BAKER — Fresh off winning the Oliver’s Nursery Invitational, Baker School’s boys weightlifting team goes for the District 1-1A title Wednesday at Baker.
“I’m really excited about the district championship,” Coach Andy Valmus said. “We hosted Oliver’s Nursery Invitational (March 9). Last year we didn’t place, and this year we won it.
“I think a lot of our guys are going to see the same guys in competition (that competed against them in the Oliver’s Nursery meet). And we are going to bring over Pensacola High School and Catholic for the district meet.”
West Florida Tech, Jay, Northview and Rocky Bayou Christian will join Baker, PHS and Catholic at the district meet.
Three Gators won their weight class at the Oliver’s Nursery meet, and another 13 lifters medaled.
Christian Sanguyo won the 129-pound class, Logan Cadenhead the 139-pound and Montae Barto won the 238-pound class.
“Winning is big, because both of my brothers lift,” Sanguyo, a senior, said. “I would like to make it to state with a 460 total. My best total now is 445.
“I’ll try to get better in the clean because that’s where the power comes from.”
Cadenhead, a junior, said weightlifting helps him prove something to himself each time he increases his best lift. He’s hoping a win at the invitational will indicate things to come.
“It will get my confidence up (so) I can place and go farther,” he said.
Tyler Oliver — a 2015 Baker graduate who has gone from Gator lifter last year to an assistant coach this year — said he’s happy to give back to the school and team.
“It’s fun to come back and see the guys improve over the years and be a part of it,” he said. “Weightlifting definitely helps you (build) confidence.”
In the past six years, the Gators have won their last 27 dual meets, and that record has remained intact, even with most lifters competing in other sports.
“Coach (Adam) Henry (Baker’s baseball coach) does a great job of allowing,” Valmus said. “Coach (David) Oglesby does the same for the guys in track. Coach O1 (David) and O2 (Rusty Oglesby) do a great job of allowing them to come here to compete and then get their track workout in.”
Strength training is Gator athletes’ foundation of success, head football coach and athletic director Matt Brunson said.
“We believe that whatever sport our athletes choose to play, they are going to be better prepared to be successful in that sport based on the strength levels they have achieved,” he said.
“What the kids at Baker have bought into is our saying, “There’s no substitute for strength and there is no excuse for the lack of it.”
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UPCOMING
WHAT: District 1-1A weightlifting meet
WHEN: 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 16
WHERE: Baker School
COST: $5
Team scores: Baker 67, West Florida Tech 49, Jay 43, Rocky Bayou Christian 24, Northview 14.
Baker medalists
119, 3rd: Conner Dupree; 4th, Bradley Inscore
129, 1st: Christian Sanguyo
139, 1st: Logan Cadenhead; 3rd, Austin Oglesby
154, 3rd: Chris Roller; 4th, Ethan Garrett
169, 2nd: Jacob Gilmore; 4th, Jacob Twele
183, 4th: Tom Crowson; 6th, Zach Brown
199, 3rd: Nick Adams; 6th, Tyler Richards
219, 3rd: Dylan Martin
238,1st: Montae Barto
Unlimited, 4th: Chris Stanley
Oliver's Nursery Invitational Results
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker hosts district weightlifting meet