Nature Coast Lifter Cepeda Earns First State Medal

Nature Coast’s girls weightlifting team already had two district championships under its weight belt this season. On Friday, the Sharks completed the 2024-25 campaign boasting a state medalist.

Bringing six girls to the FHSAA Class 2A State Championships at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Nature Coast celebrated junior Keanna Cepeda finishing third in Olympic (snatch and clean-and-jerk) 169 pounds, good enough to earn her first state medal. The top six in each weight class earned medals.

“It felt pretty amazing actually,” Cepeda said. “I would say it was pretty good for the weight that I was lifting. I scratched my first snatch and first clean-and-jerk, but there’s always room for improvement.”

Cepeda lifted 160 pounds in the snatch and 200 in the clean-and-jerk for a 360 total. That tied Auburndale’s Cailyn Rowe for the second-highest total, but Rowe weighed in a little less than two pounds lighter to take second. Menedez’s Elle Bays won the title with a 190-225—415.

“Oh my God it was amazing. She’s worked so hard in the offseason and then this season that she definitely deserved to be on that podium,” Nature Coast head coach Tania Kelly said. “She didn’t hit all of the numbers that she wanted, but she definitely showed why she made it this far.”

Cepeda also competed in traditional (bench press and clean-and-jerk), throwing up 130 on the bench press, which, combined with her clean-and-jerk, gave her a 330 that placed her 11th.

“I feel like I could have done better with my clean-and-jerk and snatch,” Cepeda said. “My PR for snatch is 170 and my clean-and-jerk is 200. I was expecting to do more with my clean-and-jerk, around 210. And my snatch I was expecting to do 170. But I still got what I needed to get.”

Last year Cepeda went to states for the first time and finished one place short of a medal in Olympic with a seventh-place 130-175—305 and ninth in traditional with a 140-175—315.

“It helped me majorly,” Cepeda said of her previous state experience. “Over the summer I went to a gym and they basically trained me from beginning to end. The experience that I learned from last states, it really helped.

“… My season was actually pretty good. The support from my teammates was amazing. My coaches, they really pushed me through it. Overall, I think just teammates is what really got me through the season and kept me motivated.”

She’ll also have motivation to make one more appearance at states next year. So will the rest of the Sharks who made it to Lakeland.

“We brought six girls. Quite a few of them have the potential to get on the podium. It just didn’t go the way we wanted it,” Kelly said. “But we’re still growing and learning, and next year I have really high hopes for them. And we have no seniors this year, so all of these girls are coming back next year.”

Sophie Shellenberger placed ninth in Olympic 129, with a 125 in snatch and 145 in clean for a 270 total, and the only other top-10 finish for the Sharks. She benched 115 for a 260 that placed 17th in traditional.

“Sophie Shellenberger, she placed last year. She got sixth (in 119 traditional). She placed ninth this year,” Kelly said. “She had a little bit of, well a lot of bit of a rough day. But she’s not deterred. She’s definitely going to come back. She’s already planning on winning next year.”

Payton Fahey posted a 100-150—205 for 13th in traditional at 101. Kinsey Baker totaled 90-130—220 for 11th at Olympic 110, Lilyanna Norton put together a 135-130—265 for 12th at traditional 119 and Katie Calise had a 115 in the snatch but scratched out on clean competing at traditional 110.

“Definitely a winning season. Now that this is over I’m looking forward to next season because all of these heavy hitters are going to be seniors, and I know they’re coming back with a vengeance,” Kelly said. “And we had a couple girls that didn’t make it to states that I have no doubt will make it next year.

“… I think it’s making them hungrier. They are already talking about all the training they want to do, how they’re just going to get right back to work.”

Springstead’s Genesis Perez competed at traditional 119 and had a 130-130—260 for 14th.