Lee Trawick
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
On Friday, Dec. 16, the Suwannee High School Lady Bulldogs weightlifting team held its annual Power of Christmas Invitational. This event brings in a revenue of more than $50,000 each year for the high school. While most programs would happy to keep the money, the Lady Bulldogs donate the funds raised every year to one of Suwannee County's elementary schools.
The Bulldogs have built a reputation of producing many Florida High School Athletic Association record breaking lifters and State Champions. What started out as a meet to measure where every school is talent-wise before the Christmas break quickly became an elite event. Bulldog Coach Dan Marsee eventually had to put a entry limit on the event because so many schools were hoping to compete.
Today, Coach Marsee is proud of the event he and Lady Bulldogs have created. The Lady Bulldogs have a rich heritage of great lifters, including four time State Champion Mattie Marsee, along with back-to-back 2021 and 2022 State Championship titles. Therefore, it only makes sense for teams to converge on Suwannee's turf to measure where everyone is as they begin their last push into the district meets.
For the last several years, Coach Marsee has gathered powerhouse sponsors, who fly equipment into the Lady Bulldogs' facilities, just to be a part of such an elite event. Schools from all over the state vie for a spot at the Power of Christmas event, however, there are only 10 spots available. Coach Marsee sits in amazement every year at how fast those spots fill up. He does not give credit to his own efforts for creating such an event, but rather credits the excitement the sport has garnered over the last few recent years. “Schools are excited about coming here. Everyone has made this a great event for everyone,” Coach Marsee said. “Last year, all 10 spots were filled within an hour of announcing it.”
Although the Lady Bulldogs are missing powerhouses from last year's senior class, Coach Marsee sees plenty of potential in this year's team, and looks forward to seeing how they compete down the stretch. In fact, several of their returning lifters hold school records in their events, including Autumn Latrielle, Katy Cuffy, Maddie Carte and Emily Gamble. Seniors Latrielle competes in the Unlimited weight class, while Carte competes in the 183 lb. weight class; each holds every school record in their respective weight classes. Both lifters are looking to end their careers as three-peat State Champions, and possibly bringing home a few individual State Championships.
Although the Lady Bulldogs came up short in their total score, Coach Marsee was pleased with his team's scores as they will head into the District meet in January. While he understands his team has work to do, he also knows the Lady Bulldogs were in the exact same position at this point last season.
Latrielle and Cuffy both finished second on the day for the Lady Bulldogs, all while the remainder of Suwannee's lifters proved no stage is too big for them. In the 101 lb. weight class, Tobie Peterson placed fifth and Betsy Peterson placed sixth. In the 110 lb. weight class, Cheyenne Morgan finished in third place, while Brianna Rodriguez placed fifth on the day. In the 119 lb. weight class, Jordyn Rodriguez placed sixth and Katherine Lansford finished in eighth place. In the 129 lb. weight class, Johanna Alicea placed seventh for the Lady Bulldogs. Then, in the 169 lb. weight class, Emily Gamble placed eighth on the day. In the 183 lb. weight class, Carte finished in fourth on the day, while Cuffy carried a second place finish in the 199 lb. weight class. Latrielle competed in the Unlimited weight class, where she would also finish second on the day.
Overall, the Lady Bulldogs finished third on the day with a total score of 27 points compared to the first place Navarre Lady Raiders' 42 points. Also placing above the Lady Bulldogs were the Clay Lady Blue Devils with a score of 32.