From Agony To Ecstasy: Lady Eagles go back-to-back

BROOKSVILLE - So much for changes?

Last year under first-year Head Coach Cecilia Page, the Springstead High girls' weightlifting achieved rare air.

SHS collected its first-ever county championship and produced its first-ever state medalist behind Lifter of the Year Christine Alberts.

Last winter, Page had 13 placers -- out of 15 lifters -- to earn the school's first-ever team crown.

A year later on Friday afternoon at the Hernando High weight room, a different Springstead mentor guided the Eagle lifters.

Head Coach Mike Garofano, who has served as the boys' mentor over the past four seasons, changed the mindset in Spring Hill.

He wanted his new team to look not at just settling for the county title but qualifying lifters to the State Championship Meet.

Ironically, Springstead had a collective poor effort at Belleview High during last weekend's Section V Qualifying Meet. As a result, no SHS lifter will be participating in the Feb. 9 State Championship at New Port Richey-River Ridge Middle/High School.

But as fortunes would have it, SHS overcame any previous disappointments, by excelling Friday afternoon in Brooksville.

Garofano's 15 lifters all placed -- highlighted by six gold medal efforts and three silver medals -- to finish the season on a high note by capturing the Hernando County Championship.

The Lady Eagles scored points in 9-of-10 weight divisions (they did enter anyone at 183) to topple runner-up and host Hernando High, 61-44.

"It feels great to win," shared Garofano. "I'm really proud of the girls. It's been a weird season. We started out with 35 girls and today we finished with 20. I'm proud of all 20 who stuck it out.

"Last Saturday at Belleview was very disappointing," recalled Garofano. "That day we were out of our routine. Next year I think 6-8 girls could go to states. But I don't want them to just make states. I'd like to see them place. We've got some ability here, but they just can't come out in November and pick up a weight; they've got to lift year 'round."

Nature Coast finished third with 31 points while four-time county champion Central placed fourth overall with 21 points.

SHS: six champs

The Eagles were paced by first-place efforts by sophomore Lindsay Kuhn at 101 pounds (85-100--185), senior Brittany Morrissey at 110 (95-110--205), senior Linda McCarthy at 119 (105-115--220), junior Karlee Burrows at 139 (110-125--235), Jennifer Dragunchuk at 154 (100-120--220) and sophomore Olivia D'Acunto at 169 (120-105--225).

Oddly enough, all six Springstead victors were also first-time county champions.

Kuhn went up 50 total pounds in a year to go from finishing fourth in 2007 to besting Hernando's Emily Calamari -- the defending champ -- by 15 pounds.

"This (win) is pretty awesome," declared the 16-year-old Kuhn. "Today I did well on my cleans. I got my PR (personal record)."

McCarthy did not compete last winter due to a knee injury. On Friday, she edged NCT's Marissa Perez by five pounds for the title.

"It feels pretty nice," shared the 17-year-old McCarthy. "It's more exciting to win it this year because I helped out.. I wanted to go about five more pounds. But I'll take it. I'm happy."

Last winter, Morrissey lost to Central's Hailey Goodwin by 10 pounds for first place.

Goodwin, who led after the bench press portion of the competition, scratched three times in the clean and jerk portion allowing Morrissey to rally for the win.

"I was expecting a tough fight from Hailey," recalled the 17-year-old Morrissey. "But she wasn't feeling well today."

How's the win taste?

"Getting gold is really nice," smiled Morrissey. "But winning back-to-back is better."

Burrows went up 20 pounds in a year to edge the defending county champion from Hernando, Samantha Pankow, by 10 pounds.

"I did what I expected to do," stated the 16-year-old Burrows. "Maybe we didn't go to states, but I'd rather win conference any day."

SHS also collected three silver medals by Courtney Toles at 110 (95-90--185), sophomore Katlin Killory at 129 (105-115--220) and junior Frances Pagan at 199 (120-115--235).

HHS: three champs

Third-year Hernando Head Coach Judi Decker once again saw her squad finish runner-up to Springstead behind three first-time, first-place finishers: senior Kristin Stephens (200-135--335) at 183, Jasmine Sharpe at 199 (145-140--285) and senior Mia Townsell (100-120--220) at 129.

Townsell's win was the narrowest of any champion. She actually was tied the defending champ Killory at220 total pounds, but because she weighed in 3.4 pounds less, she garnered the gold medallion.

Sharpe was a major surprise as the first-year lifter crushed Pagan by 50 pounds for first place.

Sharpe is also one of three Hernando lifters to qualify for next weekend's State Championship in Pasco County.

"States is more important," explained the 16-year-old Sharpe. "I've still got some work to do before I get there. I'd like to win it all, but even if I get third, I'm alright with it."

And the county title?

"Gold tastes real good," smiled Sharpe. "The taste of winning is best you can get, especially when you work hard."

Stephens, who qualified for second state championship meet, was a bit disappointed.

"I didn't feel the need to open it up," expressed the 18-year-old Stephens. "My shoulder's been bugging me a little bit. I didn't want to push it. That's why I went a little lower than I usually do."

How about winning gold?

"It feels so good to finally win," Stephens said. "Last year, I was second to Alberts. It's good to finally win."

"Today was a great meet," commented Decker. "I'm very proud of all the girls. I appreciated the way all the coaches pitched in to make it a great meet. I told the kids as long as you tried your best, that's all that matters."

One Bear stands tall

Central senior Johnisha Jackson was the Lady Bears' lone champion for Head Coach Cliff Lohrey.

She hoisted a 200-pound bench press, plus a 150-pound clean and jerk for a meet-best 350-pound total.

Though she finished 10 pounds away from tying her county record of 360 total pounds, Friday's win was her third in four seasons. Her lone blemish arrived as a sophomore when she lost to HHS' Valerie Blount.