Ziss wins double gold at state weightlifting championships

St. Cloud lifter becomes county’s winningest state champ

  • Mikey Ziss’ two individual state championships gave him six for his career, tying Osceola High’s Brett Williams for the most in county history. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL
    Mikey Ziss’ two individual state championships gave him six for his career, tying Osceola High’s Brett Williams for the most in county history. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL
  • From left, Dominic Trombetta, Mikey Ziss, Coach Cory Aun and Santos Torres pose after the state weight lifting meet. Trombetta and Torres both reached the podium in the Class 3A 129-pound weight class; while Ziss won two gold medals taking both the Olympic and Traditional championships at 119 pounds. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL
    From left, Dominic Trombetta, Mikey Ziss, Coach Cory Aun and Santos Torres pose after the state weight lifting meet. Trombetta and Torres both reached the podium in the Class 3A 129-pound weight class; while Ziss won two gold medals taking both the Olympic and Traditional championships at 119 pounds. PHOTO/ST. CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL

    Although he did not have the day he hoped, St. Cloud weightlifter Mikey Ziss won double gold medals at the FHSAA state Weightlifting Championships Saturday in Lakeland.

    Ziss hoisted 200 pounds in the snatch and 250 in the clean-and-jerk to win the 119-pound class Olympic competition. He completed the sweep with a 240-pound bench press to win the traditional titles.

    While his totals were below what he lifted in regular and post-season meets leading up to the finale, he won the two by a combined 65 pounds and, with six individual state championships (doing the double in 2023-25), Ziss ties Osceola High track thrower Brett Williams, six discus and shot put titles from 1996-98, for the most in Osceola County High School history.

    “Overall it was a bittersweet afternoon for Mikey,” St. Cloud coach Cory Aun said.  “He accomplished his mission of winning two more state championships, but he certainly did not have the day he was hoping for.  He is so much better than every other competitor in his weight class that the misses did not keep him from the championship, but he wanted to set state records and that did not happen.”

    Ziss did eclipse state record standards several times this season in both disciplines, but only lifts during the state championship meet are considered official state records. Still, it was an outstanding afternoon for the most decorated lifter in county history.  Ziss was named the meet’s outstanding lifter across all weight classes in the Olympic discipline.

    Based on the state results, Ziss will be highly favored to win a second consecutive Mr. Dairy Farmers Weightlifter of the Year, recognizing the top athlete in the state in his sport. 

    “Mikey was disappointed he did break records that were within reach, but he still dominated his weight class and won two championships,” Aun said.  “I told him records will always be broken but no one will ever take away those two gold medals he won.”

    Other St. Cloud lifters reached the state podium. At 129 pounds, both Santos Torres (6th in Olympic) and Dominic (5th in traditional) Trombetta reached the podium. Along with Ziss, they helped St. Cloud finish fifth in the traditional and 10th in the Olympic. Pace won the 3A titles in both disciplines.

    “We left some points on the platform today,” Aun said.  “We had a couple of injuries and had some things go against us.  But we have a lot of young lifters in the program and will be back next year.”

    Poinciana’a Angelo Rodriguez took third place with a 575-pound total, just 10 pounds behind winner Kaden Quick of Jupiter, at 183 pounds. the bronze with a 575-lb. total, just 10 pounds off the top performance of Jupiter’s Kaden Quick (585).  A total of 14 Osceola County athletes qualified for the state championships.