Sydney Oostendorp – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Saturday the Mustang girls weightlifting qualifiers went to Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Weightlifting States championships in Lakeland.

About 600 athletes competed.

LRHS girls weightlifting coach Elijah Weaver said, “Being able to send two girls to the FHSAA State Championship is an accomplishment for everyone, coaches, lifters, and volunteers, because everyone was cheering each other on.”

The following Mustangs qualified for states this year –

  • Freshman Alexis Rissler
  • Junior Madi Vassallo

Madi Vassallo placed 14th in the 129-weight group. This is Vassallo’s second time qualifying for states.

Alexis Rissler placed 10th in the 183-weight group.

Rissler said, “I’m super satisfied with how it all went even though it was a bad day. Next year I’m going to come back even stronger and with higher expectations for myself.”

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Weaver hopes to use this year’s success as a building block for the next season. He wants to see more athletes in the State championship.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the way this year’s team worked so hard in the weight room and can’t wait to see the improvement next year,” Weaver continued.