TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Mizrahi Eyes State Title

ADVERTISEMENT

By LARRY BUGG

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 18, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Since the FHSAA started sanctioning girls weightlifting, Pasco County has not had an individual state champion. Ashley Mizrahi wants to change that.

The 18-year-old senior at Gulf High practically lives, eats and breathes the sport.

This is her final year to make the show, the 2009 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Championships, which will be held at River Ridge High on Feb. 14.

Mizrahi, who has lived in New Port Richey her entire life, qualified for the state meet last year, but because of circumstances beyond her control she was not able to lift.

On Dec. 10, she won the 110-pound class at the Gulf High tri-meet. She had a bench press of 125 pounds and a clean and jerk of 125 for a total of 250.
Mizrahi lifts year-round and said she had to lose weight to reach the 110-pound class. She runs a mile regularly and lifts four or five times a week.

"I'm starting off pretty slow this season," she said. "Over the summer, it was better. I have been lifting for three years. I'm better in the bench press."

She said she lifts partly to get her anger out.

"I keep everything inside," she said. "It all comes out with weightlifting. I love doing this."

Her strongest competition might come from River Ridge High's Brianna Hooker. Hooker tied for second in her class last year at the state meet, but she was listed as third because the other girl weighed less.

"She's beat me every time," Mizrahi said. "I'm hoping to beat her this year."

There's no question what a state title would mean to this intense, shy young woman.

"It would mean everything," she said. "It would be so awesome. I dedicated everything to this. I'm on a strict schedule with dieting and a strict routine with weightlifting. I gained a lot of weight over the summer because I was lifting so much. I'm hoping they have a weightlifting team for women in the Marines.

"My life revolves around weightlifting. I lift emotionally. I don't care what I look like. Some people say I look too bulky. Power lifters are meant to look bulky. I basically power lift. I lift every day. I bench pressed 150 pounds over the summer. I really want to break the state bench press record, which is 160 pounds. I want to do 165 pounds."

Her former coach, Steve Franks, thinks Mizrahi could be the state champion.

Her new coach, Bruno Buonsanto, knows he has a winner doing some heavy lifting.

"She trains extremely hard," Franks said. "She makes all her lifts. She has stepped up this year to take Carmen Figuoroa's place as captain.

"She has the support of the coaches and the girls around her. She has all the support she is ever going to need.

"She is going to state and will win this year. She will win state. She is that good, and she is dedicated. She is so intense. She watches her grades. She watches being sick because she won't let anything get in her way. She was real sick last year a lot."

"Her work ethic is unbelievable," Buonsanto said. "Her attitude, her leadership. She is just a great all-around kid. She strives for perfection. It's a pleasure working with her. In the short time I have worked with her, I've been really impressed with her."

She had a 3.1 cumulative grade-point average one her most recent report card.
Mizrahi said she wants to join the Marines after graduation and become a corrections officer.

"I love the show 'Lockup,' she said. "I am hardcore. I can do it. I'm pretty tough."

If Mizrahi can handle her self-imposed discipline, she could make a very tough corrections officer.

And she might be tough enough to take home gold at the state meet.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT