TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Devils Pick Up Third Place At Travis Todd

Brian Gjurgevich, Highlands Today

Lake Placid sophomore Alex Barajas competes in clean-and-jerk portion of the 129-pound class at the 10th annual Travis Todd Invitational at Avon Park High School.

ADVERTISEMENT

By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: March 5, 2009

AVON PARK - Three Red Devils carried first-place honors and the Avon Park boys weightlifting team finished in third place overall on Tuesday at the 10th annual Travis Todd Invitational in a bustling Red Devil gym.

Seniors Alvin Hinson (169-pound class) and Joel Cuencas (129) won their classes and junior David Edmonson out-lifted the heavyweights to lead the Devils to a third-place finish behind Braden River and Bartow.

Returning this season after a year off from head coaching, AP coach and program founder Don Hickman was happy with his team's performance in the twice-annual celebration of Todd, a former AP standout who passed away in a car accident in 1997.

"It's still a big event and we're trying to keep it that way," said Hickman, who noted his long personal relationship with Todd, a longtime student and football player under Hickman, has always given the tournament special significance. "The guys were pretty excited about last night, and it wasn't too bad of a way to start the season."

The youthful Lake Placid weightlifting team took finished at the back of the eight-team pack, though coach Willie Hills said the experience of the meet will pay off down the line for the Dragons.

"Our team is real young, and it was a great chance for them to get in there with some more experienced lifters and see what the meet's all about," Hills said, noting he has his biggest turnout (19 competitors) entering his fourth year as LP coach.

Hickman said Hinson made his mark in the clean-and-jerk, where he came from behind to win the class with a 585 total.

"Alvin had a pretty good bench (325 pounds)," Hickman said. "But he ended up winning on the clean-and-jerk."

Hickman said Cuencas will look to get back to the 119-pound class, where he expects to be a state contender. Still, the win at 129-pound was good for the senior, who had a 235-pound bench and 185-pound clean-and-jerk.

"We have to get Joel down where he belongs," Hickman said. "He could win state at 119, but at 129, he'd have to struggle a bit to get there. He won in a tougher class."

Edmonson had the best bench in the gym at 350 pounds and lifted a staggering 610-pound total after a 260-pound clean-and-jerk.

"We're trying to get him up to 375 for districts, but he has to really work for it," Hickman said.

Also placing high for AP were Marvin Williams, who took second among heavyweights, and sophomore Earl Scribben, who took second at 238. Senior Teddy Allen also grabbed a second-place finish at 219 pounds.

For Lake Placid, Nevahri Holden and Alex Vega led the way, and Hills said both are helping the rest of the team along.

"Nevahri is very dedicated in the weight room and on the football field, and he's one of those guys who's the first one there and the last to leave," Hills said. "He holds his teammates accountable and gets on them when they're late or not focused. He has a goal to represent Lake Placid at state."

Hickman said the 10th anniversary was an especially poignant time to reflect on Todd, whose photos watched over the action from a table adjacent to the floor.

"I had Travis in elementary school and he became one of my offensive lineman and a good lifter for me," Hickman said. "I started the program in 1990 and have built it since and we've learned a lot. It was a good meet and we'd like to get more people here."

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at 863-386-5841 or bgjurgevich@highlandstoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT