No matter how the meet was scored, Nature Coast’s girls’ weightlifting team won the district title on Jan.22 at Weeki Wachee. The Sharks won the District 3A-9 meet with 74 points, a result of traditional scoring (clean-and-jerk and bench press). They were well ahead of Hernando (31), Weeki Wachee (31), Springstead and Hudson (both 19), Central (18), and Fivay (9).
In Olympic scoring (clean-and-jerk and snatch), Nature Coast finished with 72 points. Hernando followed with 34, then Weeki Wachee (32), Springstead and Hudson (both 17), Central (13) and Fivay (5).
The Sharks also captured first place in most weight classes, meaning those individuals automatically qualified for the Region 2A-3 meet on Jan. 29 at Cypress Creek.
Payton Fahney took first in both categories at 101 pounds, with a total of 205 pounds in traditional and 185 in Olympic. She had a max of 105 in the clean, 100 in bench and 80 in the snatch.
Katie Calise won at 110 in traditional with a 240 (125 bench, 115 clean), while Kinsey Baker was first in Olympic with a 220 (90 snatch, 130 clean). Lilyanna Norton came in first in traditional at 119 with a 270 (135 bench, 135 clean). Sophie Shellenberger was first at 129 in traditional with a 260 (115 bench, 145 clean) and Olympic with a 265 (120 snatch).
At 139, Vanessa Elam had a 285 in traditional (135 bench, 150 clean) and 275 in Olympic (125 snatch) for first in both. Autumn Roth was first at 154 in traditional with a 235 (110 bench, 125 clean). Keanna Cepeda garnered the top spot at 169 in traditional with a 320 (135 bench, 185 clean) and Olympic with a 335 (150 snatch). Mikyleigh Boddie did the same at 199 with a 265 traditional (125 bench, 140 clean) and 205 Olympic (65 snatch).
Central’s Gabriella Rowson took first at 183 in traditional with a 260 (130 bench, 130 clean) and in Olympic with a 220 (90 snatch). Genesis Perez of Springstead was first at 119 Olympic with a 250 (110 snatch, 140 clean) and Weeki Wachee’s Mary Tuomey took first at 154 Olympic posting a 225 (100 snatch, 125 clean).
In wrestling, Hernando advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 1A Dual Wrestling Tournament. The Leopards fell to Merritt Island on Friday at Osceola High 51-15.
Noah Leota got a win for Hernando at 150 pounds, beating Titus Deyoung by a 16-5 major decision. Terrance Sheilds took the 165 bout over Nathan Schafer by a 10-1 major decision, Jeremiah Chavis defeated Courtland Campbell by a 16-3 major decision at 190 and Kian Blyss took a 4-1 decision over Dominick Smith at 215.
Hernando’s boys’ soccer team had better luck in the first round of the District 4A-5 Tournament, as the fourth-seeded Leopards defeated fifth-seeded Weeki Wachee in a match last Thursday that went to penalty kicks. Both teams scored twice in the second half and once in overtime to make it 3-3, and Hernando (4-12-1) won the final shootout 3-1.
On Jan. 22, in the girls’ soccer District 4A-5 quarterfinals, fourth-seeded Weeki Wachee defeated fifth-seeded Central 4-1. Adrianna Johnson scored three goals for the Hornets (4-14), and Chloe Bisaillon scored the other.
Meanwhile, county basketball teams are in the final weeks of their regular season. The Springstead boys notched a county win over Nature Coast on Thursday 43-30, behind 16 points from Ryan Sayre and 13 rebounds from Alejandro Arenas.
The Eagles followed with a 75-64 loss at Wesley Chapel on Saturday, falling to 13-8 overall. Sayre had 14 points, while Zion McKenzie scored 16. Jamin Pond had 10 points and nine rebounds.
Hernando earned a 54-43 county win over Central on Friday. Daniel Merizalde led the host Leopards (16-6) with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Blake Williams added 11 points and five rebounds, and Michael Brown chipped in 10 points.
Weeki Wachee’s girls basketball team improved to 18-5 with a 3-0 week, starting with a 43-30 win over Nature Coast on Jan. 21, led by Reese Halter’s double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. Genesis Beal scored 13.
Halter had 11 points and 11 rebounds in a 48-32 triumph over Cypress Creek on Thursday and the Hornets followed with a 50-36 win at Citrus on Friday.
Briana Coleman recorded a triple-double for Springstead in a 68-10 victory at Central on Jan. 21. The junior had 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 steals. Addisson Osborne also had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Hernando collected a 39-31 win over Central on Friday, paced by Aislin Ruppe’s 20 points. That moved the Leopards to 10-10 overall.
