Topic: News: Florida High School State Weightlifting Championships

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Richardson takes weightlifting title
Escambia senior helps team to fourth-place finish

Escambia High's Trent Richardson wanted a championship before he left school in a few weeks, and he got it Friday. The senior won the Class 2A weightlifting state title in the 219-pound weight class with a 705 total (380 bench, 325 clean and jerk), leading the Gators to a fourth-place tie as a team, the highest of any area school.

After finishing second last year, Richardson said he would accept nothing less than first place on this trip to state.

"I'm bringing that championship home to Pensacola," Richardson said. "I'm so happy, and all my family back home is so proud of me."

Richardson is the first individual champion from Escambia since Lamar Williams won back-to-back titles in 1985-86 in the heavyweight division.

Other area lifters also performed well in New Port Richey.

Tate's Stephen Johns and Pace's Sean Johnson finished second in their weight classes. Johns lifted 410 pounds (235, 175) in the 119-pound class. Johnson lifted 595 pounds (350, 245) in the 169-pound class.

Milton's Adam Jernigan and Escambia's Willie Pate brought home third-place finishes. Jernigan lifted 675 pounds (380, 295) in the 219-pound class. Pate lifted 740 pounds (435, 305) in the heavyweight class.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Hawks take second
By Gary Curreri

Colton Coss wasn't at his best at the FHSAA Class 2A boys' state weightlifting championships at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey on Friday, but it was good enough.

The Seminole Ridge High School senior 119-pounder became just the fourth Palm Beach County boys' weightlifter to win a state title in the sport. He helped his school to a second place finish, the highest finish ever in the team race by a Palm Beach County team.

"I don't even have words to describe how I feel," said Coss, who lifted 415-pounds, which was 15 pounds less than his qualifying weight going into state. He finished five pounds higher than Stephen Johns of Tate. "Everybody else had the same problems I had, so it worked out.

"I poured my heart and soul into this," Coss said. "It's incredible. It was awesome that my team took second in the state. It was a great year all around."

Coss joins Jupiter High's Alex Woytkiw, who won the state title in the 129-pound Class 2A title last year with a 470-pound total; Wellington's Mike Nethercote, who won the 199-pound Class 6A title in 1996 with a 635-pound total, and Cardinal Newman's Jordan Datchko, who captured the Class 1A 183-pound title in 2001 with a 615-pound total.

Seminole Ridge, which qualified a state-high 10 athletes for the meet, placed second overall with 20 points. Fort Walton Beach won the title with 28 points. The Hawks had a state champion, two runner-ups, a fifth, and a sixth place finisher.

"I am ecstatic," said Seminole Ridge coach Justin Hilliker, who has been the coach since the school opened four years ago. "All of the boys stepped up to the pressure and did what we needed to do. If you had told me that I'd be a state runner-up as a coach someday, I would have said you are dreaming. This is pretty special."

Sean Rochefort, a Seminole Ridge senior, took second in the 129-pound division with a 470-pound total. It was 80-pounds more than what he lifted last year when he finished 12th at state in the same division. Teammate Tommy Rodriguez also lifted his best total of the year in the 154-pound division as he finished fifth. Seminole Ridge's Jeff Moise (139-pounds) placed sixth with a 470-pound total.

"I put it all out on the platform," said Rodriguez, whose 550-pound total was 10 pounds higher than his previous best. "I just wanted to get points for my team. It is amazing that we finished second. We came here and did something."

Seminole Ridge's Josh Hawks took second in the state in the 199-pound division, while Palm Beach Central's Anthony Annunziata was fourth. Hawks, who lifted a career-best 655 total pounds, was just five pounds behind Fort Walton Beach's Malcolm Freeman, who lifted a total of 660 pounds.

"I did my best, and that's all I could do," said Hawks, who placed 11th in the state last year in the 183-pound weight division. "I am happy with second. I was almost there. I just missed 365-pounds with my bench. If I made that, I would have won."

"It was frustrating, but top five is okay," said Annunziata, who has only been weightlifting for three months. "I didn't really let my body rest between lifts on my bench press. I no doubt could have gotten second or third. I almost got it up."

"It is a shame," said Annunziata, who beat his personal best by 20 pounds at state. "Honestly, I thought I could get second place."

Annunziata said the thought of making it back to Palm Beach for his senior prom didn't weigh on his mind during the competition.

"I didn't worry about," said Annunziata, who finished his competition at 2:20 p.m. in plenty of time for his father to make the 4-hour trip home for the 7 p.m. prom. "My dad told me he would get me back in plenty of time. I finished, my dad pulled the car up, and my coach stayed to get my medal."

Hawks lifted 655 pounds, while Annunziata and two others - Sarasota's Hao Nguyen and University's (Orlando) Sean Brownstein each lifted 650 pounds. Annunziata had the second lowest body weight of the three so he placed fourth behind Nguyen.

"Anthony was right there for the state (championship)," said Palm Beach Central coach Tom Cherry. "I wish I had him sooner. He clean and jerked 285 pounds which is phenomenal for someone who just started lifting three months ago."

Boynton Beach senior Charles Frederick entered the competition seeded 15th, but finished fourth overall. He also had to drop five pounds this week to be eligible to compete at state. Frederick placed 8th in the same weight division last year.

"I am really happy," said Frederick, who lifted a career-best 580-pounds, 30 more than he previous best. "I am proud of myself. I like overcoming the odds and I made history. It's great. I am the first one from my school to place at state.

"The football team didn't do too good this year and weightlifting was all I had," said Frederick, who played offense and defense for Boynton Beach's 4-6 football team this season. "II have been working hard and gave it all I had. It is a great way to go out."

Seminole Ridge's DeJay Perkins (HWT) placed seventh, just missing a medal, with a total lift of 670 pounds, while teammate Eric Wegner (238) was 14th with 505 total pounds. Seminole Ridge twins Austin Rodriguez 119) and Angel Rodriguez (129) were 13th and 12th respectively. Palm Beach Central's John Larsh (219) placed 13th with a lift of 590 points.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Nease weightlifter wins 2A state title

Nease's Dylan March became the school's latest state champion when he won his weight class at Friday's Class 2A weightlifting championship at River Ridge High School.

March, competing in the 238-pound class, put up a bench press of 370 pounds and a clean and jerk of 345. His total of 715 pounds was easily better than Brach Bessant of Lake City Columbia, who had a 680 total.

Marquis Davis, also of Columbia, had a 715 to match March, but he was disqualified.

Last year, March was 11th in the state final with a total of 645.

The last Nease lifter to win a state title was Matt Koch, who was a Class A champion at heavyweight.

March was a star linebacker for the Nease football team, and he signed in February to play for Charleston (W.Va.).

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Bartow Lifters Brooks, Felder Win State Titles

NEW PORT RICHEY | Bartow's Tyre Brooks and Charles Felder brought home state individual titles and the Yellow Jackets finished fourt in team competition in the Class 1A state weightlifting champions on Satuday at River Ridge High School.

Glen St. Mary Baker County won the title with 34 points followed by Panama City Arnold with 19, Hudson with 16 and Bartow with 14.

Lake Wales tied for 12th with 5 and Mulberry tied for 24th with 3.

Brooks won the state title in the 183-pound division with a total lift of 645. He had a bench press of 355 pounds and a clean and jerk of 290 pounds.

Felder won the title in the 139-pound division with a total of 520. He had a bench press of 270, and a clean and jerk of 250.

Mohamad Zaban of Lake Wales was second in the 199-pound class with a total of 640. Mulberry's Quantavious Burch finished fourth in the 139-pound class with 480. Matthew Bates of Tenoroc finished fifth in the heavyweight division with a total lift of 680

Other competitors included Bartow's Fabian Simpson, 12th in 219 class with 580;

Bartow's Willie Hayes 13th in the 169 class with 520; Mulberry's Jermain West, and Bartow's Al Carter and Earl Love all tied for 11th in the 154 class with 410; Ridge Community's Gary Veal 14th in the 139 class with 445; Bartow's Marcus Graham, 16th in the 129 class with 370; and Bartow's Dominique Howard 12th in the 119 class with 325.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Baker County takes Class 1A state weightlifting title
By Brentley Romine

Glen St. Mary Baker County won its second-consecutive Class 1A boys state weightlifting title by totaling 34 points Saturday at New Port Richey River Ridge High School.

The win was also the fifth in school history for Baker County, which had three individual champions — Ryan Young (119 pounds), Thomas Braddy (238 pounds) and heavyweight Ethan Munson.

Panama City Beach Arnold came in second with 19 points while Hudson rounded out the medal stand with 16 points.

Bishop Moore led the way locally with four points to tie for 16th place.

Andrew Kierulf placed third in the 129-pound weight class for the Hornets by lifting a total of 435.

Harmony and Jones represented the other two area schools in the team standings with two points and one point, respectively.

Christian Ellison got Harmony on the board by lifting a total of 365, which was good to tie for fifth in the 119-pound weight class.

Jones' Karl Jean tied for fifth at 199 pounds with a 630 total.

South Daytona Warner Christian's Matthew Hukill missed out on the medal stand by just 10 pounds, lifting a total of 630 at 183 pounds.

Class 1A state meet

Team scores: 1. Glen St. Mary Baker County, 34; 2. Panama City Beach Arnold, 19; 3. Hudson, 16; 4. Bartow, 14; 5. Bradenton Braden River, 12; 5. Interlachen, 12; 7. Fort White, 10; 8. St. Augustine, 9; 8. Citra North Marion, 9; 10. Avon Park, 8.

Other area schools: 16. Bishop Moore, 4; 26. Harmony, 2; 31. Jones, 1.

Individual champions: 119 — Ryan Young (Baker), 430; 129 — Joseph Cimino (Hudson), 460; 139 — Charles Felder (Bartow), 520; 154 — Dustin Douglas (Interlachen), 550; 169 — Jake Woodham (Arnold), 625; 183 — Tyre Brooks (Bartow), 645; 199 — Chris Lenahan (Jacksonville Episcopal), 670; 219 — Tevin Bryant (Braden River), 680; 238 — Thomas Braddy (Baker), 770; Heavyweight — Ethan Munson (Baker), 735.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Local weightlifters medal at state meet

A handful of Big Bend athletes posted top-10 finishes at the Class 1A state weightlifting championships in New Port Richey on Saturday.

Wakulla High's Mookie Forbes placed third in the 119-pound division, one spot better than he fared a year ago. He lifted a total of 390 pounds.

Rickards' Fred Griggs finished third in the 199-pound class with a two-lift total of 635 pounds. Griggs was an All-Big Bend selection in football and is also a standout basketball player for the Raiders. He is expected to be one of the area's top football prospects in the class of 2010.

Altha's Terry Stinson represented the small Calhoun County school with a third-place finish in the 169-pound division. His two-lift total of 600 pounds was 25 pounds behind the winner.

Blountstown's Joseph Sapp placed fifth in the 139-pound class by lifting a total of 480 pounds. His mark actually tied the fourth-place finisher but he weighed a pound heavier so he lost the tie-breaker.

Godby football star Jerrico Lee placed seventh in the heavyweight class with a total lift of 650 pounds (355-pound bench press). After weighing in at 259.2 pounds, Lee was the only athlete to place in the top 10 in the heavyweight division who weighed under 260 pounds.

Blountstown's Josh Godwin was sixth in the 154-pound class with a two-lift total of 525 pounds. Rickards' Terrence Scott, who weighed in four pounds lighther than Godwin, was seventh in the same class with a total lift of 525 pounds.

Other area athletes:

Blountstown's Jawen Mosley (10th, 129-pound class, 400 pounds); Wakulla's David Gay (11th, 129-pound class, 400 pounds); Altha's Samuel Elris (17th, 129-pound class, 355 pounds); Wewahitchka's Colton Price (10th, 154-pound class, 520 pounds); Madison County's Michael Jones (14th, 183-pound class, 520 pounds); Madison County's Augusta Williams (15th, 199-pound class, 325 pounds, no clean and jerk); Godby's Devin Screen (17th, 199-pound class, 310 pounds, no clean and jerk); Wakulla's Lorenzo Randolph (18th, 199-pound class, 300 pounds, no clean and jerk); Port St. Joe's Javon Davis (9th, 219-pound class, 590 pounds); Blountstown's Michael Gibson (8th, 238-pound class, 610 pounds); Wewahitchka's Greg Hurley (10th, 239-pound class, 595 pounds); Wakulla's Dalton Hall (14th, 238-pound class, 560 pounds); Altha's Lucas Basford (6th, heavyweight class, 655 pounds).

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Rohraff takes third at states

Port Charlotte's Harry Rohraff had a 465-pound overall lift to gain third place in the 129-pound class of the State 2A boys weightlifting meet Friday night at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.

Rohraff, a senior, had a 240-pound bench press and a 225-pound clean and jerk. He finished fourth at 129 last season with a 450-pound total.

Charlotte's Calvin Jackson took sixth at 169 pounds with a 575-pound total ( 300 bench press and 275 clean and jerk); Port Charlotte's Tyler Hine was eighth at 183 with a 565 total (300 bench press and 265 clean and jerk); Charlotte's Brandon Ross was 12th at 238 with a 595 total (320 bench press and 275 clean and jerk); and the Tarpons' Troy McClary was 17th at 154 with a 260 total (all at bench press).

Saturday, Lemon Bay junior Evan Neville finished 11th in the 219-pound class of the 1A meet with a 575 total. Neville had a 295-pound bench press and a 280-pound clean and jerk.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Braden River's Bryant wins state title

Junior Tevin Bryant led an impressive performance by Braden River on Saturday in the Class 1A state boys weightlifting meet at New Port Richey River Ridge.

Bryant won the state title in the 219-pound weight class with a 365-315–680 total.

He was one of four Pirates to finish in the top six and earn a state medal.

Seniors Nick Gaines (238 pounds, 325-325–650) and Thomas Ely (183, 300-315–615) took fifth place in their weight classes, while Junior Chris Wong (119, 175-190–365) was sixth.

“It’s a credit to their work ethic,” Braden River weightlifting coach Josh Hunter said. “They bust their butts all year, and the hard work paid off.

“With three seniors and three juniors, the hard work all the way through paid off this year, and they’re finally getting some respect.”

Braden River senior Carmelo Scalone was seventh in the 169-pound class, and Casey Hunt was ninth in the 199-pound class.

The Pirates took fifth place in the team competition, a substantial improvement over last season, when Bryant was the only medalist, finishing fifth, and the team failed to crack the top 30.