Monzo heads state medal hopefuls

A total of five Hernando County lifters will head to the Kissimmee Civic Center this weekend hoping to leave with a state medal.

One local girl in particular seems in line to achieve the necessary top-six finish to make that happen today at the FHSAA Finals.

Julia Monzo, among three Springstead seniors who will compete, is tied for second in the rankings for the 101-pound weight class, based on district totals.

Teammates Sarah Costa (101) and Farley Barnett (unlimited) hope to join her in collecting some hardware.

The meet is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. with weight classes 101 through 139. When those classes are complete, 154 through unlimited will take to the platforms.

"Hopefully, we can come away with a medal. Julia has got a good shot," Springstead head coach Mike Garofano said. "If she has a good day, we'll see her coming home with something.

"Farley and Sarah have their work cut out for them. They have to have really good days. That's not out of their realm of possibility."

Monzo is the lone returning state qualifier from 2011. She came in 16th with a 205 total (100 bench, 105 clean-and-jerk).

On Jan. 25 at Mitchell High, Monzo captured a district title at 101 with a 130-115 — 245, her season best competing at that weight. She has gone as high as 250 at 110 and 119.

That ties her with Navarre's Alyssa Jones and Shannon Warder of New Smyrna Beach.

However, all three trail defending state champ Mimi Ho of Palatka. She posted a 305 at the district level.

"You never know with these other girls, if they did everything they could at the district meet," Garofano said. "Some coaches have girls sandbag a little bit, so you don't know what to expect at the state meet.

"We're trying to get up near 255-260 for (Monzo). If she can get to 255, I think she's got a shot of taking the two spot.

"She has at least 10 more pounds in her, I know that. We're hoping to get it up to 15 or 20."

Costa, a first-year lifter who came in second to Monzo at districts, ranks in a tie for 16th at 210 (100 bench, 110 clean-and-jerk).

In the always tough unlimited division, Barnett is tied for 18th at 315 (155 bench, 160 clean-and-jerk).

"With Sarah, we're trying for 230, that's the best-case scenario for her. That's medaled in the past. This year, I don't know," Garofano said.

"Farley, we have to get her to 340-345 to have a shot. The best-case scenario, she can get 345."

The other two county competitors are at 169. District champ Kiana Espinal, a Nature Coast junior, is tied for 10th with a 155-155—310 from districts.

Hernando junior Victoria Alderman is tied for 18th with the 150-140—290 that placed second to Espinal last month.