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‘It never gets old’
Spruce Creek wins 4th straight girls weightlifting state title

STEVE LEE - SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-JOURNAL

N-J Photo/MIKE CARLSON Photo 1: Spruce Creek medalists, from left, Sara Cowles, Heather Wolfe, Candace Poirier and Kaysie Junco celebrate together after winning the state title. News-Journal photos/

N-J Photo/MIKE CARLSON Photo 2: New Smyrna Beach’s Alexa DeCristofaro embraces her father, Howie DeCristofaro, after setting a state 199-pound class bench-press record Saturday.

NEW PORT RICHEY — New Smyrna Beach’s Alexa DeCristofaro and Patrice Doemer savored their first state titles together and Spruce Creek extended its dominance in girls weightlifting with a fourth straight team championship.

New Smyrna Beach had two champions Saturday at New Port Richey River Ridge, as did Spruce Creek with Heather Wolfe (101-pound class) and Leigha Nave (119). And Seabreeze got its only points on Morgan Candage’s (139-pound) victory.

“It never gets old,” Spruce Creek coach Mike Randow said. “This is awesome. It’s great seeing records going down from other schools. It really pushes us. I consider these girls my daughters. I couldn’t be more proud of what they did.”

No team has defeated Spruce Creek in the state tournament — the sport has only been sanctioned for four years. Randow is also the coach of the Hawks’ boys weightlifting team, which has won the title 23 of the 32 years Florida has recognized a champion.

In all, 13 state records were set Saturday including three in the 169 class. Doemer set a new mark with a 195-pound clean and jerk, and her record-breaking 365 total was equaled by runner-up Brittany Adamek of Spruce Creek and third-place Meagan Seltman of New Port Richey Ridgewood. Doemer won because at 162.5 pounds, she weighed less than the others.

Doemer considered trying for 200 in the clean and jerk, but changed her mind when she figured a 195 would most likely lead to a state title.

“I thought it would be better to go for the record instead of trying for 200 and missing it,” said Doemer, a junior who last year was a state runner-up at 154. “But I still would have liked to go for 200. I’ll surpass that (next year), hopefully.”

Doemer said the difference in moving up a notch on the podium “was keeping my eyes on the prize. Second to me is like last. If you’re not first, you’re last.”

Following Doemer’s win, she shared a special moment with her teammate.

“Right after I was done (DeCristofaro) came up to me and said, ‘Two state champions, four state records,’ ” Doemer said. “We really feel good right now. We worked for it. We worked our butts off.”

Added DeCristofaro, whose 220 bench and 395 total at 199 were state records, “it’s something really good, that we’ll always be connected. It’s something we’ll share.”

DeCristofaro’s win was especially rewarding because the senior avenged her state runner-up finish to Port Charlotte’s Katie Ryck last year. This time, they flip-flopped with Ryck taking second.

Nave set a record with a 165 clean and jerk and tied a state mark with her total score of 305. Teammate Sara Cowles was the runner-up at 119. Spruce Creek’s Ashley Fides, the top seed at 154, also was a runner-up.

Total Score Leaders

1. Port Orange 33, 2. Port Charlotte 18, 3. Gainesville 16, 4. New Smyrna Beach 14, 4. Fort Walton Beach 14, 6. Lake City Columbia 12, 7. Lake Brantley 11, 8. St. Cloud 8, 9. Avon Park 7, 9. Booker 7, 9. Seabreeze 7.

Class Results

101 pounds: 1. Heather Wolfe (Spruce Creek) 125-130—255, 4. Kaysie Junco (Creek) 100-120—220.

110: 1. Erica Cook (Gainesville) 160-150—310, 10. Nicola Gough (New Smyrna Beach) 125-110—235, 12. Raquel Abadia (Creek) 115-115—230.

119: 1. Leigha Nave (Creek) 140-165—305, 2. Sara Cowles (Creek) 130-160—290.

129: 1. Kelly David (Lake Brantley) 165-145—310. Amanda Phillips (NSB) 135-none—no total.

139: 1. Morgan Candage (Seabreeze) 170-170—340, 7. Bre Baker (Deltona) 155-130—285.

154: 1. Sara Hansell (St. Cloud) 180-195—375, 2. Ashley Fides (Creek) 185-190—375, 8. Krista Rainge-Campbell (Creek) 125-160—285.

169: 1. Patrice Doemer (NSB) 170-195—365, 2. Brittany Adamek (Creek) 175-190—365.

183: 1. Anachelle Mejas (Avon Park) 215-165—380, 6. Candace Poirier (Creek) 145-150—295.

199: 1. Alexa DeCristofaro (NSB) 220-175—395, 14. Victoria Channells (Sea) 155-120—275, 15. Elizabeth Ensminger (Creek) 135-135—270.

Unlimited: 1. Jessica Reynolds (Booker) 250-210—460, 9. Mariana June (Deltona) 210-135—345

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