Weightlifting: LiCalsi sets state record

River Ridge's Alexis LiCalsi heard the announcer say the junior weightlifter was about to attempt to set a state record.

No pressure.

LiCalsi then coolly put 195 pounds over her head to set the clean and jerk record for the 139-pound weight class. The attentive crowd was watching her every move at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

LiCalsi also had a 165-pound bench press for a 360-pound bench press and a second place.

The winner, Celine Oskandy of Spruce Creek, had a state record 225-pound bench press and a 385-pound total.

Port Orange Spruce Creek won it's eighth title in nine years with 30 team points. Navarre High was second with 28 points.

LiCalsi wore a relieved grin as she hugged her coach, Mike DeGennaro.

LiCalsi said she wasn't doing a lot of thinking when she made the clutch lift.

"I just knew I could do it,'' she said. "I'm very happy. I did a lot of hard work. I put fear out of my mind."

It was the first state record by a River Ridge girl and the second place tied for the best performance by a Royal Knight lifter. Natalie Marenghi took a second place in the 110-pound class.

"We're real happy for her,'' said DeGennaro of LiCalsi. "We had an outside chance at a state title but the Spruce Creek girl had a great day."

Hudson had two lifters place. Baily Foster took fourth in the 199-pound class with a 325-pound total. She had a 155-pound bench press and a 170-pound clean and jerk.

Hudson's Renee Ledoux took fourth place in the 119-pound class. She had a 135-pound bench press and a 120-pound clean and jerk for a 255-pound total.

River Ridge High's Elicia Hinson and Mitchell High's Meagan Giordano both tied for eighth in the 129-pound class. Hinson had a 140-pound bench and a 150-pound clean and jerk for a 290-pound total. Giordano had a 150 bench and a 140 clean and jerk for the same total.

Ridgewood's Victoria Schaefer was eighth in the 119-pound class. She had a 125-pound bench and a 120-pound clean and jerk for a 245-pound total.

Ridgewood's Ashley Rodriguez had a ninth place in the 110-pound class. She had a 120-pound bench press and a 115-pound clean and jerk for a 235-pound total.

River Ridge's Shannon McAmis had a 10th place finish in the 110-pound class. She had a 100-pound bench press and a 125-pound clean and jerk for a 225-pound total.

Zephyrhills' Carly Patton took ninth in the 154-pound class. She had a 315 total with a 155-pound bench and a 160-pound clean and jerk.

River Ridge's Victoria Pearce was eighth in the 154-pound class with a 320 total. She had a bench of 180 and a clean and jerk of 140.

Sunlake's Sherling Tejada and River Ridge's Katie Roush tied for seventh in the 183-pound class. Both had 295-pound totals. Tejada had a 170 bench and a 125 clean and jerk. Roush had a 135 bench and a 160 clean and jerk.