GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING 296741
NEW PORT RICHEY –
Hernando County had five representatives at the seventh annual Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Weightlifting Meet held Saturday at River Ridge Middle/High School in New Port Richey.
But with only the top six placers earning state medals, none of the five county lifters could manage to get one of those prizes.
The closest any of the five lifters came to earning a state medal was Springstead senior Jennifer Dragonchuk, who lifted a combined total weight of 290 pounds to finish ninth in the 129-pound weight class. Dragonchuk’s total was a career best.
Two other county lifters had some early success in the tournament. Hernando senior Jasmine Sharpe lifted a total of 300 pounds to come in 11th place in the 199-pound weight class and senior Jennifer Rosino of Springstead, who lifted 295 pounds, finished 11th at 169 pounds.
The two other Hernando County reps both did better at the state meet than they did two weeks ago at the Region V meet as each one finished in 14th place in their weight classes.
Senior Chelsea Roberts of Nature Coast Technical lifted a total of 255 pounds in the 154-pound class while senior Andreanna Marks of Springstead lifted a total of 275 pounds at 183 pounds.
With the meet consisting of three lifts each in the bench press and the clean-and-jerk, Dragonchuk, Rosino and Sharpe all had some early success in the tournament.
Rosino, who won the Section V title with 295 pounds, was successful on one of three bench press attempts at 165 pounds, which tied for third place. But in the clean-and-jerk, the two-time county champ had difficulty from the start as she began lifting as much as 30 pounds less than the top contenders. She also missed 2-of-3 attempts in the clean-and-jerk to wind up in ninth place overall.
“I missed twice in the bench press, but on the last lift at 170 pounds two of the three judges called it no good, but I know I made that one,” she said.
Overall, Rosino was pleased with her showing.
“I could have done better, especially since I missed my last two lifts in the clean-and-jerk,” she said. “But I think I did alright.”
For Sharpe, who was competing in the third straight state meet, she was tied for fourth place following the bench press when she lifted 160 pounds. But unlike last year when Sharpe had all three of her lifts ruled no good by the judges, this time she converted two of the three lifts and finished with 300 pounds and an 11th place finish.
“I think the day was OK, it wasn’t as good as I thought it would be, but I did lift more than I did at the region, so it was a pretty good day,” admitted Sharpe.
For Dragonchuk, she was successful on 4-of-6 lifts on the day as she cleared 145 pounds in both the bench and clean-and-jerk.
“When I missed my second bench press, I got the weight over my head, but the judges ruled it no good,” lamented Dragonchuk. “But I’m certain that I got that one up.”
In the end, Dragonchok thought things went well for her overall.
“I lifted more that I did at the sectional meet, so that makes me feel good,” remarked Dragonchuk, who entered states unbeaten on the season. “But I feel pretty good about today anyway.”
With the other two county representatives, although they both finished 14th overall, each one did better at the state meet than they had at the Section V Meet.
Marks, who entered the meet ranked 22nd in her weight class, finished with a combined total of 140-135-275 pounds while Roberts, who was ranked 27th and last at 154 pounds, had lifts of 120-135-255 to also finish in 19th place.
Afterwards Springstead weightlifting coach Mike Garofano said that although he would have liked to see one of his lifters come away with a medal from the state meet, all three of them did very well.
“We almost had some people medal today because both Dragonchuok and Rosino did really well,” summed up Dragonchuk. “They’re both seniors and both of them did better today than they did in the sectional,” he said.
Garofano also said that while Dragonchuk and Rosino didn’t miss making the top six by much, all three of his lifters did their best. “All three of them really worked hard this year,” Garofano added. “And while we didn’t get any medals, I’m proud of what they did today.”
7th annual FHSAA Girls State Weightlifting Results at New Port Richey-River Ridge Middle/High School.
Final Top 10 Team Results
PL NAME PTS
1. Lake City-Columbia 22
2. Navarre 21
3. New Smyrna Beach 17
4. Port Orange-Spruce Creek 16
5. Charlotte-Port Charlotte 14
6. Ft. Walton Beach-Choctawhatchee 12
7. Lynn haven-Mosley 11
8. Bradenton-Southeast 10
9. Green Cove Springs-Clay 9
9. Lake Mary 9
9. Palatka 9
Others:
29. (tie)Spring Hill-Springstead 0
29. (tie)Brooksville-Hernando 0
29. (tie)Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical 0
Hernando County Individual Results:
WGT NAME SCHOOL YR BEN C&J TOT PL
129 Jennifer Dragonchuk Springstead 12th 145 145 290 9th
154 Chelsea Roberts NCT 12th 120 135 255 19th
169 Jennifer Rosino Springstead 12th 165 130 295 11th
183 Andreanna Marks Springstead 12th 140 135 275 19th
199 Jasmine Sharpe Hernando 12th 160 140 300 11th
129 – 1. Alaita Timmons, Lake City Columbia 170-160-330; 2. Michelle Ingram, Port Charlotte, 155-165-325; 3. Kailie Mialki, New Smyrna Beach, 150-160-310; 9. Jennifer Dragonchuk, Springstead 145-145-290.
154 – 1. Nicole Corey, Choctawhatchee, 170-1745-345; 2. Ryleigh Werts, New Smyrna Beach, 165-170-335; 3. Holly Krzemski, Port Charlotte, 150-170-320. 19. Chelsea Roberts, Nature Coast Technical, 120-135-355.
169 – Kelsey Vance, Bradenton Southeast 190-205-395; 2. Shelly Teal, Lake Brantley, 180-175-355; 3. Leah Rodgers, Lake Mary, 155-185-340; 11. Jennifer Rosino, Springstead, 165-130-295.
183 – 1. Celeste Gomez, Lake City Columbia 225-215-440; 2. Jasmesha King, Choctawhatchee, 180-175-355; 3. Kayla Jaramillo, Spruce Creek, 205-145-350; 19. Andrenna Marks, Springstead, 140-135-275.
199 – 1. Morgan Buettcher, Keystone Heights, 190-175-365, 2. Jordan Paolucci, Lake Mary, 165-185-350, 3. Samantha Benton, Orange Park, 195-155-350, 4. Megan Shoun, River Ridge, 160-170-330; 5. Chelsie Carter, Green Cove Springs-Clay, 155-155-310, 6. Krystal Nembhard, Apopka-Wekiva, 145-165-310.
