Sports

37 Okaloosa, Walton boys weightlifters compete at state championships in Lakeland

Boys weightlifting state championships open Wednesday at the RP Funding Center, with area schools represented across all three classifications.

Travis Espy

It’s officially state time for boys weightlifting in Florida.

The boys weightlifting state championships will be held May 6-8 at the RP Funding Center, with lifters competing for individual titles and team championships across multiple classifications.

Lifters from eight area schools are represented in the field. Choctaw is aiming for a four-peat in traditional, while Baker headlines the 1A slate with three traditional individual regional champions.

Class 3A

Crestview brings four lifters to Lakeland: Caleb Engle (154, Olympic), Jaxson Caudill (169, traditional), Andre Bridgewater (199, Olympic) and Carson Swotek (199, Olympic).

Niceville is represented by Brodie Lacanilao (139, Olympic) and Trimarcus Mays, who qualified at unlimited in both Olympic and traditional.

Class 2A

Choctaw leads the area contingent with the largest group of qualifiers as it pursues a fourth consecutive traditional title. Emiliano Alvarado (119) qualified in Olympic and traditional and is a regional champion in traditional, while teammate Alan Telez also qualified in both at 119.

Ian Deardurff (129, traditional), Lathan Waters (139, Olympic), Josh Perez (169, Olympic) and Emilio Welchez (169, traditional) round out the lower weight classes for the Indians. Justin Nyguen qualified at 154 in both Olympic and traditional and is a regional champion in traditional, with Julian Redinger also qualifying in both at 154.

In the upper weights, Von’Tavious Keller is a regional champion at 219 in traditional, joined by Andrew Duzinski (219, traditional) and Jabari Weeks (219, Olympic). Barry Schieber qualified at 238 in both Olympic and traditional, with Kevin Bravo joining him at 238 in traditional.

Fort Walton Beach High School sends four lifters, including Christian Sanchez, a regional champion at unlimited in Olympic. Eli Crozier (139, traditional), Sebastian Reyes (238, Olympic and traditional) and Noah Reyes (unlimited, Olympic) also qualified.

Class 1A

Baker brings the area’s deepest 1A group, headlined by three traditional regional champions:

Connor Harmon (139)
Dawson Jones (154)
Makani Abdon (238)

Cannan Sheats (129) qualified in both Olympic and traditional, as did Declan Crawford (199) and Pete Grace (238). Elijah Savage (154, traditional) and Bryce Anderson (183, traditional) also made the trip.

Destin is represented by Parker Jones (119, traditional), and Seacoast sends Carter Schnader (183, Olympic).

Walton brings four qualifiers: Layshawn Williams (119, Olympic), Reed West (129, Olympic and traditional), Isaiah Matthews (139, Olympic) and Rylen Nelson, a regional champion at 154 in Olympic who also qualified in traditional.