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One Hit Wonder Nearly Medals

6th ANNUAL STATE GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Springstead High senior Caroline Monzo attempts a clean-and-jerk lift during Saturday’s FHSAA Girls Weightlifting State Finals at River Ridge Middle/High School in New Port Richey.

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By MARTY MILLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: February 15, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - There is a saying that goes, 'Winning isn't every thing, it's the only thing.' And though that may be true to some
extent, it's quite possible that both local girl weightlifting coaches Mike Garofano of Springstead and Shawn Bingham of Hernando might not
totally agree with that.
An eighth-place finish at 110 pounds by Springstead High senior Caroline Monzo was the finest finish of a Hernando County lifter in Saturday's
Sixth annual Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Girls State Weightlifting tournament held at River Ridge Middle/High School in New Port Richey.
After the meet, both coaches said that just getting their lifters into the state meet was a positive experience.
"All in all we did very well," said Bingham.
"I wish we could have taken home some medals," remarked Garofano. "But I'm glad the girls got to come here and get the experience. I think we did pretty good.
"I think it went well, especially the finish Caroline had. It would have been great to have someone medal, but the accomplishment is getting here.
That's the important thing, you can't have any regrets."
For Springstead, senior Lindsay Kuhn lifted a total of 190 pounds to finish 24th in the 101-pound weight class while Frances Pagan had a 255-pound
total placing 16th at 199 pounds.
For Hernando, Ava Baylor had the best overall showing by lifting a total of 315 pounds to finish 16th while senior Melinda Blount raised a total
of 260 pounds to wind up tied for 18th in the unlimited class and junior Jasmine Sharpe had a 165-pound total to finish 24th at 199 pounds.
Sharpe's finish did not tell the complete story as the Leopard junior was in fourth place after the bench press.
But she scratched on her three clean-and-jerk attempts at 140 pounds.
"I think I did good on the bench, but no so good on the clean-and-jerk," remarked Sharpe. "I thought I had all three, but the judges said I didn't lift it over my head in one motion."
Asked if she thought she fouled, the Leopard lifter said no.
"I was upset by all three but the judges were doing their job," she said. "It just makes me want to come back next year, work harder and get a medal
here next year."
The eighth-place finish by Monzo was the best showing for the Eagles Saturday as she was successful on all six of her attempts in the meet.
"I don't know, I've been training really hard the last two weeks and I felt confident coming in today," summed up Monzo.
She converted lifts of 115, 120 and 125 pounds in the bench press and then added lifts of 115, 120 and 125 pounds in the clean-and-jerk.
"250 pounds is what we were shooting for and to get all six lifts in at the state meet is great, I don't think she left any weight out there,"
said Garofano.
Monzo also admitted she was nervous Saturday.
"Before the start I was, but after getting the first lift, it went away," said the first-year Springstead lifter. "I was hoping I would do well but I did better than I ever had before."

Final Team Scores:
1. Spruce Creek 30; 2. New Smyrna Beach 19; 3. Lake City Columbia 16; 4. Port Charlotte 11; 5. Bradenton-Southeast 10; Tie 6. Panama City-
Bozeman, Bradenton-Manatee 9; Tie 8. Orlando-Timber Creek, Apopka-Wekiva 8; Tie 10. four schools with 8.
Hernando County Schools: Springstead, Hernando 0.

Hernando County Individual Results:
101:
16. Lindsay Kuhn, Springstead 90-100--190.
110:
8. Caroline Monzo, Springstead 125-125--250.
129:
T18. Melinda Blount, Hernando 135-125--260.
199:
16. Frances Pagan, Springstead 135-120--255.
24. Jasmine Sharpe, Hernando 165-0--165.
Unlimited:
16. Ava Baylor, Hernando 170-145--315.

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