LAKE CITY - Four area weightlifters continued their chase to a state title with region titles added to their district titles of a week ago as top six lifters awaited the rest of the state to determine the final qualifiers to the state meet, set for April 6-7 in Panama City Beach.

“This was the first day of region meets available (March 21) and now we wait until the final region totals come in from Saturday (March 24),” said Oakleaf coach Dana Arthur, who got a third place team trophy with titles from Jakobie Baker and Tayari Otis. “It’s good to get it done, but the kids have to be smart the next two weeks to maintain their strength and techniques.”

Baker and Otis returned to the top of the podium after winning district titles a week ago with Fleming Island’s Tyler Nguyen and Ian Ali both getting region titles to add to their district titles.

Nguyen, who set a state clean and jerk record of 335 at districts, and Baker both backed off from their district weightlifting record chases, with both having to manage obstacles for their wins.

“I had a little trouble on my first lift in clean and jerk so I had to repeat the same weight a second time to advance,” said Baker, “I think I extended a little more energy, but didn’t need a heavy lift to win.”

Baker won the 199 pound region title with a 675 pound total off 355 on the bench and 320 on the clean and jerk with second place at 620. Baker was also the district champion with the same 675 total, but with a 360 bench and a 315 clean and jerk. “I hope to maximize at the state meet.”

Nguyen, the district 154 pound champion at 315 in the bench press and a state record of 335 in the clean and jerk for a 650 total, finished off his region challengers handily with a surprising 605 total for the region title.

“I was light headed on the bench because I think I drank an energy drink too close to the competition,” said Nguyen. “I hit 295 on the clean and jerk and didn’t want to take a chance if I didn’t have to by going heavier. We’ll adjust and get back to my normal lifts for state.”

Nguyen’s total of 605 was ahead of teammate D.J. Pimienta who took second in the 154s with a 520 total.

Fleming Island got a second champion in junior Ian Ali in the 119 pound division with a 350 total off a 170 bench press and a 180 clean and jerk. Ali was 15 pounds up on Oakleaf’s Mike Williams, second at 340. Ali beat Williams at districts 360-345.

At 238, Otis got his second title with a 590 total off 310 and 280 lifts to defeat Nease’s Adrian Williams by just 10 pounds. Middleburg’s Kodi Carrington was within striking distance at fourth with a 570 total.

Bartram Trail, with two champions, won the team title with 38 points with Columbia second at 31 and Oakleaf third at 23. Fleming Island finished sixth with 18 points with Middleburg eighth with 11 points.

With the state meet scheduled for April 6-7 in Panama City Beach, weightlifters must maintain their fitness for two weeks.

“We just maintain our normal schedules and try to fine tune our technique,” said Arthur. “For most of the lifters, the prize at the end is enough motivation to be smart with diet, training, rest and sleep on top of studying to be ready in April.”

Finishing in the top six with a possible nod to the state meet based on weight totals; top finishers in all region meets automatically advance with the next 12 best lifters in each weight class statewide filling the state qualifiers’ list.

“We have one of the strongest districts and regions in Florida which gives some of the guys in fifth or sixth a shot at advancing,” said Arthur. “We just have to wait and see.”

Finishing in the top six for Fleming Island were, at 119, Charles Callahan, sixth at 285; at 129, Will Stephans, third at 360; in 183, Jackson Bull, sixth at 545 (with a broken hand) and, at 199, Kyle Nimitz, sixth at 515.

For Oakleaf, finishing in top six were, at 129, Ryan Rosano, sixth at 330; at 139, Ethan Gustilo, fourth at 440; at 169, Kenneth Davis, sixth at 510 and, at 199, Demonte Richmond, third at 570.

Rosano, a fourth place finisher at the Class 3A wrestling championships just a month ago, is in a unique position of being a two-sport state meet qualifier if his total gets him to Panama City Beach.

For Middleburg, top six finishes came from, at 139, Tanner Nobles, third at 505 behind Nguyen’s 605 and, at 169, Andrew Thomas, third at 530.