Uplifting competition at Sunshine State Games
When it comes to Olympics-style weightlifting, Davie’s Erica Stokes has 20-20 vision.
Stokes, a third-year grad student studying optometry at Nova Southeastern University, showcased her skills in that sport during the Sunshine State Games competition at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Weightlifting was among eight sports challenges modeled after Olympics competition.
“It was a good day for my lifting and a good day for me remembering my cues,” said Stokes, who took runner-up recognition in the Women’s Senior 69-Kilogram Division with a total of 145 pounds. She finished 10 pounds behindJacksonville’sKellyLaw.
Stokes was able to garner the silver medal despite the fact that her coach Adrian Floridowas unable to attend.
“I hit that total easily,” said Stokes, whowas successful in fiveof her six lifts– 65kilos in her snatch and 80 kilos in her cleanandjerk. “I just remembered what my coach would tell me in training. I stayed conservative. I was kind of coachingmyselfand focusing on making weight and then whatweights to lift.”
Stokes has only been competing in weightlifting for two years. She went to college at Marist and moved to Florida two years ago. Before coming to Florida, a friend (Evan Pounds) introduced her toweightlifting.
“I just kept at it,” said Stokes, who had only competed in one other local meet before making her Sunshine State Games debut this year. “I do CrossFit as well, but started weightlifting just because I thought itwas cool.
“This is definitely the biggest meet I have competed in and I am sure they are going to get bigger being in Florida,” she added.
Stokes has the right attitude and drive to succeed. She goes to the gym to train six days a week despite a heavy class load.
“I am in my third year ([t Nova Southeastern] so it is very stressful,” Stokes said. “When people find out how much time I spend in the gym they think I am crazy. TheytellmeI’m nuts and ask how can I do this all of the time?”
But Stokes wouldn’t trade weightlifting for anything.
“I love it,” she said. “It is a relief from my everyday stress and my school stress, but it brings on a stress of its own because you want to push yourself every day. You want your lifts to look good.”
Plantation’s Justin Herman, a two-time winner at the Sunshine State Games, was 13th in the Men’s Foil division of the fencing competition. Herman, who graduated fromUniversity School and is headed to Boston College in the fall, has competed in fencing for13 years.
“I like the competitiveness,” said Herman, 18. “I like that it is an individual sport so youdon’thave to rely on anyone else but yourself. Your success is all on you.”
Herman relishes the uniqueness of fencing.
“It is a very intimate kind of competition,” he said. “I like how I can compete against people in different ages or from different genders. It is a sport that you can do for 30 years straight.”
Another Plantation resident, 17-year-old Daniel Meija-Ruiz, won the Senior Men’s Epee fencing division fromamongafieldof38competitors.
The top female powerlifter was Anne Sheehan, 44, of Deerfield Beach, who came through with a total of 1,052 pounds.
SportsCom5@aol.com, @SoFlaCurreri