Weight lifting season has started for area female lifters from Jay High, Milton High, and Pace High. All three schools have been involved in area competitions and are excited about the results they are seeing this early in the season.
Milton High School‘s Coach Chafan Marsh is challenging his team of girls to reach their potential. “Our girl’s weightlifting team is very young this season,” Marsh stated. “These young ladies are working hard and trying to get better every day.”
Marsh’s team consists of majority freshman and sophomores.
The Panthers hosted a meet on Wednesday, Nov. 12th against Jay High and Gulf Breeze High. Milton’s Breana Slack finished first in the UNL. Brianna Washington placed 2nd in the 154 lb. weight class and Jai-Lynn Ellis competed in the 199 lb. weight class with a second place finish.
Jay High School has 15 girls on their weightlifting team this season. Coach Richard Vester sees potential to improve the Royals program over the next few years due to the composition of Jay’s 7th-12th grade student population. “Of our 15 lifters, five of them are middle school age,” commented Vester. “Eight of the 15 girls are first time lifters.”
“The girls are getting stronger by the day,” added Vester. In the Milton High competition Jay High’s Liza Michaela Stewart won first in the 110 lb. weight class, Riana Wolfe captured first place in the 139 lb. weight class. Haley Watson and Shelby Edwards tied for second place 129 lb. weight class. In the 183 lb. weight class Liza Eddings placed second.
“I am very proud of all the girls’ progress this far, with their continued work ethic and commitment they can only get better,” Vester added. Vester’s experience from coaching boys weightlifting will defenitely benefit the girl’s program at Jay High, He has coached teams from Lake Wales, Haines City and Madison County before relocating to Santa Rosa County.
Results of the meet hosted by Milton High School:
1st Gulf Breeze 55 points
2nd Milton 31 points
3rd Jay 24 points
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Area girl’s power up