Boynton Beach’s Smith, Forest Hill’s Quintero grab runners-up to lead strong Palm Beach showing at state boys weightlifting
Forest Hill sophomore Jamarkus Emerson (139 pounds) placed fourth in the Class 3A Olympic category and finished fifth in the traditional event, while Archbishop McCarthy’s Jordan Castro (119) placed fourth in both the Class 2A traditional and Olympic competition.
Boynton Beach senior Bobby T. Smith finished as the state runner-up in the Class 2A traditional event in the 199-pound weight class and Forest Hill junior Angel Quintero placed second in the Class 3A Olympic competition in the 154-pound weight class during the boys weightlifting state championship at RP Funding Center in Lakeland on Friday and Saturday.
Smith had a personal-record 365 in the bench press and registered 300 in the clean-and-jerk for a 665 total in the 199-pound weight class.
“It was a nice way to go out,” Smith said. “I wanted first place and I was aiming for it. I worked hard and was able to finish second. I am just grateful.”
Smith previously won the district title and also captured the regional championship in the traditional competition. He also placed second in the Olympic event during the regional tournament and qualified for states in both categories.
Smith, who joined the weightlifting team for his sophomore year, was awarded with a medal for three consecutive seasons. He had placed fifth at the state championship in the traditional category during his junior campaign and also finished sixth as a
sophomore.
“I was working to get better and all the work I had put in was for a reason,” Smith said. Smith, a four-year varsity football player for the Tigers, helped lead the team at running back and linebacker. He will play football at Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina.
Fort Walton Beach’s Rodric Cabrera placed first in the 199-pound weight class with a 670 total.
Quintero stepped up with the highest clean-and-jerk in the 154-pound weight class with a 290. He also recorded 220 in the snatch for a 510 total. Niceville’s Brendan Giddings recorded the same total and earned first after entering the competition at a lower body weight. Quintero had captured the regional championship in the Olympic category with a 490 total.
The boys weightlifting state championship included other top performers. Forest Hill sophomore Jamarkus Emerson (139 pounds) placed fourth in the Class 3A Olympic category and finished fifth in the traditional event, while Archbishop McCarthy’s Jordan Castro (119) placed fourth in both the Class 2A traditional and Olympic competition.
Village Academy’s Alijah Collins (129) finished third in the Class 1A traditional event and also placed fifth in the Olympic competition. Palm Beach Central’s Frank Vomero (199) placed fourth in the Class 3A traditional event and he finished 10th in the Olympic competition.
Jupiter’s Niko Casella (199) placed fourth in the Class 3A Olympic category. In the Class 3A traditional competition, Park Vista’s Chris Lovrekovic (154) and Wellington’s Noah Rusniak (183) both placed fifth. John I. Leonard’s Rogebert Privat (139) and Seminole Ridge’s Jeremiah Morales (169) both finished sixth, West Boca’s Daniel Gertsik (129) and Xavier Reid (Unlimited) both placed seventh, Olympic Heights’ Jayden Bernstein (139) finished eighth, Isaque Costa (199) placed ninth and Park Vista’s Vincent Pirchio (219) placed 10th.
In the Class 3A Olympic event, Olympic Heights’ Davontai Bell (129) and Costa each placed sixth, Bernstein and Vasyl Latyk (154) both placed seventh and Kendrick Pardieu (154) finished eighth. Park Vista’s Sean Silva (219) finished 10th.
In Class 2A, Archbishop McCarthy’s Jonathan Reinikainen (139) placed sixth in the Olympic event while Boynton Beach’s Solomon Desir (219) finished 10th in the traditional category.
In Class 1A, Glades Central’s Paul Glinton (199) finished sixth and Jordy Pierre (219) placed seventh in the traditional event. Cardinal Newman’s Samuel Almazan (154) finished seventh in the Olympic competition and Somerset Canyons’ Marco Saberson
(219) placed 10th.
Pace captured both the Class 3A Olympic and traditional championship. Leesburg won the Class 2A Olympic title while Choctawhatchee placed first in traditional.
Suwannee won both the Class 1A Olympic and traditional championship.