Pirate the lone area medalist at state meet

By LARRY BUGG
Published February 13, 2005

DELAND - Crystal River's Breanna Driver placed third Saturday in the state finals, becoming the first girl from Citrus County to medal in a sanctioned state weightlifting meet.

The senior was the only girl from the tri-county area to medal, taking third in the unlimited weight division.

Driver had a 190-pound bench press and 185 clean and jerk for a 375-pound total. Driver missed qualifying last year and was determined to get to state this year.

"I was happy to be here," she said. "My coach (Charles Brooks) told me, "Don't worry. You will medal.' (Third is) better than okay. I didn't have a good sectional but I was happy to get here."

Driver's teammate, Jacquelyn Seffern just missed medaling, finishing seventh in the 129-pound class. Seffern had a 125-pound lift in the bench press and a 145-pound clean and jerk for a 270-pound total. The sophomore was just 5 pounds behind Milton medalist Tatyana Neely.

"I was happy with this," Seffern said. "When I got my 145-pound lift, I was happy because it was my best. It's my first year of lifting."

"They did a great job," Brooks said of his Pirates. "I am proud of them."

Daytona Beach Spruce Creek won its second straight team title with 47 points. Oviedo and Lakewood Ranch tied for second with 13. Crystal River finished tied for 17th with four points.

In other individual performances, Pasco's Kaci Wubbena finished seventh in the 119-pound class, edging Springstead's Meg Ryan.

Crystal River's Quincy Wilson was eighth in the 183-pound class and Hudson's Devon Fodi ninth.

Crystal River's Kari Stanford finished eighth in the 199-pound class.

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:08:17]