From Staff Reports
HAWKINSVILLE — Even without its top four weightlifters, the Americus-Sumter weightlifting team finished second out of 30 teams that spanned 22 counties at the Area 7 Weightlifting Meet on March 6 in Hawkinsville.
Warner Robins won the event with 70 points. The Panthers had 53, Fitzgerald had 47, Lee County had 42 and Houston County had 28.
It marked the best finish at the Area meet for the Panthers and the most points tallied since they began competing in 2006.
Six Panthers qualified for the state competition that will be held in Hawkinsville on March 20. Coach Darren Alford said Jonathan Battle and Javin Butler didn’t compete with knee injuries while Uneik Crumbley and Pat Fields competed in the underclassman combine in Atlanta on the same day.
“I feel that we have the strongest team in our area by far, and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished with the weightlifting program in Americus,” said Alford. “These kids deserve all the credit. They have worked very hard for the past year, and their efforts have paid off.”
Qualifying for the state meet are: Tyler Moore (2nd in 181-190 class; bench - 280, power clean - 250, squat - 450); Claude Deriso (2nd in 161-170 class; bench - 205, power clean - 215, squat - 475); Sean Stewart (2nd in 151-160 class; bench - 225, power clean - 250, squat - 390); Racarda Blackmon (3rd in 151-160 class; bench - 225, power clean - 245, squat - 390); Tyshun Brown (3rd in 171-180 class; bench - 265, power clean - 275, squat - 380); and Curtis Terry (3rd in 206-225 class; bench - 260, power clean - 215, squat - 430).
Darante Jordan placed fourth (below 140 class); James Burton was fifth (151-160); James Cary finished fourth (151-160); and Dwayne Waters was sixth (161-170).
