounds was third best in the class.

Strickland actually tied with two other lifters, but because of his body weight, he placed ahead of Semaj Washington of Harmony and Jermaine West of Mulberry.

Jarrett Yulee of Suwannee and Anthony Golden of Altha were first and second in Strickland's class. Each lifter had a 540-pound total.

Taylor and Thiesen each placed sixth in his respective weight class. Taylor had a 375-pound total (190-pound bench press, 185-pound clean and jerk) in the 119 class, while Thiesen had a 600-pound total (325, 275) in the 183-pound class. Taylor and Thiesen each had the third-best clean and jerk in his class and each was just five pounds behind the fifth-place finisher in his class.

Thiesen's class also included Keystone's Marcel Robinson, who, along with Matt Hukill of Warner Christian, also finished with a 600-pound total. Robinson, who had the same bench press and clean and jerk totals of Thiesen, wound up finishing eighth behind Hukill.

Raphael Garcia of Arnold won Taylor's class with a 405-pound total, while Harry Reddick of Madison County won the 183-pound class with a 660-pound total.

Keystone's Greg Taylor just missed out on a medal, placing seventh in the 199-pound class with a 595-pound total (320, 275). The fourth- through sixth-place lifters in the class each had a 600-pound total. Lucious Lee of Baker County won the class with a 705-pound total.

Kevin Gillain of Keystone also competed, posting a 450-pound total (230, 220), which was good for 12th place in the 139-pound class. First place went to Altha's Gary Chew, who had a 505-pound total.

Union County's lone participant, Brett Southwell, placed 13th in the 154-pound class. He had a 470-pound total (240, 230).

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

Boys Weightlifter of the Year: Sebastian River's Kevin Morgan
By Lisa Riddle

SEBASTIAN — It might not be long before Kevin Morgan is wearing a business suit on Wall Street.

Morgan's drive and smarts could enable him to meet his next goal — working as a financial analyst after finishing his studies at Colgate University.

Morgan, a senior at Sebastian River, has set lofty goals and met them in high school athletics, as well as in the classroom.

He placed 10th in the heavyweight division in the recent Class 2A boys weightlifting state tournament. He bench pressed 360 pounds and had a clean and jerk of 305 pounds for a 665 total. As a junior, he placed 13th at state.

That is more than enough to earn Morgan his second straight honor as the Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers' boys weightlifter of the year.

His high state finish was especially noteworthy considering he competed against schools with weightlifters who train year-round. Morgan, who played football for Sebastian River, only trains in the offseason.

Morgan has used weightlifting as more than just as a conduit for enhanced performance on the football field, where he hopes to earn a spot as Colgate's starting center this fall. And he had to train in a way that would not affect his football agility.

[attachimg=1]
Sebastian River High School senior Kevin
Morgan is the 2008 Scripps Treasure Coast
Newspapers Boys Weightlifter of the Year.
Photo by Alex Boerner.

"You have to hold back a bit during season because I realize I have my future in football," Morgan said. "Something that helps other weightlifters, like having a wide bench, is going to hurt me in football."

For example, if he holds his hands out further from his body in weightlifting, he risks building muscles in his back that would restrict his blocking technique — at a player's chest instead of on top of his shoulder pads.

"A wide grip could easily get me 10 more pounds, but I've got to keep other things in mind," he said.

Morgan, 18, is an impressive figure at 6-2 and 275 pounds. Another impressive number is his 3.6 unweighted GPA in the school's International Baccalaureate program.

He says his success story is simple.

"I think a lot of it is really just confidence — just being able to mentally get in the zone. Another thing, besides the mental aspect, is you're not going to gain anything unless you push yourself," he said.

LIFTER OF THE YEAR

KEVIN MORGAN

Sebastian River senior

Accomplishment: Placed 10th in the heavyweight division in the Class 2A boys weightlifting FHSAA Finals.

At state: Bench pressed 360 pounds and had a clean and jerk of 305 pounds for a 665 total.

Two straight: This is his second straight year honored as the Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers' lifter of the year.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

Brandon Partin wins back to back Florida High School Titles
By Buddy Shacklette

DAYTONA BEACH -- Four years ago Brandon Partin started lifting weights to get stronger for football.

The senior never expected he would go down as one of the best lifters in the history of DeLand High.

When it comes to the deep and decorated history of the Bulldogs weightlifting program, that is an honor not to be taken lightly.

DeLand has the second-most team state titles (eight) in the 33-year history of the sport and is second in individual state titles (42) only to state powerhouse Spruce Creek (79).

"Coming in as a freshman, I didn't think of winning state as a junior and maybe winning two," said Partin, the 2008 News-Journal Boys Weightlifter of the Year. "I just looked at (former 'Dogs state champions) Matt Monk and Allen Gibson, and it was just to be as good as them if not a little better.

"I just pushed myself to get close to them. It's definitely a different feeling."

Gibson and Monk have lifted more weight than Partin, but unlike Partin they are not members of an elite club in Bulldogs weightlifting lore.

For when Partin totaled a career-best 725 pounds and won the 199-pound state title a month ago, he became just the fifth lifter in school history to win back-to-back state titles.

Gibson, a 2004 state champion, still shares the state total-weight record of 745 pounds with two other lifters in the 199-pound class, and Monk lifted 740 pounds en route to his 219-pound state title three years ago, but neither was a multiple state winner.

"Brandon will truly be missed at DeLand. He has been a fixture in the weight room," DeLand coach Al Manning said. "He's a hard worker, loves to compete and competition brings out the best of him."

Partin joined Willie Carter (1977-78), Mike Stokes (1987-88), Mike Gibson (1988-89) and Chris Gomez (1990-91) as DeLand's only two-time winners. He was his school's first multiple state champion in 17 years.

Partin's conference, sub-sectional, sectional and state titles earned him the lifter of the year award, which DeLand has won four of the last five years.

"This year I felt the pressure more just because of expectations," Partin said. "Last year was a lot more dramatic. You have no idea how stressful this was this year. I definitely think that coming into this one I was way nervous compared to last year."

A year ago, Partin got career-best lifts of 370 pounds in the bench press and 300 in the clean and jerk to win the 183-pound state title by five pounds.

Having gained 17 pounds of muscle from last season, Partin moved up from 183 to the 199-pound class this season and benched a career-best 420 pounds at state en route to his second title.

Despite three heavier weight classes, only five lifters -- four of them heavyweights -- hoisted more weight than Partin at state.

"I didn't expect to hit 420 (on the bench press). I was hoping for 405 or 410. I think the pressure really helped," Partin said. "I was way more nervous, but I'm obviously happy with the way things turned out."

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

Age Is Just A Number For Joyer
By Larry Bugg

WESLEY CHAPEL - Hunter Joyer impressed people when he lifted 445 pounds on the bench press during the Class 2A state boys weightlifting meet last month in Daytona Beach.

Many people were even more impressed with another number, 14, his age.

Joyer lifted 275 pounds for a 720-pound total. That was just five pounds short of the winning state total in the 238-pound weight class.

Wesley Chapel High weightlifting coach Able Robinson was naturally very proud of his freshman phenom.

"He works hard," Robinson said. "He has been working on weights since he was 12. I am proud to have the best weightlifter in the county. You forget that he is 14. I am real proud of him. He may not be excited but we are ecstatic that he took second."

There maybe something in the water at the Joyer household.

Kamran Joyer, Hunter's older brother, was ninth at state in the heavyweight class. He had a personal record of 415 pounds and a 270-pound clean and jerk for a 685-pound total.

Kamran is going to spend part of the coming year sorting out which Division I football team he wants to play for.

Hunter, now 5-10 and 225 pounds, may have that same problem in a few years.

Besides the fact that he practically lives in the weight room, there is another reason Joyer is The Tampa Tribune's Pasco County Boys Weightlifting Athlete of the Year.

His attitude is superb.

"He is self-effacing," said Kirsten Joyer, his mother and an assistant principal at Weightman Middle School. "He's just a sweet kid."

The younger Joyer doesn't have a "diva" bone in his body. His mother said he set a national record by lifting 375 pounds in Lakeland when he was just an eighth-grader and this didn't give him a big head.

Winner that he is, Joyer recently took home the Heavyweight Mr. Wesley Chapel after flexing in front of a boisterous crowd in the Center for the Arts.

Joyer said that flexing in front of that crowd was harder than lifting 445 pounds at state.

Joyer is grateful for that second place although his sights are set on the gold.

"It feels good to be almost a state champion," he said. "My goal is to get the state title next year."

He said he was disappointed immediately after taking second at the state meet.

Fortunately, Joyer has three more shots at a state title.

Robinson, who is a young coach at age 21, is grateful to have a very strong athlete with a perfect attitude.

"He is great," Robinson said. "He doesn't have an attitude. He's like a little kid. He loves to play around. He knows when it is time to get serious. He has three more years of lifting and three more years of football.

"We are real proud of him."

Blessed with tremendous strength, size and exquisite attitude, Hunter Joyer is probably going to be collecting lots of titles and honors for the next three years at Wesley Chapel High School.

BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING FIRST TEAM

Anthony Ayres, Mitchell

Jordan Holding, Gulf

Mario Stewart, River Ridge

Mike Mignon, River Ridge

Justin Russell, River Ridge

Devin Palumbo, Hudson

Devinlee Brown, Hudson

Justin Janney, Wiregrass Ranch

Hunter Joyer, Wesley Chapel

Travis Tindell, Hudson

Coach of the Year: Tim White, Hudson

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Link

Success Didn't Come Easy
By Bart O'Connell

HUDSON - It would have been easy for Travis Tindell to get discouraged and frustrated at many points in his four years of high school. Too short to compete in football's trenches or the wrestling circle. Too many previous injuries to become a champion weightlifter.

He heard the criticisms, and found a way to excel in spite of them.

Tindell just kept working, spending long hours in the weight room to get stronger, on the track to get faster, and at times, in physical therapy to recover from his setbacks. And after an amazing senior year which saw him captain the football team to the playoffs and earn third-place finishes at the state wrestling and weightlifting finals in the heavyweight divisions, he has been named The Tampa Tribune's Pasco County Male Athlete of the Year.

"He's a special kid. That's why he's achieved what he's achieved," Hudson football coach Mark Nash said. "The good thing about Travis is he's realistic. He knows what he has to overcome and because of that, he'll have success in whatever does come his way. That's the best attitude you can have."

Tindell gives much of the credit for his success to his family, including his mother, Kim, his uncles, past Hudson athletes of the year Robby Mahler and Rick Mahler, and his grandparents.

"They've always been there for me, always backed me up," he said.

He began his senior year coming off a shoulder injury which ended his junior football season prematurely. As a two-way starting lineman he helped block for the top offense in Pasco County, and as a nose guard, he fought off double teams to average 7.5 tackles per game. Nash often described Tindell as having "a motor that never stops." It was Tindell's second trip to the playoffs for Hudson, which before his arrival hadn't made the playoffs in 25 years.

In wrestling, Tindell compiled a 37-2 season record, losing in the second round of the double-elimination state tournament but winning out in wrestle backs to earn third place. Tindell credits the Johnny Walters Speed Camp for improving his speed and quickness, which made him better at both wrestling and football.

But his forte always has been his strength. After being urged to join the weightlifting team by Coach Tim White, and breaking Hudson's records as a junior, he became the first prep lifter in Pasco County history to bench press and clean and jerk a combined 700 pounds. His all-time best is 725, and he did 715 in the Class 1A state weightlifting heavyweight finals despite being the lightest guy in the event.

While his athletic achievements have been well documented, it's his humanitarian work that sets him apart. Twice during his summers in high school, he has joined a group of 20-to-25 people from River Ridge Presbyterian Church on two-week mission trips to Latin America, building homes for pastors. His most recent trip was to the Dominican Republic. He also does regular volunteer work with youth groups through the church.

Tindell will attend Dodge City Community College in Kansas this fall, with aspirations to move on to the Football Bowl Subdivision in two years. If he makes it, he will have earned the opportunity the hard way, just like every other accolade he has received.

"It's going to be tough, moving away from home, but it's always been my biggest dream to play in college," Tindell said.