Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) has launched a new athletic program this spring. According to Coach Colby Roberts, this is the first year the Warriors have had a weightlifting team. They have already had success. In their first competitive meet at Bell High School, eight lifters out of 13 who competed placed in their weight class. The following week, the team won their first meet at Maclay School, in Tallahassee.
In high school weightlifting, the participants are divided into weight classes, depending on how much the athlete weighs. Each athlete participates in two different lifts, the bench press and the clean and jerk. The athlete performs the lifts three times, with more weight being added after each successful lift. The weight total of the best bench press is added to the weight total of the best clean and jerk for that athlete's total score. Team points are awarded for first, second and third place finishes in each weight class. Those team points determine the winner of the meet.
In the meet at Maclay School, the Warriors showed great success across the board. In the 129 pound weight class, Gabe Gamalero had a bench press of 135 pounds and a clean and jerk of 150 pounds for a total of 285. In the 139 pound weight class, Connor Koch had a bench press of 190 pounds and a clean and jerk of 145 pounds for a total of 335. In that same class, Peyton Windham had a 160-pound bench press and a 180-pound clean and jerk, for a total lift of 340. ACA was well represented in the 154 pound class, with Ryan Adams scoring 175 in the bench press and 170 in the clean and jerk, for a total of 345. Aiden Day had a 190-pound bench press and a 165-pound clean and jerk for a 355-pound total. Aiden Gray turned in a 150-pound bench press and a 140-pound clean and jerk, for a 290-pound total. In the 169-pound weight class, Tristan Davis registered a 165-pound bench press to go with his 150-pound clean and jerk, for a total of 315 pounds. In the 183 pound class three, Warriors registered some of the biggest numbers in the meet, with Jace Grant turning a team high 215 in the bench press and 220 in the clean and jerk for a total of 435 pounds. Gannett Fulford had a 200-pound bench press and a 200-pound clean and jerk for a 400-pound total. Dakota Hagan had a 175-pound bench press and a 175-pound clean and jerk for a 350-pound total. In the 199 pound weight class, Fletcher Schwab scored a 180-pound bench press and a 150-pound clean and jerk, for a 330-pound total. In the 238 pound weight class, Paxton Williams bench pressed 135 pounds to go with a 145-pound clean and jerk for a total of 280 pounds.
“Our kids have been working very hard for several weeks and I couldn't be more proud of their results,” said Coach Roberts. “Weightlifting is vital to all sports and we hope to continue to enhance our student athletes through it.”
The Warriors have one more weightlifting meet remaining on their season. They will be traveling to Jasper, Fla. for a meet against the Trojans of Hamilton County High School on Wednesday, March 24. The meet begins at 3:30 p.m.
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