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Highlands Today

Blue Streak Lifters Start Strong

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Sebring sophomore Raney Sebring eyes the bar before competing in the bench press event during Thursday's weightlifting meet at Firemen's Field.

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By MARK PINSON Highlands Today

Published: December 13, 2008

SEBRING - Despite having only two weeks of practice before Thursday's first meet of the season, the Sebring girl weightlifters managed to post some impressive efforts in winning the tri-meet over Avon Park and LaBelle.

The Blue Streaks, paced by four weight-class wins, finished first with 42 points, while Avon Park placed second with 38 and LaBelle came in third with 25.

"I'm really happy with our effort," said first-year Sebring coach Steve Berry. "We didn't have a lot of time to work with the girls on technique and different things, but they managed to come through with some outstanding lifts.

"There are a bunch of things we can work on for our next meet and we're only going to get better."

Leading the way for Sebring was Karly Freeland with a first-place finish in the 129-pound weight class with a bench press of 100 pounds and a clean-and-jerk of 100 pounds for a winning combined total of 200 pounds.

Blue Streak senior Megan Wolfe won the 154-pound division with a total of 235, while senior Tony Ann-Dallas finished first in the 183-pound weight class with a total of 215.

Sebring senior Samantha Spiegel finished first in the 119-pound division with a total of 195.

"We have girls in every weight class," said Berry. "That gives us a big advantage over a lot of teams and that was the difference in us finishing first."

Avon Park's second-place finish was led by sophomore Zakia Hart, who won the 139-pound division with a combined total of 245 pounds.

Red Devil sophomore Andejoun Nixon finished first in the 169-pound weight class with a total of 265, while junior Shonkeria Laster won the 199-pound division with a total of 240.

"Shonkeria did well, but she is battling a sore shoulder right now," said second-year Avon Park coach Pakitta Felix. "She can lift more than that and I'm sure she will once her shoulder gets better."

Avon Park sophomore Tykeria Wiley won the unlimited division with a total of 300 and sophomore Daequandra Kinsey finished first in the 110-pound weight class with 165.

"That's the best Tykeria has done," said Felix. "She really went above and beyond and is only going to improve and Daequandra is already at the top weight she lifted last year.

"I'm pleased with our performance and it was an improvement from our opening match win over Hardee on Monday night."

Avon Park is back in action with a home meet against LaBelle at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

"The girls have been working hard and we just need to get some more meet experience in order to improve," Felix said. "We've got a lot of talent on this team and I'm looking forward to a good season."

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837or mpinson@highlandstoday.com.

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