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As Easy as 1-2-3?

SECTION V GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Springstead High Head Coach Mike Garofano

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 30, 2009

Don't let the simple mathematics fool you.
Saturday's expected 23-team girls weightlifting Section V Qualifying Meet appears on paper as easy as 1-2-3.
With this winter's structured format, the only problem is finishing among the upper third of any of the 10 weight divisions beginning at 10 a.m. at Marion County's Belleview High gymnasium.
The field is expected to include: host Belleview, Brooksville-Central, Brooksville-Hernando, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Bushnell-South Sumter, Crystal River, Dade City-Pasco, Dunnellon, Groveland-South Lake, Hudson, Inverness-Citrus, Land O'Lakes, Land O'Lakes-Sunlake, Lecanto, New Port Richey-Gulf, NPR-Mitchell, NPR-Ridgewood, NPR-River Ridge, Spring Hill-Springstead, The Villages, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.
All told, Hernando County is expected to be represented by 36 lifters.
Each lifter's ultimate goal is the same - qualifying for the sixth annual State Championship set for Saturday, Feb. 14, at New Port Richey-River Ridge Middle/High School.
Here's a look at each local county program.
 
Eagles: Don't want a repeat of 2008
 
Last winter, under first-year Head Coach Mike Garofano, the County Champion Lady Eagles took six lifters to the Section V meet. None, however, advanced.
A year later, the unbeaten Lady Eagles (4-0) once again captured the County Championship for a third straight season. This time, their stated pre-season goal was not settling for the county bragging rites - instead, it was to push kids into states.
SHS, has had two lifters make states across the previous five years: Christine Alberts (a four-time state qualifier from 2004-07) and Megan Ryan (2004-05).
On Saturday, Coach Garofano's squad will be represented by nine lifters: Lindsay Kuhn and Courtney Toles at 101 pounds; Caroline Monzo at 110, Brittany Morgan at 119, Jennifer Dragonchuk at 129, Karlee Burrows at 139, Olivia D'Acunto at 154, Jennifer Rosino at 169 and Frances Pagan at 199.
Though Kuhn, Burrows, D'Acunto and Rosino all collected county individual championships this winter - none has ever qualified for states.
Going in, Kuhn, Monzo, Burrows, D'Acunto and Rosino all sit atop their respective weight classes in this week's Hernando Today Hernando County honor roll.
"I like the structured format, it's a lot more competitive," explained Coach Garofano. "With the old open format, you lifted and then you had to wait around for days to see if your kids qualified. On Saturday, it's simple."
Any predictions?
"Deep down any of our girls have a chance (to go to states)," commented Garofano. "Personally, I think 3-4 could make it."
How did Garofano sell this meet?
"We told the kids, you're going heavy," Garofano said. "It's a little different posture from a regular season meet. We are attacking the bar. You've got to be more aggressive in meets like this. As a result, a lot of our kids are starting higher than what we have normally done in the past."
 
Leopards: Sharpe performance expected
   
First-year Leopard Head Coach Shawn Bingham is bringing a county-high 15 Hernando High lifters to Belleview including: Emily Calamari at 101, Shelbie Goodwin at 110, twins Demi and Erica Maldonado at 119, Melinda Blount at 129, Victoria Ketchum at 139, Alex Hayden at 154, Corey Proctor and Emily Schwab at 169, Jasmine Sharpe at 199, and Ava Baylor and Sharvae Bennett at unlimited.
Going in, Blount, Ketchum, Sharpe and Baylor are reigning Hernando County champions.
Last winter, HHS took 11 to the Section V meet, pushing three to states.
Sharpe, who won this meet in 2008, is seeking a repeat title.
"I really like the format," declared Coach Bingham. "Our kids are competitors. Realistically, I think we can get at least four to states. I think we're in good shape."
How did the team prepare?
"I thought I pushed the kids real hard in practice, but the older girls wanted even more weight on the bar," he recalled. "That's a good sign. I was trying to hold them back, but they wanted more. That means they're hungry. Personally, I'd really like to see Baylor and Sharpe go (to states), those two have worked their butts off in the weight room."
 
Sharks: Six in the pool
 
NCT, which enjoyed its finest season at 5-1, will be represented by six lifters including: Carli Driscoll at 110, Marissa Perez at 119, Casey Pelaez and Amanda Lehman at 139, Veronica Bichouti at 154 and Kiara Diaz at 199.
Perez is the lone Shark lifter atop the current county honor roll.
Last winter, NCT took six to the Section V meet, but no one advanced.
The Sharks' previous state representative in school history is Kelli Bloom (2005-06).
What will it take for the Sharks to add a second or third lifter to states?
"As most things, it comes down to performance," explained fourth year Head Coach Ryan Wilson. "And I think the girls have to think big.
"I gave the girls maximum workouts (leading up to the meet)," added Wilson. "I put more on the bar than they were used to. And they found out they could go higher. I hope that helps."
And the nerves issue?
"I explained to them it's real simple on Saturday," he recalled. "Either you get your lifts in, or you don't. The only failure is if you don't try. I told the kids, we need their best efforts on Saturday."
 
Bears: Looking to the future
 
Four-time Hernando County champion Central High finished the regular season winless at 0-5.
Veteran Head Coach Cliff Lohrey, however, isn't standing still, he's laying the ground work for the future.
Unlike last winter when unlimited Johnisha Jackson earned her fourth state appearance (2005-08) with a Section V title, there's more of a learning curve with this group.
Lohrey is expected to bring six lifters to Belleview including: Hailey Goodwin at 110, Zoe Gleason and Sydney Tucker at 119, Lucky Hamilton at 129, Kelly Nelson at 169 and Stephanie Stephens at unlimited.
Only Goodwin is a defending county champion.
Tucker is tied with NCT's Perez atop the leader board at 119.
How did Lohrey sell this prestigious meet?
"It's do or die," remarked Lohrey. "There is no room for regrets on Saturday. You can't say, 'I wish I would have gone five more pounds.' This is the ultimate step if you want to move on to next level."
What is the Bears' approach?
"We have girls who can get out (qualify for states), maybe not this year, maybe next year," he said. "Saturday is all about the experience of being in a meet this big. I want our girls to take it all in."
 
 
AT A GLANCE
WHAT - Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Section V Girls Weightlifting Qualifying Meet.
WHO - Twenty-three teams are expected to be represented including: host Belleview, Brooksville-Central, Brooksville-Hernando, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Bushnell-South Sumter, Crystal River, Dade City-Pasco, Dunnellon, Groveland-South Lake, Hudson, Inverness-Citrus, Land O'Lakes, Land O'Lakes-Sunlake, Lecanto, New Port Richey-Gulf, NPR-Mitchell, NPR-Ridgewood, NPR-River Ridge, Spring Hill-Springstead, The Villages, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.
WHERE - Belleview High School's gymnasium.
WHEN - Weigh-ins at 8 a.m. Coaches' meeting at 9:15 a.m. Meet expected to begin at 9:30 a.m.
AT STAKE - Under the structured format, only the top three lifters (total weight hoisted) in each of the 10 weight divisions will advance to the sixth annual FHSAA State Championship Meet set for Saturday, Feb. 14, again at New Port Richey-River Ridge Middle/High School.
 

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

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