Rebuilding to First: How West Port weightlifting transformed into a conference champion

As the emcee of the MCIAC girls weightlifting competition named off the teams that made the podium, West Port waited on pins and needles. Forest took third, Belleview took second, and before West Port was announced their section let out a cheer. The Wolf Pack had captured the top spot in the county.

During the 2023 meet there was a different atmosphere. A team that totaled eight girls wasn't expecting to place during the competition. They had the talent but numbers were holding them back.

"Last year we were a very young team but yet it was the first year I took over," West Port coach Karen Harper said. "A lot of girls didn't return and it was a building year. We only had about eight girls and because of that we didn't have enough to bring points."

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While Zariah Peterson, the Ocala Star Banner's girls weightlifter of the year, and Victoria Iyamu made it to the state tournament, West Port would need more than their superstars to be successful as a team in the 2023-24 season. Both lifters graduated, leaving six underclassmen to start a new era under Harper.

In the weeks leading up to the season those six athletes hit the recruiting trail. They asked friends and any girl who looked like they had an athletic path in front of them.

"Believe it or not the girls recruited themselves," Harper said. "The girls said, ‘Hey I'm on the weightlifting team you should come lift with me.’”

Heading into this year's event, the Wolf Pack was one of the deepest teams in Belleview's gymnasium and transformed into the largest weightlifting room in the area.

"It feels great especially last year I got third place," West Port sophomore Kohley Vreeland said. "So this is a lot better."

During the biggest meet of the year, the cheers never stopped for the team in teal and black. The support for each athlete who went under the bar was palpable.

"Everyone's been supportive. I'm really happy," West Port freshman Rebekah Elliott said. "I never felt this before because I don't do other sports.”

When the results were tallied, three members of West Port's team had first-place medals. Eight more captured second or third place.

With the team taking their destiny into their own hands there was a deeper sense of connection among teammates. While they had fun spending time with friends and cheering each other on, they developed strength and confidence along the 12-week regular season.

The team may be young, but their dedication has helped them create a strong platform for the future. It resulted in five lifters taking fifth place or better during district and giving them a chance to compete at regionals in early February.

Coach Harper felt the effects too. The teary-eyed coach was proud of her team. But the weightlifters weren't the only ones who grew over the last year.

"I learned that it takes work," Harper said. "I have a good predecessor my husband, (head football and weightlifting coach Gregory Harper). He did it last year with the boys so learned what I needed to do and worked really had with the girls on doing that."

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: West Port girls weightlifting rises to top team in Marion County