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Perez, Berger dominate area weightlift districts

By Randy Lefko
Posted 1/23/19

OAKLEAF – Oakleaf High senior Lexi Perez and Clay High senior Brooke Berger both got stung last year in their respective state weightlifting meet competitions and came up one short of a state …

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Perez, Berger dominate area weightlift districts


Posted

OAKLEAF – Oakleaf High senior Lexi Perez and Clay High senior Brooke Berger both got stung last year in their respective state weightlifting meet competitions and came up one short of a state title.

In 2019, both are on track to NOT repeat.

“Sure it sucked coming in second, especially by just five pounds,” said Berger, who competed at 129 pounds last year, but bumped to 154 pounds. “This year, I’m smarter.”

Perez, who was bested by 20 pounds at 154 to region foe New Smyrna Beach’s Hannah Goodrich, returned at the same weight, but with much more power.

“My clean and jerk has been my strength over the years and I was tops at that last year by 10 points at state,” said Perez, who returns at 154. “My bench press has been my weakness and it’s frustrating that that I’m strong in one, but not in the other.”

Also winning individual district titles were, in 5-1A, Clay’s Kira Boone at 101; Ridgeview’s Aysia Hill at 119 and Clay’s Lindsay Brooks at 199. Hill was third at 199 in 2018.

In district 5-2A, individual titles went to Oakleaf’s Haddassah Davis at 139, Fleming Island’s Jaeden Fernandez at 169 (20th at 169 in 2018) and Middleburg’s Katlyn Griffin at 183.

In team standings, at Clay’s district 5-1A, Baker County, second in 1A last year to Union County, won with 70 teams points with Clay second at 60 and Ridgeview third at 54 in one of the closer matchups in the very tough district. Baker County finished second in 1A last year to Union County with Clay fourth. Ridgeview finished ninth.

Oakleaf, with 40 team points, finished second to Creekside in their district 5-2A by just eight points with Bartram Trail third at 38. Middleburg came p two short of Bartram Trail with 36 with Fleming Island at 15. “Competition makes everyone better,” said Clay coach Rodney Keller. “We train knowing that Baker County is in our district and will be the target.”

For Baker County coach Scott McDonald, Keller’s tenacity is what keeps his girls sharp in their approach.

“I know coach Keller and he has made great strides to come after us each year,” said McDonald. “We have seven returners and five state meet returners and that makes it tough, but they keep coming.”

Berger, with matching 185 pound totals in her events, crushed the field with a 370 total to defeat Baker County’s Emma Self by 80 pounds. Self was 10th at 154 last year with a 290 total. Winner Josie Hall of Altha High totaled 340 to win at 154.

“I’ve seen the numbers and know what it is going to take,” said Berger. “Today was a test to get 185 in both techniques to win the district. There is more in the tank.”

Perez won her district title with a 355 total, but improved on her bench press with a 160 effort combined with a 195 clean and jerk.

In 2018, Perez benched 155 and cleaned 195 to take second to Goodrich who did the 185/185 double to win at 370. Goodrich, who bested Perez in their region 3-2A battle by 10 pounds; 360-350, has graduated.

For Perez, the region foes include New Smyrna Beach’s Marr Desvarieux at 330 total and Flagler’s Kiara Bass at a distant 295.

“My bench press is going to be the difference, “ said Perez. “It’s on me. Totals will be higher at regions and at state.”

For district 5-1A, individual titles for Clay went to Kira Boone at 101 and Lindsay Brooks at 199 while Ridgeview got a title from sophomore Aysia Hill at 119.

Also advancing with top six finishes to regions which Baker County will host Sat., Jan. 26 (11:30 a.m.) are, at 101, Daniella Kraus RHS, second; at 110; Sam Migliore CHS second, Vishwa Patel RHS third and Shaniya Chery RHS fourth; at 119, Katie James CHS second (fifth at 119 in 2018); Emma Borifacil RHS third; Megan Ferer CHS fifth; at 129, Nadiya Jones CHS second; Ramsey Phillips OPHS third; Julie Sowers CHS fourth and Kayla Saunders OPHS fifth; at 139, Jenna Henderson RHS second, Alanna Jones RHS third, Marina Kaericher CHS fourth and Ali Sarman CHS sixth; at 154, Alanna Floyd RHS third; Vayeli Trejo CHs fourth and Brianna Monteiro OPHS sixth; at 169, Abby Hawkins CHS second, Tania McCormack RHS third, Jayla Hall RHS fifth; at 183, Allie Holyfield RHS second, Kalli Winder OPHS fourth and Chelsey Hodges CHS sixth; at 199, Grier Burrows RHS fourth (12th at 199 in 2018), Morgan Silvis CHS fifth and Kayla Brown RHS sixth, and, at Unlimited, Kaila McKean CHS fourth and Sydney Porter RHS fifth.

Also advancing with top six finishes to the region 3-2A championships which Flagler Palm Coast will host on Thurs., Jan. 24 (6 p.m.) are, at 110, Tamira Briley OHS second and Ta’Kayla Edwards OHS third; at 119, Atlantis Clinkscale MHS second, Patrise Green OHS fifth and Brianna Grant FIHS sixth; at 129, Madison Tomberg MHS fourth; at 139, Haddassah Davis OHS first, Nicole Masters OHS second and Mallory Tomberg MHS sixth; at 154, Amelia Jones MHS fourth; at 169, Jaeden Fernandez FIHS first, Katie Carter MHS third and Haley Beardin FIHS sixth; at 183, Katlyn Griffin MHS first, Gabby Willitz OHS second, Britney Payne FIHS third; at 199, Jewel Taylor MHS third; Lexy Testa FIHS fifth and Olivia Wannall MHS sixth; and, at Unlimited, Emily Georgiades MHS second; Markayla Green OHS third, Madison Barnard MHS fourth and Jasmine Ulsaint OHS sixth. In district 7-1A, Keystone Heights got a top finishes of second place at 110 from Zoe Dearborn and a third at 154 from Grace Wagner. Advancing with top six finishes were Isabella Hanna at 129, sixth; Kayla Dailey at 154, fifth, and Katelyn Gruel at 183, fifth.