Pirates out-muscle Mustangs

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Mike Pulawski didn’t know what to expect when he walked into the Braden River High weight room two years ago.

Then a sophomore, Pulawski joined the weightlifting team as a way to get stronger for football season, but it didn’t take long before Pulawski realized how much fun lifting could be.

“I love it,” Pulawksi said. “I love lifting weights. It’s fun for me.”

On March 8, Pulawski lifted a combined 610 pounds to win the unlimited weight class and help lead the Pirates to a 39-29 dual meet victory over Lakewood Ranch.

Pulawksi benched 350 pounds and posted a personal best 260 pounds in the clean and jerk.

“I did better on my clean, but I could’ve done better,” Pulawski said. “As a team, though, we’ve done pretty good. Every one has done really well, and we have a couple of guys who are trying to make a push to states.”

The Pirates had six first-place finishers, including Pulawski, Sam Valley (119, 320), Bradley Tercero (139, 355), Tyler Pittman (154, 530), Kelvin Albritton (219, 420) and Nicholas Kersey (238, 510).

“We are having a good start to the season,” Braden River coach Brian Mountford said. “Every year we establish the team goal and expectation to win counties. We then establish individual goals with each lifter and work toward achieving both the team goal and the individual goal.  

“(My seniors) all came into the season with a clear-cut goal and mission,” he said. “They have all been working extremely hard to achieve that goal. Their leadership as been invaluable with they younger guys, helping teach the technique on the lifts and the work ethic needed to be successful.”

Andre Christiano (169, 450) and Bailey Sever (183, 520) earned first-place finishes for the Mustangs.
“I could’ve done more weight for clean and jerk,” said Sever, who benched 275 and cleaned 245.

Similar to Pulawksi, Sever joined the weightlifting team to prepare for football.

“I started the summer before my freshman year for football, and I’ve been lifting weights ever since,” Sever said. “I just like lifting and getting big.”

Pulawski and Sever, along with Braden River’s Pittman, Nathan Kirkman and Tyler Linde, have their sights set on making it to the state meet. Although, both Pulawski and Sever know they still have a long way to go to achieve their goal.

“I just want to go to states for the experience,” Pulawski said.

“My dad told me last year the guy who won (my weight class) had a 425 bench,” Sever said. “At first, I thought, ‘Dang, that’s more than twice my body weight.’ That’s a lot of weight.”

Braden River will return to action March 19, at Southeast before meeting Lakewood again in the Sarasota Sailor Weightlifting Invitational March 24, and the Manatee County Championships March 29.

“We hope to have a good showing at the county meet and have the kids all meet their personal goals,” Lakewood coach Jake Sponsel said. “We have a lot newcomers to the sport this year, and a lot of average lifters who work really hard.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].