Lee Trawick
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
Greatness is lighting in a bottle; there is no indication of when it will happen. Then, when it does, people stand in awe of the moment. What if it lasts four years? That is what happened at Suwannee High School (SHS) in the form of senior Matti Marsee.
Marsee has reigned over Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) weightlifting for four years, being a four-time District Champion, a four-time Regional Champion and a three-time State Champion. She has accumulated a regular-season record of 39 wins and zero losses throughout her career. However, she is not undefeated; she had a bad meet at the State Championship in her freshman year. What appeared to be a devastating loss after such a brilliant freshman season only sparked a fire over the next three years. Marsee is also a two-time All-American varsity cheerleader, All-Area tennis Player of the Year for the Lady Bulldogs and the reigning Dairy Farmers 1A State Lifter of the Year.
Many famous athletes enjoy instilling fear into their opponents with their presence alone. That was not the case for Marsee. She was not oblivious to who she was or how people saw her, but to wish fear on anyone is not her style. Marsee has strived to help bring out the best in others in all walks of life. Although she wanted to win, she always wanted to beat her opponents at their best, even if she wasn't at her best.
The shadow Marsee cast over the world of high school weightlifting will remain for years to come. In the 35 years of the sport at the high school level, there have only been nine three-peat State Champions. Marsee has now become the 10th in the history of the sport. To understand how elite being only the 10th is, there are over 1,000 lifters each year, which means over 35,000 lifters over 35 years; only nine other lifters can say they have done what Marsee has accomplished.
On Dec. 17, 2021, it looked like her legacy would be cut short, as she competed in the clean and jerk event at the Power of Christmas Invitational. In an instant, she suffered an injury to her elbow that sidelined her for the day and threatened her career. It was later determined she had torn her UCL in her elbow, an injury that may require surgery over the summer. However, she did not let go of her crown so easily. Marsee rehabbed over her school Christmas break to come back and finish her career on her own terms.
Her final campaign began on Friday, Jan. 21, at the District Championship, where she reigned as the three-time Champion, looking to claim the title once more. Then, at Regionals, Marsee found herself once more atop of the podium, assuring her spot at the State Championships. Her reign concluded when she completed her final lift on the FHSAA stage, where then she made her way to the ever so familiar position atop of the podium, claiming the State Champion title in the 119 lb. weight class.