He was a Orange Belt Conference champion, he won districts and regionals and captured a pair of state championships, so it comes as no shock St. Cloud senior Mikey Ziss is the Osceola News-Gazette Weightlifter of the Year for the 2024-25 season.
In a repeat-repeat performance, Ziss concluded his senior campaign this spring by winning both the Olympic and Traditional state championships in the 119-pound class at disciplines for the third time. Along with those repeats he also added a second straight Florida Dairy Farmer’s Weightlifter of the Year, naming him the top lifter across the state, across all FHSAA classes, across all state classes. His six individual state championships ties former Osceola High School track star Brett Williams (threetime Shot and Discus champion) for the most Individual state championships in Osceola County high school history.
His dominance was evident at practically every meet, as his starting weight usually occurred after his competitors finished all their three attempts.
With no varsity weightlifting in college athletics, Ziss will head to Florida State University where he will pursue a degree in business management. He will continue to compete in national and international weightlifting (he is currently the No. 1 ranked lifter in the nation at 55 kilograms).
“It’s been a great ride at St. Cloud and I owe so much to Coach Aun and the program” Ziss said at the OBC banquet. “When I was a freshman, I never ever dreamed I would take it this far. From this point forward I want to continue to compete and see where it leads me.”
St. Cloud dominates the New Gazette’s All-County team with six selections. A total of 14 lifters from Osceola County qualified for the state championships.
All-County Boys Weightlifting
119 pounds: Mikey Ziss, St. Cloud—State champion in both traditional (200-250450) and Olympic (250-240490). Undefeated in 2025 in all competitions. OBC, district, regional, and state champions three straight years.
129: Dominic Trombetta, St. Cloud—Of two St. Cloud lifters qualified for the state championship in this weight class, a 5th place finish in the Olympic (210-230-440) Trombetta edges teammate Santos Torres, who finished 6th in the Olympic (175-220-395).
139: Jason Isarphanich, St. Cloud—Qualified for the state championships in both the Olympic and Traditional meets.
154: Kevin Arriaga, St. Cloud—Qualified and finished 16th in state championship in the Olympic. District and OBC champion in the Olympic.
169: Elvin Jiminez, Gateway— OBC Champion in Olympic.
183: Angelo Rodriguez, Poinciana—Double OBC gold medalist with lifts of 555 (Olympic) and 570 (Tradional) and won a regional title in Olympic lift. 575 Total in Olympic placed third in states; 585 in traditional good for 8th place.
199: Julian Guzman, Gateway—Lift totals of 535 (traditional) and 530 (Olympic) to earn OBC double gold at OBC Championships at 219. Dropped to 199 for state series, qualifying for state championships in Olympic event and finished seventh in 2A state meet.
219: Maurico Cuello-Vega, St. Cloud—Qualified for regionals in both the Traditional and Olympic after winning district titles in both.
238: Landon Millman, St. Cloud—The Olympic district champ edges teammate Brian Morales (traditional district champion) by virtue of a higher finish in his specialty at regionals.
Unlimited: Mekhi Ealy, Harmony—Won OBC championships in both Olympic and traditional. Qualified for regionals in both, earning state championship berth with third place finish in regionals in Olympic.
