LHS dominates weightlifting sub-sectional
LHS dominates weightlifting sub-sectional
FRANK JOLLEY | Staff Writer
frankjolley@dailycommercial.com
Many members of the Leesburg High School girls weightlifting team have never lost a regular-season meet.
Yellow Jackets coach Josh Boyer said his team has won 40 regular-season meets and has gotten off to a fast start in the postseason with a solid performance at Friday's District 6 sub-sectional at East Ridge.
Leesburg won its third straight sub-sectional title with 69 points and qualified 11 lifters for the District 6 Sectional finals on Jan. 24 in Flagler Palm Coast. The Yellow Jackets easily outdistanced Umatilla (46 points), and East Ridge (31). Eustis (30) and Tavares (18) rounded out the top five.
Lake Minneola and Mount Dora were tied for sixth place with 10 points apiece.
"While we didn't qualify the max of 15 lifters as we did last year, our totals are much more impressive," Boyer said. "I had to part ways with some lifters that would have qualified for the next round, but they hadn't fulfilled their commitment to the program. I also have to say that I have seen major improvements in our district. This is very encouraging because I would love to see our area rival other ares that have dominated girls weightlifting.
"I welcome the advancement of our area programs and teams."
Leesburg won five of the 10 weight classes, including Sydney McWilliams 129 pounds, who won four fourth sub-sectional championship. In addition, Kendra Young (154 pounds) won a sub-sectional title for the third time.
Other sub-sectional winners for the Yellow Jackets include Marah Rhone (119), Julie Bitsios (169), and Mekenzie Bennett (183). Freshman Morgan Rhone (110) qualified for sectionals, as did Kalyn Trull (129), Kendall Caudill (154), Cheyenne Hunnewell (183), Jessica Jackson (199) and Courtney Rabun (unlimited).
"My most gratifying moment at this point of the season is that all of my seniors --Marah Rhone, McWilliams, Young, Caudill, and Bitsios -- that have endured all four years with me, qualified for sectionals," Boyer said. "This is the fifth year of our program and in that time, I have taken lifters to sectionals every year. Each trip, we have learned some valuable lessons. I remember feeling completely outclasses the first couple of years competing at Spruce Creek in sectionals. We have taken huge strides without our own program so that we never feel outclassed again.
"I couldn't be more proud of my girls."
Lifters advancing through sectionals will compete in the Florida High School Athletic Association state championships on Feb. 9 at the Kissimmee Civic Center.
McWilliams qualified for the state finals last year and finished in 13th place. Young has made two state championship appearances, finishing eighth as a sophomore and third in last year's finals.
The top three lifters in each of 10 weight classes advance to sectionals. Other area lifters moving on include: Brianna Berry (Tavares), Jessica Sharkey (East Ridge) and Kayla Degaglia (Umatilla) at 101 pounds; Elizabeth Fording (East Ridge) and Casey Keough (Tavares) at 110 pounds; Tamesha Glover (Eustis) and Selena Heckathorne (Umatilla) at 119 pounds; Allysha Brodil (Umatilla) at 129 pounds; Cory Stanaland (Mount Dora), Angela Tran (Tavares) and Tyra Bowers (Eustis) at 139 pounds); Getara Williams (East Ridge) at 154 pounds; Hetiega Morluck (Eustis) and Courtney Brown (Umatilla) at 169 pounds; Mickaela Counts (Umatilla) at 183 pounds; KeNequea Pegues (East Ridge) and Allison Clark (Eustis) at 199 pounds; and, Brianna Hagg (Umatilla) and Santavia Washington (Lake Minneola) in unlimited.
Friday, January 18, 2013 - www.dailycommercial.com/18jan2013we