Archbishop McCarthy’s Thomas wins state title
Archbishop McCarthy junior Jordan Thomas captured the Class 2A Olympic state title in the 119-pound weight class at the FHSAA girls weightlifting state championship at RP Funding Center in Lakeland on Saturday.
The state championship featured the Olympic category, which consisted of the clean-and-jerk and snatch. The traditional competition included the bench press and clean-and-jerk.
Thomas set a personal record and placed first in the Olympic event after lifting a 285 total. She registered a 130 in the snatch and 155 in the clean-and-jerk. Fort Myers’ Jillian Jacobs recorded a 285 total, but Thomas finished ahead as she entered with a lower body weight. Thomas also placed sixth in the traditional category with a 280 total.
“It has been a goal of mine since I started lifting [to win states],” Thomas said. “I knew l had to lift my best and have my highest numbers and that was the mindset. We have a lot of strategy behind our lifts and I had to work really hard to beat my numbers from the regional. It was so overwhelming and the best feeling. It was so wild and amazing to win. I ran toward my coach and my teammates rushed at me.”
Archbishop McCarthy senior captain Dana Quiroz delivered an impressive performance and finished as the state runner-up in both traditional (385) and Olympic (335) in the 169-pound weight class.
“I did my best and I gave it everything I had,” Quiroz said. “I placed fourth last year and my goal was to work hard and get better. It’s been a very good year and the team has been unbelievable and supportive. The culture is great and I have bonded with all the girls.”
Archbishop McCarthy sophomore Gabrielle Gutierrez placed second in the Olympic 101-pound weight class (220) and sophomore Ayah Muhammad finished fourth in the Olympic 139-pound weight class (320).
Archbishop McCarthy placed third overall in the Class 2A Olympic category with 20 points. The Mavericks had previously won the district championship in both Olympic and traditional and they finished as the runner-up in both categories at the regional competition. The Mavericks had nine lifters reach the state championship.
“It’s the most medals we have won as a team,” Archbishop McCarthy coach Daniel Marks said. “We have a more experienced team and we have lifters who have worked year-round.”
Suncoast junior Anna Fiore earned runner-up honors in the Class 2A Olympic event in the 110-pound weight class with a 280 total. Fiore also registered sixth place during the traditional event (270). Suncoast junior Angelina Belanger placed fourth in the Olympic 154-pound weight class (335) and finished sixth in traditional (340).
American Heritage Delray’s Anna Rohrer had a standout performance in the Class 1A state championship. She placed third in both traditional (360) and Olympic (315) in the 199-pound weight class. Pahokee junior Danyla Sanders competed in the Unlimited weight class and earned fourth in traditional (375 total).
The Class 3A state championship featured Wellington senior Mia Hernandez, who competed in the traditional 129-pound weight class and registered fourth (350). Olympic Heights junior Ritch Duperval placed fourth in the Olympic Unlimited weight class after lifting a 335 total. Boca Raton senior Leigha Sutton placed fifth in the Olympic 139-pound weight class (310). Palm Beach Gardens senior Selena Calix finished eighth in the traditional 183-pound weight class (315).
Winter Springs earned the Class 3A Olympic state title (29 points) while Pace won the traditional state championship (30 points). Clay captured the Class 2A state title in both Olympic (29 points) and traditional (25 points). Suwannee won the Class 1A state championship in both Olympic (35 points) and traditional (28 points).