Lee Trawick
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
On Friday, Dec. 17, the women's high school weightlifting world invaded Suwannee High School (SHS) for the annual Power of Christmas Invitational. High schools from all over the State of Florida gathered to compete. This year, proceeds raised from the invitational went to Suwannee Middle School. SHS women's weightlifting coach Dan Marsee takes pride in the event. For that reason, schools from all over look forward to arriving in Suwannee County every year for the great atmosphere and even greater competition. Each year, coach Marsee opens up the entry dates and, within the hour, the booking is at max capacity; to compete in the event is an honor and says a lot about SHS's program.
As the District Championships begin to loom, this competition was a great way to measure where teams are and gauge the strength of the young women competing. To win invitational meant competitors had to beat the best of the best, as the gym was filled with state champions. Both Branford High School (BHS) and SHS were represented in this year's event. While both have individual state champions on their roster, SHS's Lady Bulldogs are the reigning State Champions. Evie Pitts for the BHS Lady Buccaneers enters the gym as the 139 lb. 2021 reigning State Champion. She has a calm demeanor hiding a fire larger than anyone realizes. On the other side, Matti Marsee enters the gym as the 110 lb. 2020 and 2021 reigning State Champion. Marsee navigates through the crowd of lifters like a shark in the water; the closer she gets to her lift station, the more her presence is known.
While Pitts and Marsee are the Veterans of the class, there were plenty of stars to represent the green and white and orange and blue. Lady Buccaneer Halleigh Ray Harris was a strong competitor, finishing second in 110 lb. weight class with a 140 lb. bench press and a 140 lb. clean and jerk for a combined score of 280 points. Meanwhile, Lady Bulldog Tyra Kalandyk also finished second in the 154 lb. weight class with a 175 lb. bench press and a 180 lb. clean and jerk for a combined score of 355 points.
Also contributing to the Lady Bulldogs' total points were Amaya Johnson, who placed third in the 129 lb. weight class with a 160 lb. bench press and a 150 lb. clean and jerk for a total of 310 points; Maddie Carte, who placed fifth in the 183 lb. weight class with a 150 lb. bench press and a 165 lb. clean and jerk for a total of 315 points; Kaly Cuffy, who placed eighth in the 199 lb. weight class with a 140 lb. bench press and a 170 lb. clean and jerk for a total of 310 points and Autumn Latreille, who placed fifth in the Unlimited weight class with a 185 lb. bench press and a 170 lb. clean and jerk for a total of 355 points. Marsee was set to shine, until an injury sidelined her early. She had hoped to continue, but following her coach's advice, she was shut down for the rest of the event. With a void left behind with Marsee's injury, the Lady Bulldogs did well to finish eighth-place with a total score of 13 points.
Adding the Lady Buccaneers' total score were Nathalia Veal, who placed seventh in the 119 lb. weight class with a 135 lb. bench press and a 150 lb. clean and jerk for a total of 285 points and Hannah Terry, who placed fourth in the 129 lb. weight class with a 150 lb. bench press and a 160 lb. clean and jerk for a total of 310 points. Pitts, perhaps, was the most impressive on the day, winning first place in the 139 lb. weight class. As everyone was finishing their third lifts, Pitts had not even started. Pitts claimed the number one spot with a 185 lb. bench press and a 195 lb. clean and jerk for a total of 380 points. With the win and the other placings throughout the competition, the Lady Buccaneers found themselves with a fifth-place finish.