As expected, it was close. But in the end, Harmony posted champions in the heavier weight classes at 199, 219, and 238 pounds to edge rival St. Cloud, 73-69, and win the 2021 Orange Belt Conference (OBC) boy’s weight lifting title.
Osceola (24) was a distant third in the county championship meet hosted by Harmony; while Tohopekaliga (21) was fourth.
“With last season essentially being canceled and so many issues to deal with this year because of COVID, we were fortunate to get a regular season in this year not knowing what events were being held or who will be available from a week to week basis,” Harmony Head Coach Dennis Lippert said. “Despite a few hiccups, we were able to honor our seniors and come away with a team victory at OBC’s. I am extremely proud of our young men as they worked hard and kept their focus under these crazy circumstances.”
Although the Longhorns dominated the heavier classes, they also got off to a great start in the lightest class when Isaac Balado lifted 230 in the bench and 180 in the clean and jerk for a 410 pound total to win the 119 pound weight class. Teammate Andrew Carver (155-150-305) took third to give the Longhorns 11 team points in the event.
St. Cloud would answer at 129 with Slade McKinney (190-195-385) and Evan Maldonaldo went 1-2 in the class for 12 points.
From there, the two teams would go back and forth for the rest of the meet. Harmony’s Austin Cabbot (225-225-450) took first at 139; while the Bulldogs took first at 154 with Julian Sykes (255-260-515) and at 169 with Azariah Williams (290-210-500).
Nolin Eaddy, who was the starting linebacker for Osceola’s state runner-up football team before finishing second at 190 pounds in the FHSAA Class 3A State Wrestling tournament last month, claimed an OBC weightlifting crown by winning the 183-pound weight class with a 290-265-555 effort.
The Longhorns would then clinch the team championship by winning the next three weight classes, as Freddy Sanderson (325-225-550), Anson Pratt (310-250-560) and SeanPaul DeCoster (300-245-545) won at 199, 219, and the 238 pound weight classes, respectively.
Poinciana claimed the only other individual champion in the meet, as Norris Andrew won the heavyweight class for the Eagles, successfully going 360 in the bench press and 240 in the clean and jerk for a top total of 600 pounds. Tohopekaliga’s Danny Castillas was second in that division (300-275-575).
Points were awarded on a 7-5-4-3-2-1 basis with any ties broken by lifter’s body weight (lighter lifter wins tiebreaker) in each weight class.
Each school was permitted to enter two lifters in each weight class and while both Harmony and Osceola displayed good team depth by having both lifters score team points in seven of the 10 weight classes – Harmony had champions at five weight classes, compared to three for St. Cloud.
“Congratulations to Harmony on their win, they had finished in front of us all season long, but we knew the gap was closing,” St. Cloud Head Coach Cory Aun said. “We had one guy who didn’t make weight and we also had another good lifter bomb out, if we would have received points from either guy, it might have swung the meet in our favor. It was a great meet and competition that came down to a few lifts from both teams.”
All counties participated in district meets last Saturday (April 3) with the top six lifters advancing to regional competition (April 10).
