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Hooker, Figueroa Improve At State

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By LARRY BUGG, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 10, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Brianna Hooker had a problem with her neck at the worst time - while she was competing in the clean and jerk at the state girls weightlifting meet Saturday at River Ridge.

Hooker, a River Ridge junior, took third in the 110-pound class with a bench press of 150 pounds and a clean and jerk of 135 pounds. There was a three-way tie for second, and she finished third because of her weight. Hooker was fourth in her class last year.

"I went to do a 140-pound lift in the clean and jerk and my neck started bleeding," she said. "It had two weeks to heal. I never had a problem with it before."

Her coach, Mike Degennaro, said she cut her neck on the bar during a lift two weeks ago at the Belleview sectional.

"There's always next year," Hooker said. "We had six people qualify this year. I'm looking forward to it, even though it's a year away."

Gulf's Carmen Figueroa took fourth in the 129-pound class, with 155 pounds in the bench and 145 in the clean and jerk. She finished fifth last year.

"I am a little disappointed in myself," Figueroa said. "It was just lack of focus. I just needed 10 pounds more on the bench."

She will compete at the Checkers/Rally's 2008 NHSCA Boys and Girls National High School Weightlifting Championships in New Port Richey on May 9-10.

Coach Steve Franks was impressed with Figueroa.

"She has improved one place this year," he said. "She has the national competition, and I believe she can take it. She is the most dedicated lifter I have ever known."

Ridgewood's Christal Rose tied for ninth in the 139-pound class. Rose bench pressed 150 pounds and added 145 pounds in the clean and jerk.
Daytona Beach Spruce Creek took its fifth team title with a state-record 56 points and had five individual champions. Spruce Creek is the only team to win the girls state weightlifting title.

Navarre and New Smyrna Beach tied for second with 11 points.

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