The three obstacles along Antwuan Hampton's path to his second weightlifting state title
Twenty-six years ago, Thomas Chaput ensnared back-to-back weightlifting state championships for North Marion High School. On April 15th, Antwuan Hampton secured his second consecutive title. Vanesha Hampton, a classmate of Chaput and a mother to Hampton, witnessed both reach the accomplishment.
Hampton's road to a second title was filled with three obstacles. The first started in June, a few months after Hampton’s first state championship, and the month his mother was diagnosed with leukemia.
Antwuan never missed a treatment. He served as her primary transport and first line of care after doctor visits.
“In weight lifting, you’re going against yourself at all times," Hampton said. "It’s all about getting your personal best.”
Noah's Flu Game: Vanguard wins first district baseball championship was 23 years in the making
Gracie Zacarias: is chasing a Forest track and field legacy through a host of injuries
2024 Baseball District tournaments: Everything you need to know about 1st round matchups
As Vanesha progressed toward remission, her lifestyle changes kept Hampton in shape. Seeing his mother fight gave him the motivation needed for a long senior season leading the football and boys' weightlifting teams.
Hampton’s second obstacle started on the football field. The newly signed University of West Florida defensive lineman played through 10 weeks of the season with a pinched nerve in his shoulder.
Every game after week two, Hampton could feel his shoulder going numb after each hit. The young man who captured the 2024 2A state championships with a 390-pound bench press couldn't lift his 315-pound warmup set.
“She played a big role in making sure I eat right,” Hampton said.
Hampton begins to recover his strength with every treatment and physical therapy session. Vanesha was there to support him through injury and coach him through conditioning. The strongest athlete in the county was ordered to run bases with his sister to make weight for the weightlifting season.
Without the offseason to prepare, Hampton needed more time to push for his goal personal record but he still dominated the regular season. Through ten meets, Hampton was undefeated, but our third obstacle reared its head.
Hampton entered the county with his 390-pound state championship weight on the bar and failed to lift it three times. He didn't medal at the county meet for the first time since his weightlifting career started as a sophomore.
“After county’s, we talked about the loss not being a bad thing,” North Marion head coach Ryan Gallegos said. “Adversity defines your character a lot of the time.”
Gallegos knew the loss would revitalize the star athlete. He crushed his competition in the district and regional meets by more than 50 pounds. The 390-pound bench pressed hurdle was no more. Hampton matched his personal record with a 405 lift at regional.
“I was expecting it, but I knew I had people closer to me this year, so I had to work a little harder and be smarter with the moves I made.”
Hampton will go down as one of the best strength athletes to pass through Marion County. A massive bench press over 400 pounds, a pair of Star Banner boys Weightlifter of the Year titles, and two state championships all weigh on his résumé.
Next season, Hampton will put the competitive weightlifting bar down while playing football at the University of West Florida. That doesn't mean he won't strive to become the strongest athlete in the gym and the strongest man he can be off the field. Vanesha Hampton wouldn't have it any other way.
“All this weight is the same weight,” Hampton said. “All this weight is nothing but the bar. I’m thinking of everything like it’s the bar. It’s nothing but me and the bar.”
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: What Antwuan Hampton went through to capture his second state titile
