Harmony OBC weight champ again; 9 to state meet

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Harmony OBC weight champ again; 9 to state meet

Sports

Saturday, 17 April 2010 00:00

By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer
Nine county lifters earned spots in the Class A and 2A state weightlifting meets next weekend after big lifts in last week’s sectional qualifiers.
They will be well-tested and ready to go, as they all won weight classes or finished second at Wednesday’s Orange Belt Conference meet at Harmony High School, the last competitive lift before the state meet.
The host Longhorns scored 78 points and three-peated as county team champions over St. Cloud (57). Celebration (26), in its best showing ever, edged out a pack for third over Liberty (24), Poinciana (19) and Osceola (17).
Harmony claimed five of 10 weight classes in taking the victory.
HHS Coach John Wallauer Jr. said his kids did a great job Wednesday up and down the lineup.
“I had several young JV guys fill in some holes where we had guys out, and they did a great job,” he said. “It was nice to see guys like Milton Bronson (a senior), who didn’t win, but recorded new personal bests and set the school record in the clean and jerk (at 199 pounds with a 270-pound lift).
“This was a great way for our seniors to end their careers. Next year, I believe the final will be a lot closer, we graduate quite a few guys. We do have several younger guys that will return next year and will be a solid core for us.”
Dominic DeMunno, one of four Longhorns lifting at the state meet at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey next Saturday, took the 129-pound class on Wednesday with a 445-pound total (230 bench press, 215 clean and jerk). Also winning for Harmony were Justin Kennedy (215-225-440) at 139 pounds over teammate Justin McCullough (245-185-430), Cameron Dulgar (270-265-535) at 183 over Jared Beekman (265-260-525), Hunter White (350-245-595) at 219 and Julian Rivera (375-270-645) at heavyweight.
Poinciana claimed two classes. Keith Stevenson won at 119 pounds (210-145-355) and Tavarus Alcime (280-265-545) took 169.
St. Cloud’s Nate Green (280-230-510) won at 154 pounds over teammate Ray Scavone (240-260-500). Celebration senior Matt Benacquisto (300-260-560) tied at the top at 199 with St. Cloud’s David Garcia, but won the title based on lower body weight. Liberty’s Louis Cruz won at 238 pounds (355-265-620).
The seven lifters who will compete at the 2A meet next Saturday earned their spots in Section 6 qualifier April 5 in Bartow.
Those were DeMunno (129, 235-190-425), McCullough (139, 250-205-455), White (219, 355-265-620), Rivera (heavyweight, 375-260-635), Green (154, 280-230-510), Scavone (169, 250-245-495) and Cruz (238, 365-275-640).
Poinciana’s Stevenson (119, 200-145-345) and Alcime (169, 300-255-555) qualified at the Section A-8 meet at Avon Park and will lift in the Class A meet Friday at River Ridge.
With strong teams like defending champion Fort Walton Beach, Spruce Creek, New Smyrna Beach and Ocala Forest expected to dominate at the state meet, Wallauer said that his team’s primary goal will to see its lifters set personal records.
“We want to try to increase everybody’s season-best by 5 pounds, set some personal and school records,” he said. “Dominic can earn a medal (top five).”
For more information on the state weightlifting meet visit www.fhsaa.org/wtb.