Two different athletes that competed in two different weight classes both produced the same dominating results. Harmony’s Isaac Balado and St. Cloud’s Julian Sykes share the Osceola News Gazette’s Boys Weightlifter of the Year honor.
Balado, who competed in the 129-pound weight class, and Sykes, who competed at 154, dominated their divisions all season in both the traditional competition (bench press and clean and jerk) and the new snatch competition.
They won both competitions at the Orange Belt Conference, district and regional meets, and both took home double gold medals at the FHSAA State Championship last month.
“Certainly fitting that they are both recognized as the Co-Athletes of the Year,” Harmony coach Nick Lippert said. “It would have been really tough to try to draw a line between their performances. Both Isaac and Julian had incredible seasons, where they pretty much dominated every competition they were in and both came home with two state championships.”
For Balado, it was a redemption year. Expected to be a strong contender for a state title last year, he “flamed out” on a lift in regionals and failed to qualify. His traditional totals of 280-215-495 easily outdistanced the second place total of 245-200-445 by East River’s Nick Puleo. Balado completed his gold medal sweep in the snatch, hitting a 170-pound lift on his final attempt to edge Haines City’s Nahshon Paul, who missed on his final attempt at the same weight.
Sykes, who took third place in the traditional meet last year, came back and set personal bests practically every week. His lifts of 315-300-615 won the traditional by 70 pounds over second place finisher Isaiah Rivers of Flagler High (295-250-545) and was 75 pounds more than he lifted in taking third place in the same weight class a year ago. Sykes also easily took gold in the snatch, with a 220 pound lift, betting three others at 195 – including teammate Kevin Hill.
“Julian came back bigger, stronger and better for his senior season,” Head Coach Cory Aun said of his lifter. “We worked so hard in the off-season to improve and that work certainly paid off with a pair of state titles.”
St. Cloud finished with two top 10 team finishes in the Class 3A meet, taking seventh in the traditional with 14 points and taking fourth in the snatch with 16 to help earn Coach Cory Aun the Osceola News Gazette’s Coach of the Year honors for the sport.
Here is the All-ONG Boys Weight Lifting Team:
119 pounds: Sebastian Pineiro-Jirau, St. Cloud: won OBC, district and regional competitions in the traditional meet, placing seventh in the state competition.
129: Balado: Took double gold at states, winning both snatch and traditional competitions.
139: Anthony Morales, St. Cloud: OBC and district champion, Morales qualified for state’s in the traditional meet and finishing 10th overall in the traditional with a 245-200-445 total.
154: Sykes: Joined Balado as a double gold state champion. Won every high school event he entered this season.
169: Nathanael Combs, St. Cloud: double podium showing in state championship, finishing third (290-280-570) in traditional and sixth in snatch (215). Swept OBC, district and regional competition in both disciplines.
183: Ryan Clancy, St. Cloud: Qualified for states in both disciplines. First (snatch) and third (traditional) at both districts and regional championships.
199: Noah Carr, St. Cloud: Another key performer for the Bulldogs, won OBC, district and regional Championships in both disciplines and reach podium in both at state championships, taking fourth place in both traditional and snatch competitions.
219: Daniel Watson, Harmony: OBC, district and regional champion, qualified in both disciplines for the state championship.
238: Pete Rodriguez, Tohopekaliga: Won traditional titles at OBC, district and regionals.
Unlimited: Caden Gayle, Harmony: Winning both the traditional and snatch at OBCs and districts, Gayle won the snatch competition in regionals while taking a third in the traditional. He qualified for the state tournament in the snatch, finishing in 14th place.
