Lake Wales and Auburndale led the way this season in girls weightlifting. Nine of the 11 lifters on first team are from the two schools. Lake Wales continued its streak of county and district titles. At the state meet, Lake Wales finished eighth in Traditional and Auburndale finished ninth in Olympic. They were the only Polk schools to finish in the top 10. The sport continues to grow in Polk County. Lakeland and Haines City were competitive in new districts with third-place finishes in separate districts after going 1-2 last year in an all-Polk district.
At the state meet, there were seven top three finishes this year, which surpassed last year when there was just one state runner-up and three third-place finishes. Overall Polk County lifters won 12 medals, including three lifters who won two.
Girls weightlifting: Polk’s lifters surpass medal haul from last season at FHSAA state meet
CO-WEIGHTLIFTER OF THE YEAR
Majesta Arnold
Lake Wales, Senior
110 pounds
Arnold was the top lifter at the county and district meets. At the state meet, her total lift of 295 pounds in her second-place Traditional finish was 45 pounds more than last year when she finished 10th. She was fourth in Olympic with a total lift of 250 pounds, which also was 45 pounds more than last year when she was out of the top 10.
CO-WEIGHTLIFTER OF THE YEAR
Cailyn Rowe
Auburndale, Senior
169 pounds
Rowe dropped down a weight class but still had the highest lift totals of any Polk County weightlifter at the state meet in the Olympic competition with 360 pounds. Her 350 pounds in Traditional was third behind two lifters who were in the top two weight classes.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Tayshawn Williams
Lake Wales
Despite losses to graduation along with a state medalist who did not compete this year, Williams led the Highlanders to county and district titles in both the Traditional and Olympic competitions. At the region meet, Lake Wales finished third in Traditional and fourth in Olympic, and at state, Lake Wales finished eighth in Traditional
FIRST TEAM
Alaney Hancock
Auburndale, Senior
119 pounds
Finished second in Olympic and seventh in Traditional at state meet.
Dyani Martinez
Lake Wales, Senior
119 pounds
Finished sixth in Traditional at state meet.
Rhyan Parrish
Lakeland, Senior
139 pounds
Finished third in Traditional and fourth in Olympic at state meet.
Mathea Wendle
Auburndale, Sophomore
139 pounds
Finished sixth in Olympic and seventh in Traditional at state meet.
Zylia Parker
Auburndale, Junior
154 pounds
Finished fifth in Traditional and eight in Olympic state meet.
Mya Cascio Lagares
Lake Region, Senior
154 pounds
Finished seventh in Traditional and ninth in Olympic at state meet.
Brianna Justice
Auburndale, Junior
183 pounds
Finished ninth in Olympic and 10th in Traditional at state meet.
Alicia Vargas
Lake Wales, Junior
199 pounds
Finished third in both Traditional and Olympic at state meet.
Alexa Cross
Lake Wales, Senior
199 pounds
Finished sixth in Traditional at state meet.
Divineya Smith
Haines City, Junior
Unlimited
Finished third in Traditional at state meet.
Honorable Mention
Bartow: Sharon Parker (169).
Discovery: Emma Quintero (154).
Frostproof: Sophia Tibado (101), Miriah Morales (154), Jordan Brantley (169), Chloe Geralds (183), Jesica Avilez-Carrizales (199), Gabriela Garcia (UNL).
George Jenkins: Ayana Ouzts (UNL).
Haines City: Syrian Siqueira (139), Frida Salgado (183), Kyleigh Lehning (199).
Lake Gibson: Alliauna Small (UNL), Jaidaah McQueen (UNL).
Lake Wales: Tori Winn (129), Trinity Maher (139), Raegan Fraser (169), Jordyn Alston (169), Phoebe Ebinger (183), Charleigh Smith (183), Abby Childress (UNL), Evangelina Williams (UNL).
Lakeland: Areeya Draper (110), Sydney Devoe (110), Tatianna Connell-Ayala (199).
McKeel: Alani Pope (101), Alayna Gage (110), Myiah Williams (UNL).
Mulberry: Gaudalupe Martinez (199), Emma-Grace Gonya (UNL).
Winter Haven: Olivia Celiscar (UNL).
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Meet The Ledger’s 2024-25 Girls Weightlifting Team
Reporting by Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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