River Ridge Wins Lifting Titles

NEW PORT RICHEY - Brianna Hooker had a moment when she just had to yawn.

The River Ridge High junior spent Friday night at the prom and came home at 12:30 a.m.

It was the following morning and she was getting ready to become a national champion weightlifter.

After the yawn came the triumph.

Hooker won the Girls A Division 119-pound class with a 145-pound bench press and a 125-pound clean and jerk.

She took third place at state, but won the national title in the Checkers/Rally NHSCA National Weightlifting Meet on Saturday at River Ridge.

Hooker happened to be the only lifter in her class.

She also was part of the winning girls team.

"I'm a little bit tired," Hooker said. "I trained, but not as hard as I normally do. I do gymnastics. I didn't have anyone in my weight class. It was get whatever. I got nervous because you don't know how many are going to be there. I guess the word didn't get around. It's like a mini state meet.

"My bench felt more like a struggle."

The Royal Knights had 69 points to take first place. Clay County was second (36).

The River Ridge boys also won with 74 points. The Royal Knights had seven champions. Lake Mary was second (27) and Gulf was third (25).

The event was the first of its kind at River Ridge, with NHSCA director of weightlifting and wrestling Russ Schenk putting together the event. Schenk is the Royal Knights' wrestling coach.

"I think it went over excellent," said Schenk. "Mike DeGennaro did a great job as our head judge/official. We had 15 judges who came. Everyone was qualified. The national association gave us phenomenal awards. Our numbers were a little bit lower than I expected. We're anticipating that word of mouth and a little different advertising will increase our numbers. Our kids did well. A lot of kids who didn't qualify for state had a chance to lift and did real well. The season was over for our girls awhile ago but some of them kept their eyes on nationals, so they kept training."

River Ridge sophomore Natalie Merenghi couldn't manage to lift her third clean and jerk. Oddly, Merenghi broke into laughter.

"It feels really good, even though it wasn't my best meet," she said. "I had fun. It was like fun and games. I was the only one in my weight class. I wish I would have had someone else so I would have tried a little harder. Last week, I didn't train very much because I was getting ready for Ms. River Ridge. I didn't go to prom last night."

It turned out she already had the national title in the Girls B 101-pound class.

Merenghi was one of seven River Ridge girls to leave the building with national championships.

River Ridge girls coach Mike DeGennaro wasn't complaining about a national team title.

"It's the first time we have had it down here in Florida," DeGennaro said. "It was a nice little extra meet for the girls to lift in. The turnout wasn't like we expected. We had a good showing of our girls and they did well. It's a National High School Coaching Association meet. Everyone was invited."

Hudson's Travis Tindell set national records in the boys unlimited class. He had a personal best 390-pound bench press and a 330-pound clean and jerk.

"It feels good," said Tindell. "A national championship sounds good to me. I wish I would have had more competition. I was third at state. I wish I could have taken first at state. I took a little time off then I got back into it."

Gulf's Ashley Mizrahi was first in the Girls A 110-pound class.

"It feels pretty good," said Mizrahi. "It's kind of pathetic winning without much competition. It's all right, though."

Gulf 's Jordan Holding won the 139-pound Boys class (255-205-460).

"It feels good," said Holding. "It's the first time I didn't have to cut much weight. My total went up quite a bit. I had 240 and 190 at state. I would rather have won the state title."

There was even a successful brother and sister combination. River Ridge's Trevor Shoun won the boys A 239-pound national title. His sister, Megan, was second in the Girls B 199-pound class.

River Ridge's Mike Mignone is primarily a golfer, but Saturday he took home a national lifting title in the Boys A 154-pound class. He had a 520-pound total.

"I really accomplished a lot," Mignone said. "I worked hard for this. We had six or seven in my class. My bench press of 315 pounds was my personal best."

RESULTS

Checkers/Rally NHSCA National Weightlifting Meet

Girls Team Scores

River Ridge 69; 2. Clay 36; 3. Port Orange, 12; 4. South Port 7; 4. Lake Mary 7; 4. North Marion 7; 4. Hernando 7; 4. Zephyrhills 7; 4. Longwood 7; 9. Gulf 5.

Individual Pasco County

Girls A 101 - 1. Jessica Diaz (RR) 115-105-220

Girls B 101 - 1. Natalie Marenghi (RR) 125-85-205.

Girls A 110 - 1. Ashley Mizrahi (Gulf) 135-120-255.

Girls B 110 - 1. Alissa Roy (RR) 60-70-130

Girls A 119 - 1. Brianna Hooker (RR) 145-125-270

Girls A 129 - 2. Victoria Pioszak (RR) 85-85-170.

Girls B 139 - 1. Tashyana Plantilla (RR) 100-105-205

Girls A 154 - 1. Dawn Stojke (RR) 70-55-125.

Girls B 154 - 1. Emily Sanders (Z) 145-115-260

Girls A 169- 1. Stephanie Hull (RR) 135-125-260.

Girls B 199- 2. Megan Shoun (RR) 150-125-275.

Girls A Unlimited - 2. Cherylin Green (RR) 140-100-240.

Girls B Unlimited - 2. Amanda Becker (RR) 150-95-245.

Boys Team Scores

River Ridge 74; 2. Lake Mary 27; 3. Gulf 25; 4. Clermont East Ridge 8; 5. North Marion 7; 5. Port Orange 7; 5. Hudson 7; 9. Land O' Lakes 5.

Boys Individual

Boys A 119 - 2. Menuel Mercado (RR) 150-115-265.

Boys B 119 - 1. Will Senauer (RR) 80-70-150.

Boys A 129 - 1. Mike Centanni (G) 215-185-400; 2. Morgan Bublitz (LOL) 195-190-385; 3. Tyler Flemming (RR) 200-185-385.

Boys A 139 - 1. Jordan Holding (G) 255-205-460; 2. Mario Stewart (RR) 225-185-410.

Boys A 154 - 1. Mike Mignone (RR) 315-205-520; 3. Josh Lord (G) 300-160-460; 4. John Barranco (RR) 175-140-315.

Boys B 154 - 1. Will Hull (RR) 165-165-330.

Boys A 169- 1. Chandler Myler (G) 235-225-460; 2. Steve Erickson (RR) 250-170-420; 3. Shane Allen (RR) 250-155-405; 4. Brian Malvoisin (RR) 230-170-400.

Boys B 183 - 1. Stavros Arianas (RR) 280-225-505; 3. Jake Horning (RR) 200-175-375; 4. London Vonnata (RR) 185-150-335.

Boys A 239- 1. Trevor Shoun (RR) 305-295-595; 4. John Natonio (RR) 195-145-230.

Boys A Unlimited - 1. Travis Tindell (H) 390-330-720.