Braden River weightlifter becomes first freshman to medal in school history

No freshman girls weightlifter at Braden River High had received a medal at the state championships until Ellen Lehman this year.

Despite competing against lifters a couple of years older than her, Lehman lifted 125 pounds in the snatch and 145 pounds in the clean to place fifth overall in the 2A Olympic category for the 119-pound weight class at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland on Feb. 14.

Lehman had an unusual leg up on her competition when she joined the Braden River High’s girls weightlifting team this past year for a few reasons that set her on a medal-winning course.

A head start

Weightlifting in general hasn't been as popular as other youth sports commonly offered, like softball, basketball, soccer, gymnastics or cheerleading. 

That was life for Lehman early on. 

She tried gymnastics, jiu-jitsu and flag football when she was growing up, but fell in love with weightlifting when she was encouraged to try it in the sixth grade. 

She started out competing in USA Weightlifting events, and although she said there were times of self-doubt, her progress was enough to light a fire in her that she used to push herself to her limit at Braden River.

“I remember one of the first (personal records) I hit was 35 kilograms for clean and jerk,” she said. “It was hard, and that took me a while to get, but I was like, ‘I still want to do more and I want to one day be able to medal at nationals.’”

Photo by Vinnie Portell

Lehman and her family moved to Bradenton this past summer and were careful in deciding which school would be the best fit. 

After training by herself for her middle school years, jumping into a new environment with dozens of teammates and a new coach was a lot to consider.

Once Lehman and her parents, Zach and Kelly Lehman, met Braden River girls weightlifting coach Jordan Borges, they were sold.

“We went to other gyms and some of the coaches were a little mean, and I didn’t like their gym set-up,” Ellen Lehman said. “I went to Jordan, and he seemed like a good fit for me, and I felt like he would understand my personality. He knows what to say to me to help me understand what I need to do on the platform to hit my lift.”

It didn’t take long for Ellen Lehman to adjust.

Borges said she broke the school’s freshman record for her weight class with a 125-pound snatch and a 145-pound clean and jerk.

She’s since increased those numbers to a 135-pound snatch and a 155-pound clean and jerk.

“She’s the best 119 (pound) weightlifter we’ve ever had,” Borges said.

'The sky is the limit'

Lehman had years’ of experience under her belt and what Borges described as ‘elite speed and technique’ similar to weightlifters who compete on the national stage.

However, she still had to back up that talent and experience with hours in the gym. 

Borges said she comes into the school’s weightlifting room every day to work, and Lehman also couples that with workouts with a mat, a platform and weights in her garage at home. 

That adds up to two hours every day, except Sundays.

The best example of Lehman’s ambition came recently, Borges said. 

Despite being just a few days removed from medaling at the state championships, Lehman texted Borges asking when she could begin training for next season.

“The season’s only been over for four days and here she is already preparing for next season,” Borges said. “That shows it all right there. I think next year will be even a better year and I think she’ll be in here again after four days training again. I don’t think she’s satisfied.”

Lehman also had to work at adjusting to fitting in with teammates, all of which were new faces to her this past summer. 

Despite being unsure of how that would go, Lehman said she made fast friends with her fellow lifters and they’ve served as another source of inspiration.

Borges said he doesn’t want to put any pressure on Lehman, who has put herself on a path to return to future state championship meets, but it’s also hard not to think about what that potential could one day become. 

“I know her goals are to be a state champ and to be a national champ,” Borges said. “She has very big goals, but I don’t think anything is not achievable. I think the sky is the limit with the kid. I think if she keeps her mind focused, and she works hard and continues to trust the process, she’ll achieve everything she wants, just as she did this year.”