Park Vista’s Mountcastle finishes fourth at states

A fourth-place finish by Park Vista’s Dillon Mountcastle led all locals at the state boys weightlifting championships in Panama City Beach.

Mountcastle, a senior, lifted a total of 605 pounds in the 169-pound division of the 2A championships.

“It feels great, it feels like I worked really hard all year to make this happen,” said Mountcastle. “It’s a great way to end my career. It’s great to be a place finisher at the state championships.”

Mountcastle increased his total lift weight by 70 pounds from the 2017 state championships, where he lifted 535 pounds and finished 16th.

“It honestly feels like I did whatever it took to make it this far,” said Mountcastle. “Staying on the same weight and staying in the same weight class was crucial.”

Spruce Creek won the 2A state championship with 26 team points, while Park Vista finished with three team points.

Mountcastle’s Park Vista teammates Kenny Demosthene, in 139, and David Kellier, at 219, recorded 17th-place finishes.

Seminole Ridge’s Dominic Sansalone finished seventh in the 119, while Jacob Campbell finished 20th in the same division. Jason Padilla was 10th at 129, while Devin McMinns finished 12th in 199, Harrison Harding finished 19th (154) and Peter Sinoyiannis finished 19th (183) for the Hawks.

Wellington’s Dorvilus Elijah finished ninth in the heavyweight division, while Parker Hassett finished 10th (183) and Brendon Packer finished 18th (154) for the Wolverines.

Palm Beach Central’s Marcus Cushine finished 11th in 219, while Forest Hill’s Matt Pillow was 15th (238) and John I. Leonard’s Felix Alverez finished 20th at heavyweight.

On Friday in the 1A state championships, Baker County won with 34 points. American Heritage’s Zack Zambrano posted a fifthplace finish in the heavyweight division.

Meanwhile, in 238, Frankie Melgarejo from Heritage finished 17th and Archbishop McCarthy’s Dillon Cokenour finished 19th.