- April 25, 2024
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Last season, FPC had three lifters place in the state meet and finished seventh as a team.
Ruslan Zhamukhanov, who graduated in May, won the state title in the 199-pound weight class last season for the second time in his four-year high school career. He’s only the second state champion in school history.
The other state champion?
Meet Robert Paxia, who lifted his way to the 238-pound state title in 2007. He’s returned to FPC as a first-year head coach of the weightlifting team.
The Bulldogs went 9-4 last season, taking fourth in the 5-Star Conference.
This season, Paxia said he has several lifters who should compete for a place on the podium in the state meet.
“Overall, I have a great group of kids,” Paxia said. “ ... I’m teaching them the right way to do things. They are seeing the strength gains, so that’s going to help my credibility, too.”
On average, Paxia said, a lifter should increase his lifts by about 25 pounds to 35 pounds, but that also depends on the lifter. The bigger lifters can really increase their weight from the start of the season compared to the end because it’s easier for them to turn fat into muscle. Some of the smaller lifters don’t increase by as much, Paxia said.
The Bulldogs (3-1) lost to state powerhouse Spruce Creek Tuesday, March 1, but Paxia said a lot of his lifters are headed in the right direction, just in time for the March 16 5-Star Conference/sub-sectionals meet.
Adam Mitchell, a senior, lifts in the 199-pound weight class. Paxia said Mitchell has the potential to contend for a state championship “if he keeps progressing the way he has been.”
Last season, Mitchell qualified and placed sixth in the district, but has gained a lot of strength, Paxia said.
At the beginning of the season, Mitchell was bench-pressing 285 pounds but is now lifting 330 on the bench. Paxia estimates Mitchell will add another 20 pounds to 30 pounds by season’s end.
“He’s one of the hardest workers that I have,” Paxia said of Mitchell. “He’s realized the opportunities that he has, and we have him on a good program.”
Other Bulldog lifters who Paxia said should make some noise this season include Nick Maiori (183 pounds, junior), Devin McIntire (119 pounds, sophomore), Aaron Pearson (169 pounds, senior), Derron Green (heavyweight, senior) and Nick Monroe (heavyweight, senior).
Paxia said he’s focused a little more on the nutrition plan for the team this season, adding: “We don’t have a designed nutrition program, but a lot of (the lifters) eat right. But that’s been more of a product of the environment and hasn’t been discussed. We’re trying to take a little more control of the nutrition and teach the kids how to eat and cut weight properly.”
LIFTERS TO WATCH
Devin McIntire, Soph., 119 pounds: He has potential to be a state qualifier.
Aaron Pearson, Sr., 169 pounds: As a transfer student from Matanzas, he didn’t lift last season. Should total 590 pounds and could be good enough for top three in the state.
Nick Maiori, Jr., 183 pounds: He is lifting 265 pounds on the bench and 280 pounds on the clean-and-jerk. Paxia said, “He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever seen here, even when I was lifting. He’s nonstop.”
Adam Mitchell, Sr., 199 pounds: Paxia thinks he will contend for a state championship after finishing sixth in the district last season.
Derron Green, Sr., Heavyweight: Placed fifth in the state last season in the 238-pound class.
Nick Monroe, Sr., Heavyweight: Paxia estimates Monroe will finish the season benching 355 pounds and lifting 300 pounds on the clean-and-jerk.
