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Hernando Today

No Longer Unbeaten

BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

NCT junior Jarrah Greene

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: March 11, 2009

BUSHNELL - Behind six first-place champions and six runner-ups, host South Sumter High dropped Nature Coast Technical's boys weightlifting team from the unbeaten ranks Wednesday afternoon in Sumter County.
Second-year Head Coach John Borum's Red Raiders improved to 2-1 via a 53-36 nod over the 2-1 Sharks. The Red Raiders scored points in all 10 weight classes.
SSHS's champions included five veteran lifters: senior Daniel Vera at 129 pounds (205-175—380 total), senior Greg McMullen at 139 (235-225—460), junior Oscar Vera at 169 (280-225—505), senior Montana Barnes at 183 (270-235—505), senior Jon Ornelas at 238 (325-265—590) and senior Mike Bellamy at heavyweight (390-240—630).
Bellamy's 630-pound total was the meet's best highlighted by his meet-high 390-pound bench press.
"We have good kids who work hard," explained Coach Borum on the team's success. "The kids were a little disappointed in last week's results at East Ridge. We really didn't do as well as I thought we would.
"This week we had a much more success," he summed up. "Our goal each meet is for every kid to go 3-for-3 on the bench and 3-for-3 in his cleans."
The biggest surprises for the hosts weren't the grizzly veterans, but the new wave of Red Raider lifters.
Biggest surprises?
"Thomas (Tuller) got second today at 129, but he's gonna drop to 119 next week," insisted Coach Borum. "Josh Newhouse also got second (at 154) and Jamel Bates is only a freshman and he got second at 219."

Sharks: four champs

NCT, which did not score a point at 129 pounds, was also held to one point at 139 and 169 pounds.
All told, the Sharks collected four first-place finishers featuring: sophomore Chailen Hicks at 119 (140-120—260), sophomore Luke McCarty at 154 (235-205—440), junior Jarrah Greene at 183 (270-205—475), and senior Joe Mignoli at 219 (340-240—580).
Of the foursome, only Mignoli made it three wins in three weeks by crushing Bates by 125 pounds.
"I went up 15 pounds in my bench, but I went down in my cleans," shrugged the 18-year-old Mignoli. "Overall, it went alright. I still should have done better in my cleans."
What about the Sharks losing to the perennially tough Red Raiders?
"I'm absolutely not happy with the team getting second place," replied Mignoli. "We're a much stronger team than we showed today. I'm gonna focus on my cleans next week against Springstead and getting a little better in my bench."
Interestingly, Hicks's total was 10 pounds better last week, yet he finished first by five pounds over South Sumter freshman Louis Jeronimo and NCT sophomore Zack Prezkop, who tied with 255-pound totals.
"This week I did a little better in my bench, but what hurt was scratching twice during my cleans," lamented the 16-year-old Hicks. "I know I would have done better. It was kind of a case of good news, bad news today."
Greene, who did not compete in last week's win against Hernando, earned his second win of the campaign edging teammate Colin Mackiewicz by 10 pounds.
"I went up five pounds from the last meet," shared the 17-year-old Greene. "My cleans carried me, but I've got to improve my bench. It's got to get better. Coach Liggett has really helped me technique-wise. Let all the other lifters know Big Greene is back on the mats."
Like Greene, McCarty also improved, going up 10 pounds in a week. He edged Newhouse by five pounds for the win, 440-435.
"The difference? I've been working out every day," said the 16-year-old McCarty. "My improvement has come in my cleans. A win like this boosts my confidence. I've got to give credit to Coach Liggett, too. He's really helped me out."
NCT Head Coach Charles Liggett wasn't brooding after losing to the Red Raiders.
"I really don't think losing 53-36 is that bad," pointed out the third-year skipper. "Sure, it's a loss, but look at the guys we lost to. South Sumter has always been solid in this sport. We're excited to have the success we're having. I'm really not too torn up. A loss like this should help us compete down the line."

Nature Coast at South Sumter
South Sumter def. NCT, 53-36
(Top three finishers; points based on 5-3-1 system).
119 – 1. Hicks (NCT) 140-120—260; 2. Jeronimo (SS) 150-105—255; 3. Prezkop (NCT) 130-125—255.
129 – 1. Daniel Vera (SS) 205-175—380; 2. Tuller (SS) 165-145—310.
139 - 1. McMullen (SS) 235-225—460, 2. Benitez (SS) 225-205—430; 3. Carlucci (NCT) 200-190--390.
154 – 1. McCarty (NCT) 235-205—440; 2. Newhouse (SS) 215-220—435; 3. Davy Vera (SS) 195-195—390.
169 – 1. Oscar Vera (SS) 280-225—505; 2. Commadore (SS) 250-175—425; 3. Cabeza (NCT) 210-185—395.
183 – 1. J. Greene (NCT) 270-205—475, 2. Mackiewicz (NCT) 230-235—465; 3. Newby (SS) 245-220—465.
199 – 1. Barnes (SS) 270-235—505; 2. Murray (NCT) 275-215—490; 3. McCrimmon (SS) 230-210—440.
219 – 1. Mignoli (NCT) 340-240—580; 2. Bates (SS) 250-205—455; 3. Martinez (SS) 245-205--450.
238 – 1. Ornelas (SS) 325-265—590; 2. Myrick (NCT) 280-275—555, 3. Davis (SS) 275-250--525.
HWT – 1. Bellamy (SS) 390-240—630, 2. Ellison (NCT) 285-250—535, 3. Cullen (NCT) 270-220—490.
Records – Nature Coast Technical (2-1), South Sumter (2-1).

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

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