Head leads record 11 Highlanders to FHSAA weightlifting state finals - The Ledger

April 11, 2019 at 07:34PM

LAKELAND — Michael Head is tired of finishing seventh.

The Lake Wales senior weightlifter is one of a record 11 Highlanders who qualified for the FHSAA Class 1A state finals slated Saturday at Arnold High School in Panama City Beach. The 2A finals are scheduled for Friday, and all totaled, 27 lifters from Polk County have qualified for the meet.

Lake Wales won six consecutive weightlifting state championships — a Polk County all-sports record and second best in FHSAA weightlifting history — between 1981-86. Randy Howze, who coached all-six of those title teams, confirmed the 11 lifters is a school record because only nine lifters were allowed to qualify for the state finals during that period when there were three classifications. Howze guided 19 Highlanders to individual state titles, including Scott Johnson and Marvin Reeves, who both won three consecutive titles.

"With 11 guys, we are confident in our abilities and what we can do. We are a tight-knit group," Lake Wales head coach Tashawn Williams said. "Our expectations for this meet are quite simple, win a state championship, state runner-up or be a top five program in the state of Florida.

"I know a couple of things have to go our way to win a state championship, but we have as good a shot as anyone who is going to be there. We are not going to set our goals low. We shoot high and if you miss, you miss. Shooting low never gets you anywhere."

Defending state champion Baker County appears to be the team to beat, but Williams doesn't believe an upset is impossible.

"We didn't have our best regional meet. We had guys who did much better at districts, and had our district scores been used for state qualifying, some of our guys would be seeded much higher," Williams said.

Head is seeded second — the highest of any Highlander — in the 154-pound division, where he finished tied for sixth place last year with Belleview's Zian King, both finishing with a 490-pound total. However, King won the tie-breaker and state medal, weighing in at 150.80 pounds and Head at 151.0. The top six finishers in each of the 10 weight divisions receive medals. As a sophomore, Head finished seventh at 139, missing a medal by five pounds.

"I am locked and loaded and ready to go," Head said. "Having 11 guys is a lot and we have guys who can place. So, think I we have a good chance to win state or be runner-up. I don't want to speak much on that because anything can happen, but I think if our guys do their thing, we have a good chance."

Head fought through a bout with food poisoning during the regional meet but still won the 154-pound title, only lifting 555 pounds because of the illness.

If Head was at full strength, he was projected to hit a 575 total, which still would not be close enough to eclipse Marcus Dialo from Baker County, who is the top seed with a 605-pound total lift at the Region 3 meet. Dialo was the 139-pound champion last year with a 500-pount total.

"We are kind of hoping he has a bad day," Williams said. "As far as numbers are concerned, it would be pretty hard to catch that kid. Michael is just a joy to coach every single day. The four years I have had him, I have just enjoyed him and I know he has a bright future."

Head will attend Central Florida on a cheerleading scholarship. He was an All-County first team weightlifter and cheerleader and a slot receiver on the football team.

"Cheerleading is definitely a sport that translates," Williams said. "He is a world class athlete. I don't think there is anything the kid cannot do. I try to tell all the kids, 'Be a well-rounded kid.' If you can play more than one sport, do it. Weightlifting is a sport that helps in every area."

Qualifying for the Highlanders are Ismael Santiago (119), Austin Daniels (129), Travis Henry (139), Michael Head (154), Colton Buttermore (154), Garrett Reynolds (169), Logan Velasco (183), Joel Hadley (199), Sean Henry (219), Tommy Madden (238) and Lyle Heirs (ULTD).

Also in 1A are Reese Lott (119) and Kamron Simmons (139) Fort Meade and Isaiah Stancil (183) Mulberry. Class 2A qualifiers are Jacob St. Arnold (119), Will Davis (219) Lake Region, Miles Badie (238) Haines City, Hunter Brozio (238) Lake Gibson, Tim Ascencio (183) Lakeland, Xavier Andrews (119) Kathleen, Carlos Lawrence (119), Johnnie Parrish (129), Hunter Smith (169) Auburndale and Glainst Altidor (129), Kemonta Auguste (154) and Robert Richardson (169) Winter Haven.

Bill Kemp can be reached at Bill.Kemp@theledger.com; follow him on Twitter @BillKempSports