- May 4, 2024
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Spruce Creek's Cale Jansen does the clean-and-jerk. Photo by Ray Boone
The Hawks' Caleb Guthrie prepares for the bench press. for thPhoto by Ray Boone
Spruce Creek's Cale Jansen completes the clean-and-jerk in the district meet. Photo by Ray Boone
Hawks lifter Nick Yaeger prepares for the bench press. Photo by Ray Boone
The Hawks' Patrick Murphy does the bench press. Photo by Ray Boone
Spruce Creek weightlifter Nick Yaeger felt a pain in his right bicep. While pulling on a clean-and-jerk, the senior felt a pop in the muscle — like a slight tear. So when the Hawks were competing for the district title on the afternoon of Friday, March 9, at Flagler Palm Coast High School, Yaeger, who lifts in the most competitive weight class in the state, had to hold back.
He bench pressed 355 pounds and clean-and jerked 275 pounds.
Yaeger — whose max bench and clean-and-jerk are 365 pounds and 330 pounds, respectively — won the individual district title in the 183-pound weight class.
“I still think I did well,” Yaeger said. “But I definitely could have done more.”
Yaeger was one four Spruce Creek lifters who took home individual honors. The Hawks’ Vincent Sneed (169), Cale Jansen (199) and Isaac Attias (238) each claimed the individual title for their respective weight classes.
As a team, the Hawks edged out New Smyrna Beach 59-45 to take home the team title.
“It was just a good job by the guys overall,” Hawks coach David Nelson said. “I think we’re going to make a really good run at states.”
Nelson said the Hawks have about six guys on the roster who have legitimate shots at contending for a state title. One of them is Yaeger, the other: Snead, who was also nursing a shoulder injury on Friday.
The Hawks last won the state title as a team in 2016. The goal this season is to win another one.
“As far as the athletics part of this program, that’s always the goal for this team,” Nelson said. “I think we’ll give it a good shot. I think we’ll be right there.”
