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Hernando Today

Sharks Raising the Bar

Staff photo by DAVE CASEY

Hernando High senior Erica Maldonado backs up her twin sister, Demi, 17, Wednesday afternoon at HHS as they compete in the 119-pound weight class during a girls weightlifting tri-meet in Brooksville. Nature Coast defeated Hernando, 48-41, while Central placed third with 16 points.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 7, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - If Wednesday evening's girls' weightlifting tri-meet at Hernando High meant anything, next week's Hernando County Championship meet will be a dozy.
Enjoying its best-ever season, Nature Coast Technical remained unbeaten improving to 4-0 by clipping host Hernando, 48-41, while Central (0-4) finished third with 16 points.
Oddly enough, the Sharks and Leopards each captured five weight divisions but the difference was NCT's six second-place finishes compared to Hernando's two.
Both the Sharks and Leopards are attempting to dethrone the two-time defending county champions from F.W. Springstead. The Lady Eagles did not take part in Wednesday's meet as they host Citrus County's unbeaten Citrus Golden Hurricanes at 5 p.m. Friday in their final tune-up before next Wednesday's title meet.
Interestingly, neither NCT nor Springstead have yet to cross paths this winter.
Can either the Sharks or Leopards over take SHS?
"Overall, I thought we competed very well today," explained NCT skipper Ryan Wilson. "A lot of our kids put in the time over the break and it showed today. Our goal is to win (county) and I believe we've got the potential to compete at that level. Now, potential does mean a thing until you achieve it."

NCT: 5 champs, 6 runner-ups

Placing first for the Lady Sharks was junior Carmen Morales at 110 pounds (85-105—190 total), senior Marissa Perez at 119 (100-115—215), sophomore Kylie Johnson at 154 (100-110—210), junior Veronica Bichouti at 169 (130-115-245) and freshman Kara Curley at 183 (110-110—220).
Perez's efforts featured a 5-pound increase.
"It (win) was awesome today," smiled the 17-year-old Perez. "I wanted to get a 105 in my bench and in my cleans; so I did that."
What about next week?
"I've got to work much harder," replied Perez. "I'd really like to make states."
Curley was a major surprise defeating Central's Kristina Terry by 25 pounds, 220-195.
"It (win) was fantastic," said the 15-year-old Curley. "I'm very surprised. I wanted a 220 and I got it. My goal next week is 240."
Another shocker was Bichouti hoisting 25 pounds more than her previous personal best of 220.
"I trained as hard as I could during the break," shared the 17-year-old Bichouti. "Next week's county meet means the world to me. I'm telling you now I'm gonna bring it all day next Wednesday."
Securing the critical second-place positions for the Sharks were: sophomore Tiffany Bounmysai at 101 (75-80—155), Gabby Amarchand at 110 (95-95—190), sophomore Angie Gaffney at 119 (105-100—205), senior Casey Pelaez at 129 (95-140—235), junior Amanda Lehman at 139 (115-120—235) and sophomore Kiara Diaz at 199(130-120-250).

Purple and Gold: 5 champs, 2 runner-ups

Leopard individual champions included: senior Emily Calamari at 101 (95-90-185), senior Melinda Blount at 129 (115-120-235), senior Victoria Ketchum (120-120-240), junior Jasmine Sharpe at 199 (145-140-285) and junior Ava Baylor at heavyweight (with a personal-best and county-high 160-140—300 total).
"My goal is to total 300," said the 17-year-old Sharpe. "I gonna work and work for the county meet."
Round out the Leopards' efforts, senior Alex Hayden was second at 154 (100-105-205) while junior Sharvae Bennett placed second at heavyweight (150-125-275).
Hernando was ultimately undone by not scoring any points at 183 pounds.
"What hurt us was (not scoring in) 183 and a couple kids not lifting during the break," summed up first-year HHS mentor Shawn Bingham. "We had 85 percent participation during the break, but the kids that weren't there had a difficult time reaching their previous highs."
Biggest positive?
"I was very impressed with Ketchum," said Bingham. "She was one of those kids that put in the time and now you're seeing the results."
"I was shooting for a 115 in my cleans and a 120 in bench, so I surpassed my expectations," smiled the 17-year-old Ketchum. "Overall, this (win) is pretty awesome. It's only my second meet. I'm really excited about the county meet next week. My big dream is to reach states."
What about next week's county championship?
"It's all about putting the people in the right positions," indicated Bingham. "Right now, we're the sleepers. We're the guys that will sneak up on somebody. Our kids know what's going on and I think they're gonna have a good shot at county next week."

Nature Coast Technical (NCT) 48, Hernando (HER) 41, Central (CEN) 16
101 – 1. Calamari (HER) 95-90–185, 2. Bounmysai (NCT) 75-80–155.
110 – 1. Morales (NCT) 85-105-190, 2. Amarchard (NCT) 95-95-190, 3. S. Goodwin (HER) 80-80-160, 4. Force (CEN) 80-80-160.
119 – 1. Perez (NCT) 100-115-215, 2. Gaffney (NCT) 105-100-205, 3. D. Maldonado (HER) 100-90-190, 4. E. Maldonado (HER) 95-95-190.
129 – 1. Blount (HER) 115-120-235, 2. Pelaez (NCT) 95-140-235, 3. Tucker (CEN) 105-100–205, 4. Daniels (NCT) 90-115–205.
139 – 1. Ketchum (HER) 120-120-240, 2. Lehman (NCT) 115-120-235, 3. Hamilton (CEN) 120-110-230, 4. Harper (HER) 110-115-235.
154 – 1. Johnson (NCT) 100-110-210, 2. Hayden (HER) 100-105-205, 3. Madera (NCT) 90-85-175, 4. Pribil (CEN) 85-75-160.
169 – 1. Bichouti (NCT) 130-115-245, 2. Nelson (CEN) 120-115-235, 3. Maner (HER) 100-90-190, 4. Proctor (HER) 90-100-190.
183 – 1. Curley (NCT) 110-110-220, 2. Terry (CEN) 105-90-195, 3. Maniaci (NCT) 80-85-165.
199 – 1. Sharpe (HER) 145-140-285, 2. Diaz (NCT) 130-120-250, 3. K. Forte (CEN) 130-110-240, 4. Duquette (HER) 110-110-220.
HWT – 1. Baylor (HER) 160-140–300, 2. Bennett (HER) 150-125—275, 3. Stephens (CEN) 135-115-250, 4. Rinier (NCT) 125-100-225.
Records – Nature Coast Technical (4-0), Hernando (2-3), Central (0-4).

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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