Area boys weightlifters claim 5 state titles
ST. CLOUD — Sean Acevedo added a special touch to an already meaningful day Saturday morning at St. Cloud High School.
After exceeding a personal record to win a Class 3A state weightlifting title in the 169-pound class, the Lake Nona senior stepped off the podium and wished his dad a happy birthday while flanked by family.
“It’s my little birthday gift to him, to put this medal around his neck,” Acevedo said.
He needed every bit of the 595-pound total he amassed while edging out Niceville’s Addie Moore (590 pounds) for the gold medal. Acevedo’s bench press of 325 pounds and 270-pound clean and jerk resulted in a 15-pound improvement from previous lifts this season.
“In hindsight, I’m pretty sure I had at least 5-10 more pounds on my clean, but it doesn’t matter. I’m proud I got this medal and can take it home for my family,” he said.
Other Orlando area state title winners in 3A included 119-pounder Nicholas Puleo of East River, 129-pounder Justin Irizarry of Orange City University and Windermere High’s Amer Amer at 219 pounds.
In Class 2A, Marvin Collins crushed the 238-pound competition while totaling an overall FHSAA meet-high mark this year with 750 pounds at Port St. Joe High School. Brayden
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WILLIE J. ALLEN/
Edman finished runner-up for the Bears with a 600-pound total in the 169-pound division.
Collins broke a 17-year Winter Springs state meet record for combined weight by benching 400 pounds and hoisting 350 pounds in the clean and jerk.
Puleo won by 15 pounds with a combined bench and clean lift equaling 400 pounds. Irizarry set a personal best in clean and jerk (215) and matched his region total of 275 pounds in the bench press to help the Titans finish as state runners-up behind Fleming Island by a 24-18 score.
Cole Leasure came in second place for University in the 183-pound division.
Amer, who prevailed by a 35-pound advantage with a combined total lift of 655 pounds, said he was blessed to came away with a win in his first state final meet despite falling short of what he lifted last week at regionals.
“I was very determined on winning entering the competition and I only envisioned myself coming in first place,” Amer said. “I really wanted it this year, so I’ve busted my tail ever since the end of football season.”
The FHSAA boys weightlifting state championships were canceled last spring due to COVID-19. But like competitive lifters around the state, Acevedo was undeterred.
“It was my teammates, my coaches and my family. They were just pushing me every day,” Acevedo said. “The gyms were closed, but I still found a way to get into home gyms and in the garage and still do as much as I can, even if it was doing pushups. Just everything I can to make myself better. I knew I had it in me, I just had to dig deep.”