Boys weightlifting first team, second team, honorable mention, coach of the year

FIRST TEAM

Jayden Bernstein, 129 pounds, Olympic Heights junior:  District and regional champion in both traditional and Olympic categories; placed 10th in Olympic (350 total) and 13th in traditional (410 total) at Class 3A state final.

Jamarkus Emerson, 139 pounds, Forest Hill freshman: Placed fifth in Olympic category (400 total) at Class 3A state final; recorded 225 in the clean-and-jerk and 175 in the snatch; district champion in Olympic; finished second in Olympic at regional.

Christian Giles 154 pounds, Forest Hill senior: Placed third in Olympic event (465 total) at the Class 3A state championship; recorded 255 in the clean-and-jerk and 210 in the snatch; district and regional champion in the Olympic event; team captain.

Ridjy Hilaire, 219 pounds, Boynton Beach senior: Finished fourth in traditional (615 total) at Class 2A state final; placed 15th in Olympic at states; placed second in traditional at regional (625 total); recorded 340 in the bench press and 285 in the clean-and-jerk.

DeeJay Holmes, 238 pounds, Pahokee senior: Class 1A state qualifier in traditional; district champion in traditional; placed second in traditional at regional; registered 330 in the bench press and 260 in the clean-and-jerk; placed 15th in traditional at Class 1A state final; Ole Miss football signee.

Sean Lutin, 139 pounds, Olympic Heights senior: District and regional champion in both traditional and Olympic events; finished 8th in Olympic (390 total) and 10th in traditional (440 total) at Class 3A state final; placed sixth at 2022 Youth Nationals in Las Vegas; 2023 Junior Nationals qualifier.

Dat Nguyen, UNL, American Heritage-Delray senior: Class 1A state qualifier in both traditional and Olympic events; district champion in traditional and Olympic; placed second at regional in traditional (690 total); recorded 405 in the bench press and 285 in the clean-and-jerk; placed ninth in Olympic event at states.

Gabriel Rait, 154 pounds, Park Vista senior: Placed fifth at the Class 3A state championship in traditional (555 total) and 10th in Olympic (420 total); registered personal record at states with 305 in the bench; recorded 250 in the clean-and-jerk and 170 in the snatch at states.

Bobby T. Smith, 199 pounds, Boynton Beach junior: Placed fifth in traditional (610 total) at Class 2A state final; registered a 330 in the bench press and 280 in the clean-and-jerk; finished 13th in Olympic at states (480 total); district and regional champion in traditional.

David Vadala, 199 pounds, American Heritage senior: Placed fourth in Olympic event (510 total) and eighth in traditional (590 total) at Class 2A state championship; captured regional title in Olympic event after recording 285 in the clean-and-jerk and 235 in the snatch.

Aiden Vargas, 169 pounds, Forest Hill senior: Team captain and finished 10th in Olympic event (455 total) at Class 3A state final; recorded 255 in the clean-and-jerk and 200 in the snatch; district champion in Olympic category; captured the regional title in Olympic event.

SECOND TEAM

Samuel Almazon, 139 pounds, Cardinal Newman sophomore

Logan Carter, 183 pounds, Park Vista senior

Jordan Castro, 119 pounds, Archbishop McCarthy sophomore

Alijah Collins, 129 pounds, Village Academy sophomore

Irakli Gagua, 169 pounds, West Boca senior

Vasyl Latyk, 154 pounds, Olympic Heights junior

Collin Romano, 199 pounds, Palm Beach Central senior

Diego Ruiz, 154 pounds, John I. Leonard senior

Sean Silva, 219 pounds, Park Vista junior

Jake Suma, 139 pounds, Park Vista sophomore

John Swiderski, 199 pounds, Wellington senior

Jamarous Thomas, UNL, Boynton Beach junior

HONORABLE MENTION

American Heritage-Delray: Trent Diano; Archbishop McCarthy: Jonathan Reinikainen, Gabriel Thomas; Boynton Beach: Demetri Adams, Dimansky Jean-Claude, Josiah Jones; Cardinal Newman: Sandi Martinez, Jack Smeenge, Drew Serraes; Dwyer: Saulo Martinez; John I. Leonard: Jeffrey Rosales, Luke Vanderoff; Jupiter: Kaden Quick; Olympic Heights: Daniel Diodato; Palm Beach Gardens: Renor Wallace; Park Vista: Ryan Edelstein, Aidan Mahon; Pine Crest: John Promnitz; Santaluces: Amir Gibson; Seminole Ridge: Hunter Goss; Somerset Academy Canyons: Gabe Endlich; West Boca: Drew Lessne, Gabe Dos Santos

CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR

Micah Stucky, Olympic Heights: Guided team to district title in the Olympic category and they finished third at regional in Olympic event. They had four state qualifiers and two lifters won medals in Class 3A. “After winning the state title in the snatch as a team last year, we lost a lot of seniors and were composed mostly of underclassmen. After seeing the success of our team last year, the underclassmen bought into the offseason. We had a great follow-up season.”

Clifford Fruge, Boynton Beach: The Tigers won the district title in both Olympic and traditional events and placed fifth in traditional at regionals. They had five state qualifiers and two lifters earned medals in Class 2A. “The kids were phenomenal training in the weight room. We had a goal to win districts in both events this year. We had great leadership and we were focused. We went up to regionals and states and did well. It was a great season.”