There was a mindset heading into the FHSAA Class 2A, Region 3 Boys Weightlifting Tournament of winning three straight Olympic regional titles for Lake Wales head boys weightlifting coach Tashawn Williams.
And that’s exactly what happened when the day concluded Thursday at River Ridge High School as Lake Wales claimed first place with 44 points. Other Polk County schools delivering the goods were Auburndale (fifth) with 16 points and McKeel (10th) with eight points.
“(It’s all about) just the way we fought and competed. … We came in with a goal and we finished today as a family and that was special,” Williams said. “…(It) feels great. This has been an amazing season. Loved seeing my guys happy. This meant a lot to us.”
It meant the world to senior Lake Wales weightlifter Josh Canet (219), who was a double champion in Olympic and traditional. Canet had a total lift of 635 pounds. Canet, who hit a personal record of 340 for the clean and jerk, has won two double regional titles in his high school tenure.
“(It) feels amazing. So glad we came thru as a team and at the right time now onto states, and it aint gonna be easy but we’re gonna try to pull her home,” Canet said.
Other individuals who hit the top five in Olympic action were Auburndale’s Connor Bank (119, fourth), Lake Wales Zacchaeus Hart (139, champion), Lake Wales’ Coen Hayes (154, fourth), Lake Wales’ Bryan Santiago (169, fourth), Lake Wales’ Lane Stewart (183, third), McKeel’s Evan Kniss (199, champion), Auburndale’s Chad McClain (199, fifth), Auburndale’s Jayden Mondseir (210, second), Mulberry’s Jasiaha Davis (219, fourth), Lake Wales’ Issac Ramos (238, second), Auburndale’s Jaylen Pridgen (238, fourth), Lake Wales’ Graden Tempone (238, fifth), Lake Wales’ Sylvens Blanchard (unlimited, second), and Auburndale’s Terry Sullivan (unlimited, fourth).
In other news in Class 1A, Region 4 action at Frostproof on Thursday, the following Polk County weightlifters were in the top five in Olympic competition: Fort Meade’s Juan Estrada (119, second), Frostproof’s Jonathan Rocendo (129, fifth), Frostproof’s Riley Blackburn (154, fifth) and Frostproof’s Colton Thornberry (unlimited, fourth).
States are slated for April 11-12 at the RP Funding Center.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lake Wales boys' weightlifting wins third straight Olympic regional title; Auburndale 5th
