Girls weightlifting districts: Spruce Creek, Matanzas sweep Olympic, traditional titles
PALM COAST — Spruce Creek's boys weightlifting team swept state championships last May in both Olympic and traditional disciplines. Its girls weightlifters hope to repeat the feat in a matter of weeks, and started strong Wednesday with team victories at the District 4-3A meet.
The Hawks posted nearly identical scores — 78 points in Olympic, 77 in traditional — to take the titles. Ava Jowdy (unlimited), Alliyah Mills (169 pounds) and Alyssa McDaniels (129) each picked up a pair of individual golds.
"I definitely think we are all motivated enough to get there and, hopefully, come out on top," said Jowdy, a state runner-up as a junior in 2023. "It's definitely going to take a lot of us putting in work."
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Mills posted impressive posted scores of 340 in Olympic and 360 in traditional, winning both events by a margin of at least 80 pounds. Grecia Perazzo (199 traditional) and JanaRose Holston (119 Olympic) each secured one individual district championship.
Host Flagler Palm Coast placed second in the six-team field in both disciplines. Madeline Brinker (101), Nya Williams (110) and Chloe Long (183) were crowned double champs in their weight classes, Sherlande Paul added a win at 154 Olympic and Zoey Gotera (unlimited) twice finished runner-up.
"I'm happy about my day. I went 7 for 9, 3 for 3 on snatch, so that was a pretty big deal for me," said Long, who endured a wrist injury in December after dropping a 170-pound weight onto it. "My coach had me lift light — partially because of my wrist, and partially because he knew I was projected to win. We're saving strength for next week. … I think I'm ready (for regionals). It's my senior year, and I am hoping to go out with a bang."
University produced three individual champions in traditional competition: Hailey Theodore (119), Melissa Rago (139) and Mariah Fisher (154). DeLand had a couple of winners, Addison Ruocco (139) and Katyah Ross (199), in the Olympic portion of the meet.
District 6-2A
Host Matanzas pulled off a district title double, scoring 67 points in traditional and 75 in Olympic to defeat runner-up New Smyrna Beach and the rest of the District 6-2A field by a double-digit margin.
Ryann Parkinson (101), Madison Glisson (119) and Sarah Sanchez (154) swept golds in their respective weight classes for the Pirates.
New Smyrna Beach's Olivia Bond-West (183) had the top performances of the afternoon, with a 430 total in Olympic and 440 in traditional — nearly 200 pounds more than any other competitor in her division. Franchesca Gonzalez (110), Jaclyn Betti (139), Mopeola Tofade (169) and Asha-Mahri Manzueta (199) were each crowned as double champs, as were Pine Ridge's Jamila Santana (129) and Deltona's Davianna Huertas (unlimited).
District 8-1A
DAYTONA BEACH — Led by five individual traditional champions, Taylor finished in second place to Palatka by just six points in the team standings.
Amya Ramos hit each of her first two lifts in the snatch, clean and jerk and the bench press, producing team-high totals of 295 in traditional scoring and 280 in Olympic. Jacky Bastidas (129), Teriauna Carruthers (169), Laila Harris (199) and Ann Vacarro (unlimited) achieved individual gold.
Father Lopez junior Bergyn Baliton, a Class 1A Olympic state champion in the 101 division last year, had the top pound-for-pound scores in sweeping the 110 class (270 traditional, 255 Olympic).
"It's definitely challenging, but I feel like I am preparing myself and getting to a higher level," Baliton said of the step up in weight class.
Thalia Perez won both competitions at 183 pounds, and Isabella Digon prevailed in the unlimited Olympic event for the host Green Wave. Atlantic fared best in the Olympic discipline with both Helena Perez (129) and Kenzie Perry (199) notching first-place showings.
Regional meets are set for next week. Flagler Palm Coast will host the Region 1-3A competition at 10 a.m. on Feb. 1. The area's 2A teams will head to Leesburg to compete at 10 a.m. on Feb. 3, and the 1A teams will head to Chiefland the same day for an 11 a.m. start time.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: High school girls weightlifting: Spruce Creek, Matanzas win titles
