Lake Wales senior Josh Canet was lifting at state and almost secured the gold.
Specifically, he executed a clean and jerk of 350 pounds — something the senior had never done before; a personal record. It wasn’t an easy task, but in that moment, Canet said that God told him that it was his turn, so he took the chance and with all of the lights, cameras, and people in the background watching him and erupting in a frenzy, raucous cheering and screaming his name as he walked confidently to the bar. He ended up getting second in state.“…I’ve never thought when I joined this sport that my name would just be up in the lights like that. I always thought I would be mediocre at everything I touched and pursued. To be named Weightlifter of the Year is something that I couldn’t just take in all at once…,” Canet said.Canet was almost cut from the team his freshman year because of how underdeveloped he was.
“I wasn’t good, but I was determined, (and) I found my spark for it around sophomore year,” Canet said.
This was towards the end of that year when he joined the Olympic club under his head coach Tashawn Williams’ Maxx Effort Training, which is a venture he uses to train all Polk lifters. His junior year he showcased a lot of talent and strength. His rigorous focus towards the craft awarded him an all-county nod that junior year.
And this year, his senior year, it’s all about leadership.
“My senior year, this current year, I displayed not just growth and perseverance, I showed a growth in leadership and maturity overall. This year was the one where I felt the most confidence and I knew I earned my spot in the rankings at the end of it,” he said.
Now, the hometown kid is facing his biggest challenge of his career: leaving Polk County. Canet signed to LSU Shreveport but he’s having some reservations about leaving home.“I still am going through a rough battle with the fact that I am leaving home,” Canet said. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity and chance I have been given; I have been assured I have earned this privilege, and I have put my all into this sport and now I get to showcase it on an even bigger scale. My biggest support system and my home will always be here. I’ve just been having a hard time grasping the leaving aspect of it though. It’s weighed on my mind pretty heavily, but I have started to come to terms with it. I am truly happy and cannot wait to see what coach Aaron (Adams) sees what I can bring to the table.”
Still, Canet will internalize the principles he has learned from his teammates and coaches and apply it on the road for sure.The biggest lesson he said he has learned from Williams overall was how to be a man. He was a father figure in Canet’s life as much as he was a coach. He taught him life lessons, including, how to deal with losses, how to grieve, how to handle heartbreak, how to carry oneself, how to be courageous, how to make the most out of living, how to talk to people, how to stay humble, and most importantly, how to not give up.
As for Canet’s teammates, they taught Canet how to have fun, how to be a true leader, how to be a great friend, how to take care of himself, and how to live life to the fullest.
“I owe a lot of my success to these guys. They’re the reason to why my name will reach the stars,” Canet said.Up next for Canet, he will lift at LSU Shreveport and work toward his bachelors in criminal justice, focusing on forensic science.
“Other than that, I plan to live my life to the fullest and keep the spirit of my coaches and teammates alive. Without them, none of this would be remotely possible. I’ll be in this sport for years to come. I plan on lifting with team USA and hitting the Olympic stage one day. Stay tuned,” he said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lake Wales Josh Canet is The Ledger’s 2025 Weightlifter of the Year
Reporting by Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
