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Hurricanes senior Cretty is strong state contender

He won't be the most imposing figure at today's sectional meet, but the unbeaten force the past three seasons is on brink of another berth in finals.

By LARRY BUGG
Published April 8, 2005

Justin Cretty may not look like a dominating figure. He likely wouldn't make competitors feel intimidated.

In the sport of high school weightlifting, however, the Citrus senior is a powerful individual.

The 17-year-old is undefeated in meets the past three years and placed eighth at state in the 119-pound class last season.

Cretty's lifting enabled him to put on some weight, and he now is in the 129 division.

This year, he has a personal best of 240 pounds in the bench press and 210 in the clean-and-jerk. If Cretty was lifting in the heavyweight competition during the recent Citrus-Lecanto meet, he would have finished third. Teammate Chadd Malone won the class with a 685-pound total.

Weightlifting is a demanding sport, requiring discipline and dedication, and there are no college scholarships waiting for the top performers.

But Cretty welcomed the opportunity to enter the activity.

"I was not good in football," Cretty said. "I'm not fast or big enough to play football. This is a sport I wanted to get into. I got good at it."

There also is a social aspect for the athletes. "You are around your friends a lot," Cretty said. "It is a fun sport, but you have to work at it. I love it. We are like brothers." Hurricanes coach Jonny Bishop said Cretty takes the other athletes under his wing and shows them techniques. "Justin has a superior work ethic," Bishop said. "He has been focused on it. He is a technician of the sport. He studies what he does."I like to help people out as much as I can," Cretty said. "You always want to give people tips. We all trade tips."

Cretty, who hopes to study mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida, has high expectations for the 'Canes.

"He has that hot streak in him," Bishop said. "If someone is slacking off, he will let them know about it."

[Last modified April 8, 2005, 00:33:18]