medals-stake-ar-284569

STATE GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING
The final leg of the girls weightlifting season arrives Saturday with its most critical meet – the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) eighth annual State Finals at the Kissimmee Civic Center, 201 East Dakin Ave., Kissimmee, 34741.

Admission is $8 per person, plus $5 for parking.

Hernando County, which has never crowned a state champion, will be sending five lifters to the elite meet featuring: Springstead junior Julia Monzo at 101 pounds and senior Kelly Nelson at 154, Nature Coast Technical’s freshman Alicia Gentz at 101 and sophomore Dana Mackiewicz at 183, and Hernando High senior Tan’kea Thomas.

Each lifter’s mission is to finish among the top seven placers to earn a state medal. Each of the meet’s individual champions will be feted as state champions.

Hernando County has had 36 previous lifters reach the State Finals, but no one has ever returned home with a coveted gold medal.

The highest local placer was Central High’s Johnisha Jackson, who placed third at unlimited, with a 190-160-350 total in 2008.

The highest Hernando County total hoisted at states was Hernando High’s Valerie Blount’s 200-155-355 total worth fifth place in 2006.

Eagle prospects

Monzo, who finished second during the 10th annual Hernando County championship meet and second at the District 5 qualifier at Gulf, enters states ranked 18th out of 27 state qualifiers.

Palatka’s Mimi Ho goes in as the state’s projected winner at 101 with a gaudy 155-145-300-pound total.

Monzo, like the other four lifters from Hernando County, is a first-time state qualifier.

Nelson, a Hernando County champion, captured the District 5 qualifier by matching her seasonal best of 150-140-290 at Gulf.

Nelson arrives in Osceola County ranked 15th out of 27 lifters in the state in her weight division.

Nelson and 24 others are chasing the top seeds: Spruce Creek’s Ashley Buechele (185-185-370) and Wekiva’s Niaja Griffin (180-190-370).

Springstead Head Coach Mike Garofano, who has guided the Lady Eagles to four consecutive county titles in four seasons, understands statesis a different beast.

In Garofano’s world only the best in the weight room rule at states.

“The goal for this weekend is for our girls to get into the Top 10,” said Garofano. “Anything can happen once you’re in the Top 10 and maybe someone can sneak in there and earn a medal.

“We’re really shooting for our highest totals,” added Garofano. “If the girls reach the Top 10 and max out, that’s great. If they medal in this field, that’s an outstanding achievement.”

What does Coach Garofano do to calm down frayed nerves entering states?

“Honestly, I’m probably more nervous than the girls are,” he quipped. “The girls know I’m usually pretty easy going. But before big meets like districts and state, I’m different. What I ask the girls to do is prepare physically and mentally before they get out there. Plus, have an action plan the day of the meet.

“Usually after everybody gets that first lift done, things calm down and it’s just another meet,” concluded Coach Garofano.

NCT’s Gentz, Mackiewicz

For seven seasons, Nature Coast Technical had qualified two lifters to states: Chelsea Roberts (2010) and Kelli Bloom (2005-06).

Things changed when the Sharks, under first-year Head Coach Sharon Elliott, saw two lifters qualify following the recent District 5 Meet at Gulf.

Gentz, who won the Hernando County championship by weighing in less than Monzo, followed by capturing the District 5 title. Gentz is ranked 14th overall behind a 95-115-210 total.

Mackiewicz faces an uphill battled ranked 22nd out of 27 lifters.

Mackiewicz is chasing top-seeded Fort Walton Beach-Choctawhatchee’s Jamesha King’s 190-180-370 total.

Hernando’s Thomas

For an eighth straight season – a Hernando County record – Hernando High will be represented in the state’s elite meet thanks to Thomas.

Thomas, who captured her first Hernando County championship in January, arrives as the highest-ranking local lifter at states.

The three-year lifter comes in ranked 11th at states behind a 130-135-265 total.

Thomas is chasing top-seeded Kissimmee-Osceola’s Zanquina Ellison’s 185-165-350-pound total.

AT A GLANCE
WHAT – 8th annual FHSAA State Girls Weightlifting Finals.
WHO – Five Hernando County lifters including: Springstead’s Julia Monzo and Kelly Nelson, NCT’s Alicia Gentz and Dana Mackiewicz, and Hernando High’s
Tan’kea Thomas.
WHERE – Kissimmee Civic Center, 201 East Dakin Ave., Kissimmee, 34741. Admission $8, plus parking $5.
WHEN – Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
AT STAKE – Top seven lifters in each of the 10 weight classes will earn a medal. Top lifter named state champion.

2004-11 All-Time Girls Weightlifting Hernando County State Championship Qualifiers/Results
– Compiled by TONY CASTRO

2011
NAME SCHOOL YR WGT BEN C&J TOT PLACE
Gentz, Alicia NCT 9th 101
Mackiewicz, Dana NCT 10th 183
Monzo, Julia SPG 11th 101
Nelson, Kelly SPG 12th 154
Thomas, Tan’kea HER 12th 129
–5–
2010
NAME SCHOOL YR WGT BEN C&J TOT PLACE
Draganchuk, Jennifer SPG 12th 129 145 145 290 9th
Roberts, Chelsea NCT 12th 154 120 135 255 19th
Rosino, Jennifer SPG 12th 169 165 130 295 11th
Sharpe, Jasmine HER 12th 199 160 140 300 11th
Marks, Adreanna SPG 12th 183 140 135 275 19th
–5–
2009
NAME SCHOOL YR WGT BEN C&J TOT PLACE
Baylor, Ava HER 12th UNL 170 145 315 16th
Blount, Melinda HER 12th 129 135 125 260 18th (tie)
Kuhn, Lindsay SPG 12th 100 90 100 190 16th
Pagan, Frances SPG 12th 199 135 120 255 16th
Monzo, Caroline SPG 12th 110 125 125 250 8th
Sharpe, Jasmine HER 11th 199 165 0 165 24th
–6–
2008
NAME SCHOOL YR WGT BEN C&J TOT PLACE
Jackson, Johnisha CEN 12th UNL 190 160 350 3rd
Hayes, Melody HER 12th UNL 175 140 315 12th(tie)
Sharpe, Jasmine HER 10th 199 145 135 280 12th(tie)
Stephens, Kristian HER 12th 183 210 140 350 4th
-4–
2007
NAME SCHOOL YR WGT BEN C&J TOT PLACE
Alberts, Christine SPG 12th 154 165 150 315 4th
Jackson, Johnisha CEN 11th UNL 205 145 350 7th
Stephens, Kristian HER 11th 183 150 125 275 11th
–3–

2006
NAME SCHOOL YR WGT BEN C&J TOT PLACE
Alberts, Christine SPG 11th 154 INJ/DNC
Bloom, Kelli NCT 12th 183 155 140 295 11th
Blount, Valerie HER 12th UNL 200 155 355 5th
Jackson, Johnisha CEN 10th UNL 195 150 345 7th
Weaver, Nikki CEN 12th 154 130 145 275 15th
–5–
2005
NAME SCHOOL YR WGT BEN C&J TOT PLACE
Alberts, Christine SPG 10th 139 DNC
Bloom, Kelli NCT 11th 183 135 0 135 27th
Blount, Valerie HER 11th UNL 170 150 320 15th
Daignault, Nicole HER 10th 169 140 0 140 25th
Jackson, Johnisha CEN 9th UNL 180 140 320 14th
Ryan, Megan SPG 11th 119 135 105 240 8th
–6–
2004
NAME SCHOOL YR WGT BEN C&J TOT PLACE
Alberts, Christine SPG 9th 129 DNC
Buckler, Chelsey HER 12th 110 110 105 215 13th
Daignault, Nicole HER 9th 169 140 0 140 22nd
Margeih, Sabreen CEN 10th UNL 170 125 295 17th
Ryan, Megan SPG 10th 119 135 125 260 7th
Torres, Rebecca HER 12th 199 140 130 270 17th
Zavesky, Mindy CEN 10th 110 105 120 225 7th
–7–

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at 352-544-5278 or online at [email protected].