Every year competitive weightlifting in Polk County seems to get even better.
Whether it’s to spruce someone’s confidence issues, show someone how strong they are, join because one wants to maintain or gain strength for their sport of preference, or willingness to be in a team atmosphere, the level of competition in the county has raised the bar because of those reasons.
Well, the reason why the level of competition has raised the bar is because of 12th-year Auburndale head weightlifting coach Gilbert Jones, who started the process to bring the AAU Florida Summer Series to the county, which officially started in 2021; Jones is the AAU state meet director and has expanded the series to 15 Polk County teams to date.
“We have great representation from across the state at our AAU meets,” Jones previously said. “Florida High School Weightlifting used to be the clean and jerk and bench press, but we’ve added the snatch in the 2021-2022 school year. Athletes have the option to enter the traditional clean and jerk and bench press, or the Olympic class, which is snatch and clean and jerk.”
Lake Gibson head weightlifting coach Daniel Hargrove said Jones was very much instrumental in getting not only Polk, but the entire state of Florida involved.
“He is literally one of the biggest reasons why Florida dominates this meet now,” Lake Gibson head weightlifting coach Daniel Hargrove said. “Providing more opportunities for kids to lift and compete year-round has really helped elevate the sport in Florida.”
This year’s series already started on May 30 at Auburndale High School and there was one in Miami earlier this month. The next meet is at Lake Gibson High School on Saturday, Northeast High School in Glen Saint Mary on July 11, Sunlake High School in Land O’ Lakes on July 18, Flagler High School in Palm Coast on Aug. 1, Bradenton Beach High School on Aug. 8 and Auburndale once more on Aug. 22, which is the AAU Florida State Championship; lifters must compete in at least two of the AAU Summer Series tournaments to be eligible.
Comprised of youth all the way to high school ages governed by AAU rules that are similar to the FHSAA format, the competition is used as an off-season development and pathway to the state championship. Many athletes use this platform, while others use the off-season to compete on their own or focus primarily on the 2026 USA Weightlifting National Championships in Colorado Springs at the Ed Robson Arena, which is taking place right now.
Still, in just the third year competing in the program, Winter Haven has a stable of weightlifters who are competing at a high level.
“I think AAU is also a great opportunity for brand-new lifters before their high school season starts. … It just gives them another opportunity to compete (and) get meet experience under their belt,” Winter Haven head weightlifting coach Renard Ellis said. “…But for me, AAU is so beneficial for your high school program if you can get a core of athletes to do it because they are around each other all summer. They’re pushing and motivating each other. And that’s what I use AAU for. … I want to build this family because we are. And that’s what’s it’s about … building those good bonds.”
Building those seminal bonds are Lake Gibson’s bunch, among other Polk teams. For the Braves, top five state finisher Zachary Griffin won his only meet he lifted in. And Landyn Conrad finished fourth in the last meet in Auburndale.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County athletes take advantage of AAU weightlifting state series
Reporting by Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger | USA TODAY Network
