DOUBLE CHAMPS: Spruce Creek sweeps FHSAA Class 3A boys weightlifting titles
LAKELAND — By its exceptionally lofty standards, Spruce Creek's state boys weightlifting championship drought is over. The most successful program in Florida high school history is back on top.
The Hawks lifted team trophies in both the inaugural Class 3A Olympic finals, and the traditional event at the RP Funding Center on Saturday night — their 28th and 29th championships officially recognized by the Florida High School Athletic Association, and first since 2018.
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"I talked to the team a few weeks ago and saw, on paper, that it was a possibility. And I thought it was appropriate," Hawks weightlifting coach David Nelson said. "Spruce Creek weightlifting, we should be the ones. As far as this group, they have earned it, they lifted the weights and they did a great job.
"We talked about it and thought, 'Wouldn't this be something,' as far as being the first."
No other Florida high school program has more than 10 state championships, but several local rivals fared better than the Hawks on the big stage in recent seasons. Flagler Palm Coast celebrated its first title in 2022, and University was runner-up the spring before.
Spruce Creek restored order and scored points in bunches during the first of three lifting sessions, producing two champions in the morning: Jake Battillo in the 219-pound Olympic competition, and Gabe Hernandez in the unlimited traditional category.
Battillo completed each of his first two lifts in the snatch and the clean and jerk, posting a 595 total — 30 pounds clear of runner-up Roy Wiggins of Lake Minneola. Hernandez earned his gold medal with a 780 total between the clean and jerk and the bench press.
Hernandez made a statement not only with his performance, but with his audacious choice of fashion. He proudly stood atop the podium in his signature look — brown leather boots, cutoff jean shorts, a silver belt buckle honoring his native Texas, a sleeveless checkered flannel shirt, refraction shades and a black cowboy hat.
"Every meet day, I wear it." Hernandez said. "It started off last year as a joke, and people loved it so I kept it.
"I transferred sophomore year from Texas, walked in the weight room and talked to Coach Nelson. I looked up at the names on the wall, the state champs from the past, and set a goal that I'd get my name up there before I graduate. It feels great."
Ten Hawks scored in the Olympic and traditional competitions, including senior Jesse Smith, who placed second in both disciplines at 238 pounds. Battillo, Hernandez, Zachary Caron, Tyler Barnett, Bradley Bingham and Jacob Adkins also recorded top-six finishes in each event.
Landon Perez carried the day for St. Johns County. Bartram Trail's senior heavyweight, a state runner-up in the snatch last season, comfortably secured Olympic victory with a 645 total.
"I've been doing this for four years, and really this is just all the hard work paying off and all the time I've put in," Perez said. "The Reagan family (Bartram Trail head coach Ronald Reagan and assistant coach Justin Reagan) has been a huge help to me. This is huge for all of us."
Marcos Ramos, a 2022 state champion in the snatch for the Bears, placed third in the Class 3A 238-pound Olympic competition. Creekside's Tanner Owens took 219-pound traditional runner-up honors, and Nease's Samuel Lewis hit his first six lifts to take fifth in the 139 Olympic.
In Class 2A, New Smyrna Beach junior Ryan Geary won his second traditional state championship in as many seasons, fending off Auburndale's Olympic champion Gavin Chastain for the 139-pound title. Geary hit his second attempt at 240 in the clean and jerk after letting out a booming scream and stamping both feet on the platform.
"Man, I did so good in my first attempt. After my second attempt, I said, 'I've done this before. I've got it,'" Geary said. "I hyped myself up, and that got me ready to do what I needed to do.
"I was a little nervous, but my coaches just told me that it means that I care. And I want to thank my parents and coaches for keeping me dedicated. I couldn't do it without them."
New Smyrna Beach finished one point behind Class 2A co-champions Fleming Island and Choctawhatchee in the traditional standings. Isaiah McCloud added individual gold in the 219 weight class (680 total), and Aiden Strong placed third and fourth, respectively, in the 139 Olympic and traditional events.
Cole Hash became Matanzas' fifth individual state champion in history, hitting a huge final bench press of 360 pounds to tie Fleming Island's Jered Rhodes at 650 overall. He emerged victorious via body weight tiebreaker.
"I knew I had a shot; I just had to play my best cards," Hash said.
"To be honest, I was doubting myself. With the help of my great coach, (Jeremy) Ossler, my teammates and my parents, they came in and told me, 'Believe in yourself, do the best you can do and let's have the best day yet.'"
Taylor's Francisco Perez was the lone Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns weightlifter to score in Class 1A, taking fourth in 238 traditional.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: FHSAA boys weightlifting: Spruce Creek sweeps team titles
