Sydney Oostendorp – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – On Thursday, LRHS girls weightlifting had their first meet.

These girls are competing in two different sections, tradition and Olympic.

LRHS won first place in many categories and several weightlifters placed as individuals.

Many girls on the team were competing for the first time ever.

Junior Kerryn Benshoff, a student new to weightlifting, said, “Everyone was super supportive. It was my first meet, and I was extremely nervous about lifting in front of everyone.”

Girls weightlifting coach Elijah Weaver was confident in the performance of the meet.

“I feel like we were very well prepared with all of the training we have been doing within the past couple weeks,” Weaver said.

The team was supportive of their own and the opposing teams, pushing for PRs, supporting to finish the lift.

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“It felt so nice to be supported by everybody and I’m so happy I got the opportunity to compete with them,” Benshoff added.

The following student-athletes placed in the medal round for their weight class (in parentheses) –

Olympic Division

  • First Place
    • Juliet Testa (101)Madison Vassallo (129)Alexis Rissler (183)
    • Vanessa Sellmer (Unlimited)
  • Second Place
    • Alex Layrisse (139)
    • Zoe Dubendorf (154)

Traditional Division 

  • First Place
    • Juliet Testa (101)Abbigail Brandt (129)Alexis Rissler (183)
    • Vanessa Sellmer (Unlimited)
  • Second Place
    • Ava Horne (119)Jersie Rhode (139)Zoe Dubendorf (154)
    • Eliana Hofing (169)
  • Third Place
    • Madison Flinkman (110)Taylor Wood/Kayla Barbosa/Olivia Van Kirk (3-way tie) (139)Campbell Kriso (154)
    • Abbi Mitchell/Camila Pizarro (2-way tie) (Unlimited)

The Mustangs’ next meet will be on Thursday Nov. 10 at Bradenton Christian School.