Brandon Reyes, a senior at Milton High School, recently accomplished a bit of a rarity at the school when he signed a weightlifting scholarship with Northern Michigan University.
To his knowledge, MHS weightlifting coach Marcus Buchanan said the occasion may have been the first in the school’s history. Murry Rutledge, the school’s athletic director, agrees.
“This is the first time that I know that we have had (a student) sign one for lifting weights,” Rutledge said. “I have been doing this for a long time.”
Whether its placing top in the state or breaking records at the Northwest Florida Championships when it comes to weightlifting, Reyes attributes his success to what he has learned from Buchanan and his parents.
“You have to do everything to a T,” Reyes said. “My dad always says work harder and smarter.”
Reyes said he began to focus on weightlifting, following an football injury. Since then, Reyes has made an impact
“As a weightlifter he came in ninth in the state of Florida…he benched pressed 290 (lbs) and clean and jerked 255 (lbs),” Buchanan said. “Last year as a junior, he came in third in the state of Florida, benched pressed 310 pounds and clean and jerked 275 for a 585 total. Right now, he is about at a 650 (lbs) total, which is the highest I have ever seen in the 169 pound weight class.”
While Reyes plans to continue to work hard in order to meet his weightlifting goals, he also plans to work towards a Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Weightlifting: MiltonÂ’s Reyes signs with Northern Michigan University (VIDEO)