Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

'Canes pick up where they left off

INVERNESS -- Citrus coach Jonny Bishop always hoped for the best.

But because the Hurricanes graduated so many top lifters from the 2001 team that placed 14th at the Class A state meet, he had modest goals before the season. "I thought we would be competitive," Bishop said. "But I wasn't sure we would win anything."

A lot can change in three months.

On Wednesday, Citrus capped an impressive seven-day stretch by winning the title for the third consecutive year. The Hurricanes, who claimed five of 10 weight classes, finished with 50 points, 10 more than second-place Lecanto. Crystal River was third with 18.

Citrus won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference title last week.

"The kids have worked extremely hard," Bishop said. "Some of them have gone up 125 pounds on their totals this season."

Twenty Citrus lifters set personal bests and the Hurricanes had 14 top three finishes. Citrus also qualified an eighth lifter, 129-pounder Kevin Larkin, for state. He joins Tyler Gennaro, Rob Holdaway, Dan Marinelli, Mike Maxwell, Justin Taylor, Chris Vihrachoff and Nolan Williams.

Joe Berry (heavyweight), Gennaro (139), Maxwell (219), Vihrachoff (183) and Williams (119) were Citrus' individual winners. Maxwell's 630-pound total (360 bench press, 270 clean and jerk) was a meet-best.

"Overall, I'm very pleased," Bishop said. "It's fantastic. And what's great is that everybody wants to be a part of a winner and hopefully this will propel more interest in the program."

Lecanto earned four first-place finishes and six seconds despite missing injured lifters Chris Reeves (heavyweight) and Joe Stasio (183). Stasio is a state qualifier and Reeves would have been a favorite in his division.

"That definitely would have been some points," Panthers coach Ron Allan said.

Tyler Boyd (238), Terence Hollis (169), Mike Perrino (154) and Phil Reed (199) won titles for Lecanto. Boyd, a junior, topped his previous best by 30 pounds with a 620-pound total (340-280). He tied Marinelli, but got first because he weighed less.

"Boyd's clean and jerk was phenomenal," Allan said. "Hopefully, that will be a confidence-booster for him."

Crystal River's lone win came at 129 pounds from senior Norman Hamner, who continues to be the county's most impressive lifter. Hamner, a transfer from Williston, was second at state last year at 119, when he totaled 395 pounds. He posted a 460-pound total Wednesday.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright