Last Week is No Fluke

Host Nature Coast Technical was out to prove last week's season-opening 76-11 pasting of host Lecanto was no fluke.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Sharks bested county rival Hernando (0-1 overall) behind six individual champions and five second-place finishers to improve to 2-0 in the young boys weightlifting season, 54-36.

NCT: seven champs

For the hosts, six lifters claimed first place featuring: junior Jacob Perkins (165-160-325) at 129 pounds, sophomore Anthony Carlucci (205-190-395) at 139, sophomore Luke McCarty
(225-200-425) at 154, junior Justin Murray (275-225-500) at 199, senior Joe Mignoli (325-255-580) at 219, and sophomore Gary Myrick 285-275-560) at 238.
None of the six were Hernando County champions from a year ago.
Perkins epitomized this year's team. He's a first-year lifter who has won back-to-back meets.
"I was expecting more (total weight) today," summed up the 17-year-old Perkins, who defeated Hernando freshman Brad Wagner by 55 pounds. "I did go up 15 pounds in my bench from the week before. I just didn't do as well as I wanted in the clean-and-jerk."
Was Perkins satisfied with the win?
"I really wish I would have done better in my cleans," shrugged Perkins.
Shark Head Coach Charles Liggett took the win in stride.
"Several of the guys went up quite a bit," pointed out Liggett. "It's really all we ask of them - to improve their totals each week. The kids have kinda taken it upon themselves to get better. Most of these guys are members of our football program."
Biggest improvement to date?
"The clean-and-jerk is an aggressive move, something I think our guys would take a liking to," added Liggett. "We've won a couple meets, but our totals aren't really up there. I wouldn't read too much into winning these first two meets, it's only gonna get tougher from here on out."
Biggest surprises?
"Colin (Mackiewicz) and Avery (Clemmons) have both really increased their totals," said Liggett. "Mack went up 20 pounds in a week, so did Clemmons. Mignoli, isn't a football player but he had a nice total (meet-best 580 pounds) and Myrick isn't too far behind (at 560)."

Leopards: four champs

Hernando High's highlights included its four champions: freshman Mike Sanders at 119 (175-135-310), sophomore Anthony Giordano (265-220-485) at 169, junior Tallis "Champ" Roberts (265-220-485) at 183 and senior David Hines (340-225-565) at heavyweight.
Despite the win, Hines was not totally satisfied with his season-opening effort.
"I didn't like the way my bench went," said the 18-year-old Hines. "It seemed like it was real hot in there (NCT weight room), the bar slipped out of my hands a couple times. For the first meet, things went all right. I went in looking for a 585 total and a 370 bench and I didn't get that. Maybe next week."
Like Hines, Roberts also did not attain his pre-meet goals.
"I went in looking for a 530 total, but I know I haven't lifted since football season," said the 17-year-old Roberts. "I've been concentrating on track. All that running has affected my lifting. Next week, I'm shooting for a 525 total."
Like his counterpart, first-year Hernando High Head Coach John Palmer took the season-opener without much hoopla.
"Overall, I think we got a good start," said Palmer. "We have a lot of first-year guys competing. I was pleased with the efforts."
The difference?
"We've got to get better in our cleans," said Palmer. "Give credit to Nature Coast. When their guys are the last ones on the platforms, that's a good sign."
Surprises?
"Giordano and Sanders were both pleasant surprises," remarked Palmer. "And Sanders is only a freshman."
What's next week's goal?
"All we want is for the kids to improve by 10 pounds each week," said Palmer. "Hopefully, next week we'll have all our guys. Josh (Parnell) and William (Aldermann) could not be here today, but they should help us next week against South Sumter."

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

Hernando at Nature Coast
NCT def. Hernando, 54-36
(Top three finishers; points based on 5-3-1 system).
119 - 1. Sanders (HER) 175-135-310; 2. Hicks (NCT) 145-125-270; 3. Prezkop (NCT) 125-120-245.
129 - 1. Perkins (NCT) 165-160-325; 2. Wagner (HER) 145-125-270; 3. Ferrara (NCT) 115-125-240.
139 - 1. Carlucci (NCT) 205-190-395, 2. Piskura (NCT) 190-190-380, 3. Blanchard (HER) 180-105-285.
154 - 1. McCarty (NCT) 225-200-425, 2. Taylor (HER) 230-185-415; 3. D. Pritz (HER) 210-175-385.
169 - 1. Giordano (HER) 265-220-485, 2. Mackiewicz (NCT) 230-240-470, 3. Harvey (HER) 235-175-410.
183 - 1. Roberts (HER) 265-220-485, 2. Clemmons (NCT) 250-225-475; 3. Nazario (NCT) 200-175-375.
199 - 1. Murray (NCT) 275-225-500; 2. Dodson (NCT) 230-185-415, 3. Bland (HER) 205-185-390.
219 - 1. Mignoli (NCT) 325-255-580, 2. Kessler (HER) 320-220-550, 3. Lindo (NCT) 275-185-460.
238 - 1. Myrick (NCT) 285-275-560, 2. Huggins (HER) 335-225-560, 3. Dampier (NCT) 255-245-500.
HWT - 1. D. Hines (HER) 340-225-565, 2. Ellison (NCT) 285-250-535, 3. Cullen (NCT) 260-215-475.
Records - Hernando (0-1), Nature Coast Technical (2-0).