Three area lifters place
By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 27, 2003
LIVE OAK - Patrick Gallagher should have been happy, but one can understand why he wasn't.
With a chance to win a state title, the Gulf senior scratched on his second attempt in the clean and jerk, and the miscue likely kept him from claiming gold. He recovered on his third attempt but placed second by 5 pounds in the 119-pound division at the Class A meet Saturday.
"I should have had it," Gallagher said. "It was just a bad day I guess. I didn't dip hard enough."
Behind Gallagher, Gulf tied for 17th to lead area teams. Pasco was 21st and Citrus tied for 27th after one of its key lifters was disqualified.
St. Augustine won the team title.
Gallagher, sixth at state in 2002, was unbeaten this season. After a 225-pound bench press, he led his nearest competitor by 5 pounds. But Gallagher cleaned 185, 20 less than state champion Aaron Chavez of Taylor County.
"I lifted 225 easy," Gallagher said. "I should have gone for 230. I don't know why I didn't."
Pasco senior Kirk Moats placed third at 199 to earn all four of Pasco's points. He was fourth last year at 183. Moats benched 360 and cleaned 275 for a 635, 20 pounds behind champion Jay Dow of Dunnellon. He scratched on a 285 clean attempt, but even with a successful lift would not have moved up.
"I'm pretty happy," Moats said. "I improved from last year. I bumped up in class and still placed, which is good."
Citrus junior Rob Holdaway was the only other area lifter to place. He finished sixth at 139 with a 490 total (265 bench, 225 clean). Holdaway scratched on one bench attempt and one clean attempt, otherwise he could have placed fourth.
Citrus's T.C. Arnold and Dan Marinelli both placed seventh - Arnold at 219 with a 580 total and Marinelli in the heavyweight division with a 660 total.
Citrus appeared to be headed for a top-15 finish, but senior Mike Maxwell was disqualified by officials for poor behavior near the end of the event. Maxwell led the 199 class after a division-best bench of 380 pounds. But when he scratched on his third clean attempt (he earlier was successful at 265), he angrily flung his lifter's belt in frustration.
Maxwell was called to the officials' desk and warned to calm down, meet director Dan Marsee said. It was unclear what the official and Maxwell said to each other, but as Maxwell walked away he made an obscene gesture and again tossed his belt.
At that point he was ejected.
Maxwell would have placed third.
"He was in position to win the state championship and lost his composure," Citrus coach Jonny Bishop said. "And unfortunately that cost the whole team. All year we preach that weightlifting is a team sport."
Marinelli, in contention to medal, spotted Maxwell in between his own clean attempts. After Maxwell was disqualified, Marinelli never returned to finish his remaining lifts. Tournament officials, when asked about Marinelli's status, gave conflicting answers.
Neither Marinelli nor Maxwell could be reached for comment.
Citrus left shortly after the disqualification.
Before the Hurricanes departed, though, Bishop huddled his lifters together in the hallway. He said he told them "This is the most embarrassed I've ever been for any athletic team I've ever been affiliated with."
CLASS 2A: Tyler Boyd of Lecanto and Andrew Hutchison of River Ridge each placed fifth and were the only area lifters to medal in the state meet.
Host Port Orange Spruce Creek won the team title.
Boyd totaled 670 (385 bench, 285 clean) in the 238-pound division. Hutchison totaled 570 (340, 230) at 154.
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