- November 6, 2024
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The Matanzas Iron Pirates flexed their way to a win in the first meet of the season Wednesday, Feb. 29, at the Matanzas Field House.
The Pirates won the tri-meet against St. Augustine and Pedro Menendez. Matanzas scored 45 points, St. Augustine scored 41, and Pedro Menendez tallied 30.
Matanzas took first place in five of the 10 weight classes. First-place finishers include Chris Santana (129 pounds), Matt Whalen (139), Casey Kronemeyer (154), Watson Stevens (183) and Joel Manning (219).
Seven seniors lead the Matanzas Pirates weightlifting team this season. The Pirates went 6-1 last season, and coach Keith Lagocki returns four state qualifiers. Whalen placed third in the state last season, while Kronemeyer finshed sixth.
BULLDOGS FALL SHORT
Flagler Palm Coast lost to Seabreeze, 49-41, Wednesday, Feb. 29, in the first meet of the season.
Devon McIntire won the 119-pound weight class. He benched 180 pounds and clean-and-jerked 160 for a 340-pound total.
Nick Maiori won the 183-pound class. Maiori benched pressed 275 and clean-and-jerked 280 for a 555-pound total.
In the 238-pound class, Shaaf McGlown took first place with a bench of 260 pounds, a clean-and-jerk of 260, and a 520-pound total.
Second-year coach Robert Paxia leads a much younger team this season, as eight freshman lift in a varsity spot. The team’s four seniors are Maiori, Snider St. Vil, McGlown and Dylan Carey. All of the state qualifiers from last season’s team have graduated. Maiori missed qualifying for states last season by 5 pounds; McIntire missed qualifying by 15 pounds.
Paxia said experience is the biggest thing his team needs to gain this season. The Bulldogs’ lineup includes 16 underclassmen, “many of which have never lifted in a meet or worked out anywhere else,” Paxia said. “Young kids will do some crazy stuff. You have to monitor that and make sure they are doing things to prevent injury. You can’t lift if you’re hurt.”
MATANZAS RESULTS
119 pounds
Richard McCune, 2nd
Edgar Mixon, 3rd
129 pounds
Chris Santana, 1st
139 pounds
Matt Whalen, 1st
Coy Sprunger, 4th
154 pounds
Casey Kronemeyer, 1st
169 pounds
Destin Holland, 3rd
Jeff Monroe, 4th
183 pounds
Watson Stevens, 1st
Leslie Allen, 2nd
199 pounds
Jason Cowles, 4th
219 pounds
Joel Manning, 1st
Joe Murtagh, 4th
238 pounds
Shawn White, 2nd
Travis Thompson, 4th
Heavyweight
Alex Kubiet, 3rd
Email Andrew O’Brien at [email protected].
