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Perez outduels Pena for weightlifting title

By Randy Lefko
Posted 1/17/18

OAKLEAF - Oakleaf High’s Lexi Perez knew what she needed to hold off a strong bench press from Middleburg High’s Jay Pena and delivered with a 205 pound best lift on her first try at the weight …

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Perez outduels Pena for weightlifting title


Posted

OAKLEAF - Oakleaf High’s Lexi Perez knew what she needed to hold off a strong bench press from Middleburg High’s Jay Pena and delivered with a 205 pound best lift on her first try at the weight to win the 154 pound district title at the District 5-2A championship meet at Oakleaf High School on Friday.

“Lexi won on her first lift (clean and jerk) at 185 then wanted to try for her best at 205,” said Oakleaf High assistant coach Dana Arthur. “She is such a competitor out there. She’s improved a ton.”

Pena, with an impressive 20 pound gap on Perez after she powered through a 175 pound bench press, clean and jerked just 155 to finish second to Perez with her 330 total off Perez’ 355 total.

At last year’s state meet, at 154, Perez finished 16th with just a 300 pound total off a 130 bench and 170 clean and jerk with Pena fifth at 325 off a 175 bench press and a 150 clean and jerk.

“There’s power in the bench press and there’s technique in the clean and jerk,” said Middleburg coach Perry Hopper. “Jay is young and learning.”

At last year’s region 3-2A meet, Pena finished second at 310 with Perez third at 295 in the 154 pound division.

Lifters finishing in the top six advance to the region 3-2A meet to be held at Spruce Creek High in Port Orange on January 20. Spruce Creek finished as Class 2A runnerups to Navarre High School with Bartram Trail just out of the medals in seventh place.

In the team scores, Bartram Trail won with 45 points off three individual champions with Creekside second at 37 with just one champion. Middleburg finish third with 34 points behind a title to Payton Mahon at Unlimited but runnerups to Pena, Makita Esdale at 110 and Josie Alexander at 119. Mahon, second at last years’ region meet, finished 16th at Unlimited at last year’s state meet.

Oakleaf finished fourth at 32 points with Perez, Hadassah Davis at 139 and Gabby Willis at 183 winning titles. Fleming Island got one title at 169 with Jaeden Fernandez to finish fifth with 27 points.

Results

(Top six advance to regions, Jan. 20 at Spruce Creek High)

101

1. Tyller Bauer BTHS 210

2. Andrea Freeman BTHS 185

3. Shannon Beachum FIHS 185

4. Taylor Thomas SAHS 185

5. Sarah Martyn NHS 180

6. Jenna Batten MHS 170

110

1. Alexis Bauer BTHS (5th in 2017) 270

2. Makita Esdale MHS 235

3. Margaret Gupton CHS 220

4. Jalen Turner OHS 190

5. Teagen Pettit NHS 165

6. Raffaella Funnell BTHS 160

119

1. Nickey Ness CHS 235

2. Josie Alexander MHS 225

3. Sarah Kroehler BTHS 210

4. Chloe Morabita CHS 195

5. Neesha Aleem CHS 195

6. Allison Bowles MHS 190

129

1. Elizabeth Thompson NHS 260

2. Grace Wiegel CHS 250

3. Emily Gober SAHS 250

4. Julia Osborne CHS 235

5. Madison Tomberg MHS 230

6. Leslie Catlett MHS 215

139

1. Hadassah Davis OHS 290

2. Christina Medina CHS 290

3. Lindy Gostage NHS 280

4. Micole Masters OHS 245

5. Ariel Michel FIHS 235

6. Mallory Tomberg MHS 235

154

1. Lexi Perez OHS 355

2. Jay Pena MHS 330

3. Savannah Parker BTHS 325

4. Robyn Major SAHS 250

5. Jasmine Mendoza FIHS 250

6. Sophie Allert SAHS 230

169

1. Jaeden Fernandez FIHS 305

2. Noelle Heggblod BTHS 290

3. Jene Wash CHS 280

4. Katie Carter MHS 250

5. Qha’liyyah Taylor BTHS 240

6. Haleh Beardin OHS 230

183

1. Gabby Willis OHS 280

2. Xhasity Iglesias SAHA 275

3. Daidreuna Donaldson SAHS 255

4. Emily Glasgow CHS 235

5. Brittney Parrish MHS 220

6. Miranda Montgomery BTHS 205

199

1. Lauryn Williams BTHS 265 (weigh in 194.2)

2. Makayla Ferguson FIHS 265 (weigh in 196.2)

3. Amarie White OHS 240

4. Jewel Taylor MHS 240

5. Julia Adamson BTHS 230

6. Olivia Wilbur MHS 230

Unlimited

1. Payton Mahon MHS 365

2. Tanzania McKay FIHS 335

3. Sam Wood CHS 300

4. Maddy Barnard MHS 300

5. Anna Streccius FIHS 290

6. Holly Carrol SAHS 250

Team Points

1. Bartram Trail 45

2. Creekside 37

3. MHS 34

4. OHS 32

5. FIHS 27

6. St. Augustine 24

7. Nease 15