TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Boys Weightlifting: Gulf's Abbott Wins First Meet

Boys Weightlifting Notebook

ADVERTISEMENT

By LARRY BUGG

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 12, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Trevor Abbott showed he knows how to impress his coach.

Abbott won his 154-pound weight class March 4, in the boys weightlifting tri-meet at River Ridge's Jim Valentine Athletic Complex gym.

Abbott had a 220-pound bench press and a 185-pound clean and jerk. This was Abbott's first meet ever and his coach, Steve Franks, hopes a star was born inside that gym.

"I have been lifting to stay in shape for football and wrestling,'' Abbott said. "My coach asked me to come out."

Abbott found out he likes it. He really likes it.

"It's pretty neat," he said. "I really enjoy it. It was my first meet and I took first. Sports definitely helps me with focus."

Abbott is an A student who said he is looking into studying engineering at Georgia Tech or UCLA. Engineering a first in weightlifting was a remarkable development for the junior.

"I was pretty surprised (about winning his weight class),'' Abbott said. "I thought I was going to get third. I'm pretty excited with myself."

Abbott said Franks helped the young lifter with technique on the bench press and the clean and jerk.

"He is a very pleasant surprise,'' said Franks. "He is going to be a good addition to Mike Centanni, R.J. O'Connor and Anthony Harris. My young guys are going to look up to him. He is going to be a leader."

BOOTH STRONG AT 238: Mitchell's Dominick Booth wouldn't want Wesley Chapel's Hunter Joyer to injure himself, but since Joyer is already injured and out for the season, Booth isn't going to complain.

"Yeah, yeah, all my worries are done now,'' Booth said. "He had me by 100 pounds [last year]."

As a freshman, Joyer was second in the state in the 238-pound class. However, his loss may open things up for Booth, who won the 238-pound class with a 305-pound bench press and a 245-pound clean and jerk for a 550-pound total.

"I felt really good,'' Booth said. "The weight felt really light. If I push myself, I think I can get there [to state]."

RIVER RIDGE WINS OPENER: Maybe, it was home gym advantage. For whatever reason, River Ridge won by one point its opening boys weightlifting meet at the Jim Valentine Athletic Complex. River Ridge had 46 points, while Mitchell had 45 points. Gulf collected 14 points.

River Ridge had six weight class winners: Joe Chong (129); Mario Stewart (139); Justin Russell (169); Stavros Arianas (199); Trevor Shoun (219); and Dillon Edwards (Hwt).

"We lifted pretty good,'' said River Ridge coach Mike Marlin. "Some of the young guys are just finding out where we are at. Overall as a team, we were pretty solid. Some of the younger guys lifted better than I thought. My heavyweight, Dillon Edwards, is going to be a force at heavyweight in the next two year. It was his first meet."

Mitchell coach Chris McFarland found the results encouraging.

"They are doing real well, working the jitters out,'' McFarland said. "This is to get the jitters out. Ryan Gallagher at 199. He has a chance. He needs to work on his clean but his bench is strong."

River Ridge Tri, March 4
Team totals
River Ridge 46, Mitchell 45, Gulf 14
Individual winners
119-Jeff Parker (M) 100-75-175; 129-Joe Chong (RR) 160-140-300; 139-Mario Stewart (RR) 240-200-440; 154-Trevor Abbott (G) 220-185-405; 169-Justin Russell (RR) 275-225-500; 183-Brandon Mundy (M) 255-205-460; 199-Stavros Arianas (RR) 290-230-520; 219-Trevor Shoun (RR) 310-240-550; 238-Dominick Booth (M) 305-245-550; Hwt-Dillon Edwards (RR) 305-215-520.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT