First-Year Competitor: One Sharpe Lifter

In the beginning of this year's girls weightlifting season, Hernando sophomore Jasmine Sharpe was in the unlimited weight class and was not a very happy camper.

But after taking the Christmas vacation to lose some weight, Sharpe is now going to represent the Lady Leopards at the girls state weightlifting meet today at River Ridge Middle/High School.

And that surprised her coach Judi Decker.

"She's a first-year lifter and she made it to states at 199 pounds," declared Decker. "She just came out of nowhere."

Sharpe won the 199-pound class two weeks ago at the Sectional qualifier at Belleview by bench-pressing 145 pounds and hoisting another 125 pounds in the clean-and-jerk.

But in the beginning of the year, that didn't look like it would happen.

"At first they had me in the unlimited, but I didn't like it," lamented Sharpe. "So I had to get down from weighing 215 pounds to 199 and in two weeks I lost about 14 pounds."

Her coach was amazed that Sharpe could lose that amount of weight in such a short time.

"She was on the treadmill working out every day," recalled the third-year Decker. "She came out here during Christmas break every day. Every single day we had she worked out and brought her bench press up over 30 pounds."

Sharpe also won the Hernando County title at 199 last week when she lifted 140-125-265. And while she is only seeded 18th in today's state meet, she believes that a good finish is a possibility.

Realistic look

"Winning might be an unrealistic goal," summed up Sharpe. "My goal is a top-three finish. I'm determined, I'm a hard worker and I feel I can make it."

Sharpe says she found a sport she really likes in lifting weights. "I just saw something new. I tried it and I just love the sport. I love the intensity and being challenged by the other girls."

Sharpe says at the beginning, her parents, Sharron Sharpe and Vincent Rogers, were a little put off by it.

"At first, they were like, 'No, No, that's a man's sport.' But when they saw me get into it they started liking it," said Sharpe.

One thing that Sharpe is sure about is that she wants to make something of herself.

"I see a lot of people in this town don't make it out and I plan to make it out," Sharpe declared. "I plan on being somebody."

One thing she wants to do is attend Grambling State University and play in the world-famous Tiger Marching Band.

"I'm a percussionist with the Hernando Royal Regiment and I plan on going to Grambling. I've seen them on TV and on their web site and I can see they are outstanding," said the Leopard sophomore. "I like the hospitality they show and the way they run the program. I love it and I'm going to study to become an advocate lawyer.

"I see people on the street every day and I want to do better," aspires Sharpe. "I want to do something big."