The Wiregrass girls weightlifting team placed 3rd at their district meet last week at Sunlake High School and six girls qualified for Regionals.

Senior captain Anna Gilbert, senior Syndie Murski, junior Nicaela Paolinetti, junior Gianina Rios, sophomore Kailey Dahlgren, and freshman Ella Peckham will all be moving on to regionals.

Sydnie Murski and Nicaela Paolinetti placed 2nd for their events, while Anna Gilbert and Gianina Rios placed 3rd.

Head coach Mark Kantor was proud of his team’s success.

“The girls just worked hard all season, and we’re very fortunate to have six go,” said Kantor.

Captain Anna Gilbert was thankful for her coach’s training leading up to the event.

“Preparing for this meet was difficult because Coach Kantor pushed me to keep doing more and more weight. But I pushed through and got third place, so him being hard on us really paid off,” commented Gilbert.

At regionals, Gilbert will compete in the bench press and clean and jerk events, in the unlimited weight class.

Coach Kantor believes in his team’s ability to perform.

“Regionals is gonna be tough because we are going to be facing a lot of teams from the south, so teams like Charlotte, all the Miami schools, all the Broward schools, they always have girls that can lift really well, especially Charlotte,” explained Kantor. “So it’s gonna be tough, but the girls prepared hard and we’re gonna go down there with an open mind, and compete, and thats all we know how to do.”

Regionals will take place on January 23rd, at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda.

Gallery • 7 Photos

Mrs. Swain

Junior Nicaela Paolinetti performs a clean and jerk.