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INVERNESS - The dynamic duo of T.C. Arnold and Chadd Malone helped catapult Citrus to its third consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference boys weightlifting championship Wednesday at Citrus.
Malone, who earned 10 points by winning the heavyweight class with a combined lift of 660 pounds, and Arnold, who won at 219 pounds, combined for 18 points to help beat Hernando 65-47.
"I've got the fever," said Malone, who hopes to make his second appearance at state April 24. "I just wanted to win big to prepare for state. (Wednesday) was a good day."
Malone and Arnold, both seniors, weren't the only contributors for Citrus. Justin Cretty cut weight to compete at 119, posting 200 on the bench press and 195 on the clean-and-jerk. Although Springstead's Steven Leon tied Cretty's total weight of 395 pounds, Cretty won by weighing in a half-pound lighter.
"When I heard Justin was in my weight class, I wanted to beat him," Leon said, who bench pressed 220 pounds and clean-and-jerked 175 pounds. "I love competing against him. We pushed each other. Last year, I lost to him. This year, I tied him but got beat by weight. Hopefully, I'll beat him."
Springstead came in third with 32 points followed by Crystal River's 29. Lecanto was fifth with six points and Nature Coast Tech seventh with three.
Citrus' team effort contributed to the win. With only three placing first, four second-place finishes helped give it the championship.
Mike Singer, Rod Roberts, Addison Chipoletti and Andrew Niederhelm won for Hernando. Scott Guastella led Crystal River by lifting 625 pounds for first at 183.
"They say weightlifting is an individual sport," Cretty said. "But I think it's a team sport. I couldn't have done it without my team. It's 60 percent physical, and the rest is mental."