TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Four Sure

1A-V BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: March 25, 2009

LECANTO - Two Hernando County squads had mirroring performances in Wednesday's Class 1A, Sub-Section V Meet at Lecanto High.

Both Hernando and Nature Coast had one lifter take first place and advanced four overall to the April 8 Section V Final at Hudson. The top four in each weight class moved on.

For the Sharks, senior Joe Mignoli again paced the team at 219 pounds, while Collin Mackiewicz (169), Jarrah Greene (183) and Justin Murray (199) snagged a qualifying spot.

Michael Sanders led Hernando taking top honors at 119. Anthony Giordano (169), Clay Kessler (219) and Robert Huggins (HWT) are also bound for Hudson.

Less than best

Despite the advancements, Nature Coast Head Coach Charles Liggett noted that almost all of his lifters fell short of their personal bests.

"We had four qualify; two scratch out. They both should have qualified," Liggett said. "It's not because they didn't give their all. Sometimes that happens.

"I thought everybody I brought had a chance to qualify. Everyone did as expected accept for the two that scratched. I hope we do well next week (at the county meet)."

Mignoli, who came in tied for the county-high at 600 pounds, benched 330 and hoisted 265 in the clean-and-jerk for 595.

He defeated the second-place lifter, Kessler, by 50 pounds as the Hernando senior posted a 320-225 – 545. Yet Mignoli came away feeling "not good" and theorized that his total suffered because of a sugar crash.

"I'm looking forward to a higher bench and definitely a higher clean," Mignoli said. "I'm feeling more comfortable with (the clean). I feel like I can get better leverage.

"I'm feeling a bit more focused since I got my clean-and-jerk up. I'm feeling more confidence. I've just got to work on my bench to get my total up."

Liggett said that Mignoli, being a senior, has a great desire to reach states and will need to keep increasing his totals to make it happen.

"His bench went down today," Liggett said. "He's been working hard on his clean-and-jerk and he did well today. He's got to focus back on his bench."

The coach also praised Mackiewicz, who pulled off his best clean (240) to go along with a 230 bench, giving him a 470 total that placed him fourth by five pounds.

Murray came in second with a 285-225 –510 and Greene third with a 275-210 – 485.

The Leopards, too, had some struggles but still found some success. The freshman Sanders came through with a 175-155 – 330 that won the lightest weight by 20 pounds.

Giordano (270-225 – 495) came in second, while Huggins took fourth (335-235 – 570).

"It was about what we expected," Hernando Head Coach John Palmer said. "We'd like better totals but I think the guys that had a very good chance to move on did.

"Anthony had a great day and our 119 kid (Sanders) did. Robert and Clay struggled a little bit but still moved on. That was good.

"They've just got to improve a whole lot on clean-and-jerks. They were all under their bench press totals from the previous week. Why, I don't know, but we've got to get back to work next week and work on improving that."

Class 1A, Sub-Section V Meet
at Lecanto (top four advance)
119 – 1. Sanders (HER) 175-155 – 330.
129 – 1. Benitez (SS) 210-200 – 410, 5. Wagner (HER) 155-140 – 295, 6. Young (HER) 115-95 – 210.
139 – 1. McMullen (SS) 245-225 – 470.
154 – 1. Newhouse (SS) 215-210 – 425.
169 – 1. Vera (SS) 280-235 – 515, 2. Giordano (HER) 270-225 – 495, 4. Mackiewicz (NCT) 230-240 – 470.
183 – 1. Beatty (CR) 290-230 – 520, 3. Greene (NCT) 275-210 – 485.
199 – 1. Brass (CR) 280-250 – 530, 2. Murray (NCT) 285-225 – 510, 5. Bland (HER) 205-210 – 415.
219 – 1. Mignoli (NCT) 330-265 – 595, 2. Kessler (HER) 320-225 – 545.
238 – 1. Ornelas (SS) 335-270 – 605, Myrick (NCT) 275-0 – 275, Bailey (HER) 205-0 – 205.
HWT – 1. Marshall (CR) 365-260 –625, 4. Huggins (HER) 335-235 – 570, 5. Ellison (NCT) 285-260 – 545.
Key: Crystal River (CR), Hernando (HER), Nature Coast (NCT), South Sumter (SS).

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at 352-544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT