All-Area Athletes & Teams
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1470169
www.yoursun.com Page 33 The B&B duo should wreak havoc on their region next season as seniors. NATALEE BROWN LEMON BAY, JUNIOR Brown tied Engelauf at regionals with a high jump of 1.57 meters, the fifth-best qualifying number for the Class 2A state meet. She also advanced to state in the triple jump. Once in Gainesville, she finished 12th in the high jump and 17th in the triple jump. PRESLEY ENGELAUF LEMON BAY, JUNIOR Another multisport star at Lemon Bay, Engelauf ad- vanced to the state meet in two events, qualifying fifth overall in the high jump and ninth in javelin. At the Class 2A meet on Thursday, she made it to the podium in the high jump, finishing seventh with a leap of 1.52 meters (4-11 ¾ feet). She finished 12th in the javelin. ALYSON FRANCOLINI VENICE, JUNIOR Francolini is poised to be among the favorites for the pole vault state title next season after qualifying fourth overall for the Class 4A state meet. Once in Gainesville, she cleared 3.15 meters, which was good enough to get on the podium with an eighth-place medal. CASSANDRA MENDEZ NORTH PORT, SOPHOMORE One of two sophomores on the first team, Mendez burst onto the scene at regionals with a discus toss of 34.33 me- ters, which was good enough to qualify 14th for the Class 4A state meet. Saturday, her best toss of 34.2 meters earned her 15th place. SIERRA SPIRK NORTH PORT, JUNIOR Spirks qualified for the Class 4A state meet individually and as part of North Port's 1600-meter relay team. At regionals, her 400-meter time of 58.40 seconds was the 17th best mark in the state. She also was a key cog in the Bobcats' relay squad, which entered the state meet with the third-best qualifying time. SIDNEY ROOTZ CHARLOTTE, SOPHOMORE The first team's other sophomore has a huge future ahead of her a big showing at the region meet. Rootz hurled a javelin 31.75 meters on home turf during the Region 3A-3 meet at Charlotte High, qual- ifying sixth for the Class 3A state meet. Friday, she finished 14th overall. SECOND TEAM ALEX COUNCIL VENICE, SOPHOMORE ADAORA EDEOGA CHARLOTTE, JUNIOR CARINA FIORUCCI VENICE, JUNIOR EMILY IRELAND VENICE, SOPHOMORE CHRISTLOVE LAUTURE PORT CHARLOTTE, SENIOR ABBY LEGGETT PORT CHARLOTTE, SENIOR TYKIRIAH THOMAS CHARLOTTE, SENIOR ALIVIA TISON NORTH PORT, FRESHMAN TRACK FROM PAGE 32A By PATRICK OBLEY SPORTS EDITOR The Charlotte boys weightlift- ing team entered the season as the reigning state champion but still wanted a rallying cry for the 2022 season. So, the Tarpons called them- selves "the ring chasers." Charlotte captured that ring at Port St. Joe when the Tarpons lapped the field in the Class 2A state championship, capturing the school's third state title overall. The cham- pionship moved Charlotte into the state's top 10 all-time in terms of titles. Christian Kreegel, Nate Smith and Zach Anderson played key roles in the triumph and their names are included here among the eight members of the Sun Preps boys weight- lifting All-Area team. Their coach, Jim Wiseman, is the Coach of the Year. While Charlotte cast a long shadow across the area, there were some other standout performances, as well as the season came to its conclusion. Port Charlotte's Charles Vanamberg excelled in both the Traditional and the Snatch, where he captured a state championship. Imagine's Wyett Rightmire overcame a horrific leg injury to challenge for titles in both disciplines, as well. Lemon Bay's Landon Spanninger had an o-day in the Traditional after being a region champion, but he sur- prised with a state title in the Snatch, which is in its first year as a contending discipline. FIRST TEAM ZACH ANDERSON CHARLOTTE, JUNIOR Anderson came into the state meet as a darkhorse at 139, but proved his region champion- ship in the Traditional was no fluke, matching his 510-pound region total to win the state title. JOHN BREAUX CHARLOTTE, SENIOR Breaux shook o a bad night at regionals with a second-place finish in the 129-pound Traditional competition. He lifted 225 in both the bench and clean-and-jerk. CHRISTIAN KREEGEL CHARLOTTE, SENIOR When Kreegel announced he would stay at 199 pounds this season, everyone scattered. No one thought they had a chance against him, and they were right. The Tarpons senior cruised to the state title with a bench of 345 pounds and a clean-and-jerk of 320 pounds for a total of 665 pounds. GEORGE PHILIP VENICE, SENIOR Phillip finished fourth at state in 238 with a Traditional total of 650 pounds, improving on his 625 total at regionals. WYETT RIGHTMIRE IMAGINE, SENIOR In October 2021, Rightmire snapped his lower right leg in half. On April 23, he nearly won a state title. How's that for a comeback? The rebuilt Rightmire roared through 154-pound regionals and came within 10 pounds of a state title with a bench of 285 and a 245 clean for a total of 530 pounds. NATE SMITH CHARLOTTE, JUNIOR Like his teammate, Zach Anderson, Smith proved his outstanding turn in winning the region title in the Traditional was the real deal. At state, he matched his 525-pound total to win the 154-pound state crown. LANDON SPANNINGER LEMON BAY, SOPHOMORE The Manta's 219-pound super sophomore had an o-day at the state championship after terrorizing his region in the Traditional, but he did manage to bring home some hardware from state when he won the Snatch crown. CHARLES VANAMBURG PORT CHARLOTTE, SENIOR The Pirates' 219-pounder put himself in great position at the regionals when he swept bot the Traditional and Snatch competitions. At State, he finished third in Traditional, but brought home a state title with a 240-pound lift in the Snatch, 20 pounds better than second place. SECOND TEAM NATHAN CLARK NORTH PORT, SENIOR RONNIE ELKHATIB NORTH PORT, SENIOR RYLAN TOLLIVER CHARLOTTE, SOPHOMORE RYAN PETERSEN CHARLOTTE, SENIOR TYLER DAMPIER PORT CHARLOTTE, JUNIOR BRENDAN CHAVARRIA CHARLOTTE, JUNIOR ALEXANDER TRUISI LEMON BAY, JUNIOR TROI'QUAWN MCCLARY CHARLOTTE, SENIOR A Charlotte state title runs through it SUN PREPS ALL-AREA BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING