- April 17, 2024
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The Matanzas Pirates weightlifting team qualified 11 lifters for the April 2 sectionals, when lifters will be vying for a spot in the state tournament.
A rowdy crowd was packed into the field house on the campus of Matanzas High School Monday, March 14, in support of the Iron Pirates. The first round of the District 3-1A sub-sectionals was taking place, featuring Matanzas, Nease, Keystone Heights, Creekside and Ponte Vedra high schools.
But as the clock hit 6 p.m., the rowdiness shifted from the fans to the lifters.
Matanzas’ Joel Manning, who competes in the 219-pound class, was about to begin his third and final attempt at 290 pounds in the clean-and-jerk.
He wiped his forehead of beads of sweat. Then he squatted and, with his chalk-covered hands gripped the bar.
Manning lifted the bar up, squatted again, and slung the bar and all of its weight up to his chin.
Then it was as if time stood still.
The sound was deafening. Manning’s teammates were screaming, jumping, clapping.
And then, after a deep breath, Manning kicked his legs out, threw the bar up over his head and completed the lift. He got the “OK” from the judge and let the weight hit the mat. Normally, the bar hitting the mat causes the most noise, but this time, it was the coaches, the fans, and Manning’s teammates who broke out in an uproar.
Manning, a junior, went on to take first place in the 219-pound class after benching 285 pounds and clean-and-jerking 290 pounds for a 575-pound total — it was a personal best.
“Joel Manning has done a really good job lifting,” coach Keith Lagocki said. “He really worked hard in the offseason and we’re expecting big things out of him.”
Lagocki thinks Manning has a shot at qualifying for states and possibly earning the Pirates some points.
Senior Christian Benvenuto, who lifts in the 199-pound class, also put up a personal-best total. Benvenuto bench pressed 275 pounds and clean-and-jerked 265 pounds for a 540-pound total.
Lagocki said Benvenuto has set a personal best every meet so far, adding: “The kid is amazing. He has a real good chance at qualifying for states and making some noise there.”
Matanzas qualified 11 out of 15 lifters Monday, and Lagocki said the remaining four lifters will have a shot at the second round of sub-sectionals Friday, March 18, at Keystone Heights. Those lifters are Brandon Smith (199 pounds), Brad Marsi (219), Jon Kuleski (239) and Nick Brown (unlimited).
“We were very pleased with how the kids did Monday,” Lagocki said. “They are coming along like we had hoped, but we still have a lot of work to do. Every round is going to get tougher so we just need to keep improving and keep getting better.”
For a full list of results and a video from Monday's meet, click here.
