All three boys weightlifting teams are competing in the 2025 State Championship this weekend April 11 and 12 in Lakeland, Fla.
Hamilton County High School has two competing in Class 1A this weekend.
Suwannee High School will have 13 competing in Class 2A this weekend.
Branford High School has four competing in Class 1A this weekend.
Link to FHSAA results: https://weightliftingscore.com/fhsaa-state-boys-1
Weightlifting boys prove their worth at regional championship
Christian Petersonreporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
The beginning of April has been big for weightlifting across Suwannee and Hamilton Counties. The Florida Boys Weightlifting Regionals were held, and Branford High School, Hamilton County High School and Suwannee High School all saw athletes earn themselves a shot at the state championship.
Link to FHSAA results: https://weightliftingscore.com/fhsaa-regional-boys-1
Suwannee High School: Boys Weightlifting
Roster: Cyler Akins, Trenton Anderson, Tyler Baucom, Brody Bean, Reese Bronson, Frank Brookins, William Brown, Gage Browning, Ryan “Cash” Butler, Noah Chauncey, Frederick Cooks, Caden Corbin, Valentin Coverrubias, Rah'darius Cray, Blayne Crews, Bryson Dunn, Jayden Francis, Mark Garcia, Randy Garcia, Colton Hagedorn, William Hagedorn, DeAumun Jones, Kayden Jones, Christopher Labaton, Kamden Lang, Stephen Lansford, Lorenzo Lee, Dalton Linblade, Johnathan Lizama, Jacob Lord, Holden Mantooth, Ayden Marangoni, Xander McAlpin, Troy Nelson, Manuel Perez-Lopez, Davion Ramirez, Lou Jack Smith, Clay Starling, Kamari Thompson, Albert Twiggs, Cameron Wells and Marshall White.
Boys Head Coach: Dan Marcie
Suwannee High School: Regional Boys Weightlifting Results
Suwannee High School competed in the Class 2A Region 1 Regional Championship and saw a plethora of lifters earn their spot. In the Traditional event in the 119-pound weight class, Randy Garcia placed second with a max lift of 380 pounds. Directly behind him was Rah'Darius Cray in third place with a max lift of 355 pounds. The trend continued in the 129-pound weight class, where Chris Gonzalez placed second with a max lift of 440 pounds. In the 139-pound weight class, Kamden Lang placed fourth with a max lift of 445 pounds. Close behind was Mark Garcia in tenth place with a max lift of 400 pounds. In the 154-pound weight class, Cyler Akins placed third with a max lift of 515 pounds. Then, in the 169-pound weight class, Marshall White placed third with a max lift of 535 pounds. Close behind was Noah Chauncey in fifth place with a max lift of 520 pounds. Things didn't stop there; in the 183-pound weight class, Jayden Francis placed eighth with a max lift of 520 pounds. Coming up right behind him was Clay Starling in ninth place with a max lift of 515 pounds. In the 199-pound weight class, Reese Bronson placed fifth with a max lift of 585 pounds. Gage Browning rounded out the class in tenth place with a max lift of 545 pounds. In the 219-pound weight class, Brody Bean placed second with a max lift of 585 pounds. Davian Ramirez followed in ninth place with a max lift of 530 pounds. Then in the 238-pound weight class, Colton Hagedorn placed fifth with a max lift of 565 pounds. Finally, in the unlimited weight class, Will Brown was placed fifth with a max lift of 640 pounds.
The hard-fought battles continued during the Olympic event. In the 119-pound weight class, Randy placed second with a max lift of 350 pounds. Again, right behind him in third place was Cray, with a max lift of 320 pounds. In the 129-pound weight class, Gonzalez placed second with a max lift of 430 pounds. In the 139-pound weight class, Lang reigned supreme with a max lift of 395 pounds. Close behind in third place was Mark with a max lift of 375 pounds. The competition continued in the 154-pound weight class; Akins placed second with a max lift of 470 pounds. Frank Brookins placed tenth with a max lift of 400 pounds. In the 169-pound weight class, White placed third with a max lift of 450 pounds. Xander Mcalpin placed eighth with a max lift of 405 pounds. In the 183-pound weight class, Starling placed first with a max lift of 475 pounds. Jayden Francis placed seventh with a max lift of 425 pounds. Then, in the 199-pound weight class, Bronson placed fourth with a max lift of 505 pounds. Close behind was Browning in sixth place with a max lift of 475 pounds. In the 219-pound weight class, Bean placed seventh with a max lift of 455 pounds. In ninth place was Ramirez, with a max lift of 450 pounds. In the 238-pound weight class, Hagedorn placed second with a max lift of 500 pounds. Then, in eighth place was Ayden Marangoni, with a max lift of 425 pounds. Finally, in the Unlimited class, Brown placed fifth with a max lift of 540 pounds.
Link to Photos: https://riverbendnews.smugmug.com/2025-SHS-Boys-Weightlifting-vs-Madison-County
Link to Photos: https://riverbendnews.smugmug.com/Bulldog-Invitational-Weightlifting-Meet
Hamilton County: Boys Weightlifting
Roster: Brandon Atwood, Izak Burnett, Kaden Crider, Jaylen Duran, Samuel Freestone, Davis Griffin, Kaden Hawkins, Adrian Hernandez, Tyrone Jefferson, Haigan Johnson, Sam Lugo, Jordan Povenzano, Takai Roberts, Cash Roberson, Charles Ryan, Xavier Smith, EJ (Emory) Taylor, JT Thomas and Alphonso Trejo.
Boys Head Coach: Fabian Reid
Hamilton County High School: Regional Boys Weightlifting Results
Hamilton County High School competed in the Class 1A Region 1 Regional Championship and saw two lifters earn their spot. In the Traditional competition in the 154-pound weight class, Brandon Atwood placed third with a max lift of 465 pounds. Directly behind him, in fourth place was Sam Meldanado with a max lift of 460 pounds. The two lifters continued their impressiveness in the Olympic event. Once again, in the 154-pound weight class. Atwood placed fifth with a max lift of 385 pounds. Again right behind him was Meldanado in sixth place with a max lift of 380.
Link to Photos: https://riverbendnews.smugmug.com/2025-Hamilton-Boys-Weightlifting-and-Track-Field
Branford High School: Boys Weightlifting
Roster: Brian Bates, Zander Hegenauer, Dante Rodriquez, Tripp Schultz, Noah Ramsey, Tolby Terry, Tate Turner, Joe Robinson, David Lopez, Masyn Humphries, Coleman Parson, Aiden Morris, Wyatt Winnett, Kein Giddens, Daniel Powell, Case Townsend and Cole Peyton.
Boys Head Coach: Lee Dorsett
Branford High School: Regional Boys Weightlifting Results
Branford High School competed in the Class 1A Region 2 Regional Championship and saw multiple lifters earn their spot. In the traditional competition, Branford saw four lifters in the top ten. First, in the 119-pound weight class, Zander Hegenauer placed second with a max lift of 365 pounds. Then, in the 139-pound weight class, Dante Rodriquez placed third with a max lift of 430 pounds. The victories continued in the 154-pound weight class, where Tolby Terry placed eighth with a max lift of 430 pounds. Finally, in the Unlimited weight class, Cole Peyton placed sixth with a max lift of 585 pounds.
The competition didn't stop there; the Olympic competition was happening as well. Once again, in the 119-pound weight class, Hegenauer placed fourth with a max lift of 285 pounds. Brian Bates placed ninth with a max lift of 130 pounds. Then, in the 139-pound weight class, Rodriquez placed third with a max lift of 385 pounds. Finally, in the Unlimited weight class, Peyton placed seventh with a max lift of 455 pounds. Each athlete fought their hardest and earned a chance to battle for the state title.
Link to Photos: https://riverbendnews.smugmug.com/Branford-Bulldog-Invitational-March-14-2025
Link to Photos: https://riverbendnews.smugmug.com/2025-BHS-Boys-Weightlifting-32025
Link to Photos: https://riverbendnews.smugmug.com/2025-Branford-Boys-Weightlifting-Districts