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Zephyrhills' Davis Leads Lifting Contingent To State

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By LARRY BUGG, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 28, 2008

BELLEVIEW - Jessica Davis had a little pressure to deal with Saturday.

The Zephyrhills lifter needed a good day at the Belleview sectional girls weightlifting qualifier to earn a spot at the upcoming state meet at River Ridge.

Davis came through superbly.

She lifted 145 pounds in the bench press and 150 pounds in the clean and jerk to win the 169-pound class with 295 pounds.

"I could have gotten 150 pounds n the bench but I was weak," Davis said. "I am a little sore. I could have gotten 160 in the clean and jerk. I should be fine. I am going to do better at state."

"She did a personal best on the last lift," said Zephyrhills coach Shannon Matthews. "We know she has the 160. She knows she can do 160 in the clean and jerk."

Other Pasco County girls earned qualifying spots as well.

River Ridge qualified six girls for the state meet Feb. 9, including Jessica Diaz (101 pounds) and Brianna Hooker (110), who locked up the top spot in their respective weight classes. Natalie Marenghi (110), Danielle DiMarte (119), Stephanie Hull (169) and Megan Shaun (199) each took third place to qualify for the event.

River Ridge coach Mike DeGennaro said this was the most lifters from his school to qualify for the state meet.

"Great," DiMarte said. "I just kept smiling all day. I'm a junior and this is my second year of lifting. I'm just really proud of all the girls who made it this year. Everyone's been working really hard."

"The girls lifted well," said DeGennaro. "Megan Shaun, I'm really happy for. We had a few girls close. We are still young. We don't have any seniors. They are all coming back. We are not ready to challenge Spruce Creek perennial team state champion for anything. We'll build on it for next year."

The top three finishers in each weight class were determined between the finishers in the Belleview and the recent Bushnell girls weightlifting sectionals.

Ridgewood's Chrystal Rose won the 139-pound class and will be joined by teammates Lauren Heymann (139) and Breanne Monaco (129). Heymann was second in her class and Monaco was third in her class.

Rose scratched at a Bushnell sectional qualifier but came through Saturday.

"Chrystal Rose had her best ever," said Ridgewood coach Brian Wachtel.

Gulf's Carmen Figueroa won the 129-pound class and teammate Ashley Mizrahi took second in the 110-pound class.

Mizrahi was delighted to be heading to state.

"I am relieved," she said. "I was really nervous at first."

"She's not an unpleasant surprise," Gulf coach Steve Franks said. "I knew last year when she was a sophomore how good she was and she has made strides. Next year, she will be my top lifter."

SECTIONAL RESULTS

Top three state qualifiers for FHSSA girls state weightlifting meet - sectional qualifying meet held at Belleview High School:

101 - 1. Jessica Diaz (RR) 120-95-215; 2. Becca Branch (Crystal River) 100-100-200; 3. Morgan Keppel (LOL) 105-80-185; 110 - 1. Brianna Hooker (RR) 140-130-270; 2. Ashley Mizrahi (G) 130-115-245; 3. Natalie Marenghi (RR) 130-100-230; 119 - 1. Taneisha Dixon (Mit) 130-130-260; 2. Danielle Reardon (WC) 130-125-255; 3. Danielle DiMarte (RR) 125-115-240; 129 - 1. Carmen Figueroa (G) 155-140-295; 2. Summer Dupler (Lecanto) 150-135-285; 3. Breanne Monaco (RW) 145-135-280; 139 - 1. Chrystal Rose (RW) 160-145-305; 2. Lauren Heymann (RW) 140-135-275; 3. Jennifer Ross (Belleview) 125-140-265; 154 - 1. Victoria Mele (Lecanto) 145-145-290; 2. Cori Padgett (The Villages) 145-140-285; 3. Brittany Phipps (WC) 140-125-265; 169 - 1. Jessica Davis (Z) 145-150-295; 2. Jessica Goodfellow (Citrus) 125-130-255; 3. Stephanie Hull (RR) 130-120-250; 183 - 1. Kristian Stephens (Hernando) 195-135-330; 2. Aysia Busbee (Lecanto) 130-145-275; 3. Katherine Patton (Z) 145-120-265; 199 - 1. Kimberly Daniel (South Sumter) 150-135-285; 2. Jasmine Sharpe (Hernando) 140-125-265; 3. Megan Shaun (RR) 130-130-260; UNL - 1. Johnisha Jackson (Central) 200-140-340; 2. Melody Hayes (Hernando) 175-145-320; 3. Cindy Etienne (Sunlake) 150-150-300.

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