Mustangs advance to states

LAKEWOOD RANCH — All Lakewood Ranch junior Nicki Green could do was sit and wait.

After posting a combined 220 pounds in the 110-pound weight class of the Section 8 state-qualifier Jan. 26 at Port Charlotte, Green still didn’t know whether she had done well enough to move on to the state championship meet.

It wasn’t until after the final two competitors in her weight class had attempted their final clean and jerk that Green learned she was moving on for the first time. Green finished second in her weight class — the top three in each weight class advance.

“I was really happy,” Green said. “It was suspenseful though because I had to wait for two other girls to (lift) to see if I made it or not.”

Green is one of four members of the Lakewood girls weightlifting team who qualified for the state championship meet Feb. 12 at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

“I was very surprised,” coach Mick Koczersut said. “I knew we had a chance when we got done with bench. I thought there was a good chance that all four of them would move on because two of them are better at clean and jerk than bench. I’m excited for them.”

Fellow junior Hannah Asay finished second in the 119-pound weight class with a 115-pound bench press and a 125-pound clean and jerk. Sophomores Theresa Simunovic and Shelby Anderson qualified after finishing third in the 139-and-101-pound weight classes, respectively.

Simunovic cleared 110 pounds in the bench press and 125 pounds in the clean and jerk while Anderson posted a combined total of 165 pounds.

Simunovic was perhaps the most surprising member of the Lady Mustangs to advance. Having spent the past week battling an illness, Simunovic wasn’t eager to compete.

“I was surprised,” Simunovic said of qualifying. “The only reason I won was because I weighed three pounds less than the other girl.

“I think we all could’ve done better,” she added. “I didn’t go in with a really good attitude, so I didn’t think I would move on.”

Asay agreed.

“It’s intimidating because the score sheets are right there and you see what everyone lifts,” Asay said. “Sometimes, it brings your confidence down if you see someone with a big number.

“Everything is really technical,” she said. “If you do one thing wrong then your lift doesn’t (count), and you only have three chances to do the lift.”

Although the Lady Mustangs weren’t entirely pleased with their performance, they are happy to have the opportunity to compete in the state championship meet. Of the 38 girls involved in the sport this season, 10 girls competed in the Section 8 state-qualifier — the most Lakewood has ever sent to the meet.

“The mindset has changed,” Koczersut said. “The girls have realized that they aren’t going to turn into behemoth women if they work out for three months. Not only is it an athletic event, but it’s also become somewhat social for them.”

The four girls advancing to the state championship meet are the first to do so since Jessica Terry competed in 2009.

“It’s really a big accomplishment because all of the girls even at the (district) meet are really good,” Asay said. “I just want to have fun and to just do as much as I possibly can, rank high and have a good experience.”

The girls will spend the next two weeks practicing during weightlifting class and after school in preparation for the state championship meet.

“I want to do my personal best and look respectable,” Anderson said. “I want to be satisfied with my last performance.”

As for Koczersut, he wants all of the girls to strive to finish in the top 10 while using the experience as a learning tool for next year.

“It’s neat because they all get to lift at the same time even though they’re in different weight classes,” Koczersut said. “The competition is going to be like nothing they’ve seen before.

“They’ll all have a chance again next year,” he added. “Experience … that’s the best (thing) for them to see what they need to do in the future.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].