When the girls Section 7 weightlifting state qualifier ended near 11 p.m. last week at Timber Creek High School, eight local competitors remained in the running for a chance to win state titles on Feb. 9 at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.
Not only will they be looking forward to lifting at the state finals to close out the season, but chances are good that they will have the opportunity to do it all over again this time next year. Of the eight qualifiers, there are seven juniors and a sophomore who advanced. TCHS led the way as a team with three girls taking first place at sectionals.
University High School had two qualifiers, while Colonial qualified three, including Ashley Rivera, who took first place in her weight class after totaling the best overall score among locals in the bench and clean and jerk events. For most, it was just another day of competition that went as planned. For others, the opportunity to realize the accomplishment was a welcome surprise after looking back at the hard work put in.
101-pound class
Timber Creek junior Kia Miller took first at sectionals in her first year on the weightlifting team after being inspired by her older brother to give the sport a try. The Wolves’ cheerleader totaled 220 pounds by recording a personal best in the clean and jerk (125) after putting up 95 pounds in the bench press.
“I didn’t expect to do as well this year, just starting out. I though it would be just more of a learning year but things turned out really well,” she said. “My coaches have been helping a lot.
Everything they tell me I just try to listen to it and take in.” Colonial junior Krystle Nieves also qualified for states at 101 pounds by taking second with personal bests in bench (90) and clean and jerk (115), for a total of 205 pounds in her second year on the team.
119-pound class
Many girls would just be happy about the chance to qualify for states, but Colonial junior Tiana Edwards expected more from herself than a third-place finish at sectionals.
“It just makes me want to work harder to get my total up,” she said after amassing a total of 260 pounds. The third-year lifter, and Grenadier cheerleader, completed a personal best of 140 pounds in the clean and jerk after benching 120 pounds to help her advance. Now she’s already preparing herself mentally for the big day. “I’m excited but I’m nervous because I don’t know what the other competitors are doing,” she said of states.
129-pound class
Timber Creek junior Emily Melville took first place last week with a total of 295 pounds. “I started working out at this time a year ago for this moment,” Melville said following the win. She credits her 140-pound bench and 155-pound clean and jerk totals to her constant training over the offseason.
This past summer she competed at the Sunshine Games and is also a participant in the new USA Weightlifting Club, which was started by her high school coach. “That’s probably how my clean got so high because all we did was squats and things like that to strengthen your legs,” she said.
154-pound class
Junior Courtney Garcia was the third Timber Creek lifter to take first place last week and she did it with a 270-pound total that included a bench of 130 pounds and a clean and jerk of 140 pounds. “I’m very excited. It’s my first year being able to go to states and I feel so good about being able to make it,” said Garcia.
This triumph came after the disappointment of falling short last year. A feeling she hoped to avoid this time around after staying active in the weightroom year-round. “I didn’t want to take anything for granted because I wasn’t sure of my competition,” she said.
“Last year they blew me out of the water and this year I didn’t expect that I was going to come out on top.” University sophomore Deborah Sabedra also qualified at 154 pounds after taking third place with a total of 245 pounds. Sabedra said she originally wanted to use the sport as a way to keep in shape for the track and field season that follows in the spring.
But in just her second year of competition, the 120 pounds on the bench and 125 pounds that she hoisted in the clean and jerk turned out to be personal bests. “I never knew this would happen,” she said. “I never thought it could, not until I got to my senior year.”
169-pound class
Of the local competitors moving on from sectionals, all eyes are on Colonial High School junior Ashley Rivera after finishing so well at states a year ago as a sophomore. But despite walking away with a firstplace finish and the best total of all local lifters, she was less than impressed with her showing as a whole.
That’s because her 340-pound total, (170-pound bench and 170-pound clean and jerk) pales in comparison to what she’s capable of, close to 400 pounds in all. “I’m just glad that I’m going,” she said of moving on to states. “Last year I placed 4th and this year I’m expecting to place 1st or 2nd.”
Unlimited class
University junior Jameese Nathan missed out on states as a sophomore by finishing fourth at sectionals in her first year of competitive lifting. She took up the sport after hanging up her basketball shoes and realizing she still needed to keep active.
And last week she could barely hold back the excitement after taking second place with a total of 310 pounds behind a 165-pound bench and a 145-pound clean and jerk, both personal bests. Not bad for a girl going from one sport to another. “It’s good for anybody in high school to play sports,” said Nathan.
“Your teammates keep you in check and you know you’ve got a responsibility because you can’t be messing up the team. It’s good for keeping your head on tight and staying out of trouble.”
