Local Sports
Lifters ready for next step
Mark Pinson | Highlands Today
Published: January 23, 2013
The most important girls weightlifting meet of the season is set for Friday in Port Charlotte.Published: January 23, 2013
Avon Park, Lake Placid and Sebring are well represented at Friday's sectional meet with 19 lifters competing to advance to the state meet.
Sebring has 12 girls competing after an outstanding effort at the district meet in LaBelle.
"We had a real strong meet at districts," said Sebring girls weightlifting coach Steve Berry. "The girls have worked hard to improve during the season and it's paying off."
Sebring's Kayla Bowen placed second in the 101-pound weight class with a bench press of 70 pounds and a clean-and-jerk of 70 pounds for a total of 140.
Blue Streak Chantell Harris was third at 110 pounds with a combined total of 180, while Liz Whitehead came in second at 119 pounds with a total of 180.
Avon Park junior Phara Cherisme qualified out of the unlimited class, while Red Devil junior Jasmine Wilson advanced out of the 154-pound division and Niesha Brown qualified at 169 pounds.
"We had a pretty good district meet," said Avon Park girls weightlifting coach Pakitta Wells-Felix. "If we have a real good day at sectionals, we might have someone qualify for state."
Sebring's Febe Murillo placed second at 129 pounds with a combined total of 210, while Blue Streak Denise Constant finished first with a total of 250 in the 139 class.
Monica Tookes was third at 139 pounds with a total of 205, Michelle Volny won the 169 class with 255 pounds and Teresa Ware was third at 169 with 210 pounds.
Lake Placid's Angel Nieto qualified at 101 pounds, Emily Waldron finished first at 101 pounds, Bethany Phillips moves on from the 183-pound weight class and Robbye Teal finished first at 119 pounds.
"I'm real proud of all the girls," said Lake Placid girls weightlifting coach Donald Ridgeway. "I think we have a chance for someone to make it to state.
"We had four girls that finished fourth and just missed qualifying, but we have a young team and I'm pretty happy with our performance."
Sebring's Jessica Belcher placed second in the 183-pound weight class with a total of 210 points and Blue Streak Nakeema Thomas was first at 199 pounds with a total of 250.
Angela Dennard, of Sebring, won the unlimited class with a total of 285 pounds and Blue Streak Ali Sanchez was third in the unlimited division with a total of 245 pounds.
"Our sectional meet has a lot of talented lifters," Berry said. "We're looking forward to competing and it would be great to have someone qualify for the state meet."
mpinson@highlandstoday.com (863) 386-5837