Telegraph Staff Writer
Union County High School’s Quinn Raulerson and Christian Simmons won their weight classes in the traditional event (bench press and clean and jerk), while Simmons also won his class in the snatch event at today’s Region 2-1A boys weightlifting finals at Keystone Heights High School.
The champions in each weight class automatically qualified for the state finals, which will be held Saturday, April 23, at Port St. Joe High School. Sixteen at-large qualifiers will eventually be selected in each class comparing totals in all of Class 1A’s regional finals.
Raulerson is seeking to repeat as an individual state champ in the traditional event (snatch was added as an event this season). He had a bench press of 385 and a clean and jerk of 295 to finish with a 680 overall total, which was the second-highest total in the entire meet. He placed 90 pounds ahead of his class’ runner-up, Tyler Jenkins of Keystone.
“It feels good,” Raulerson said of his performances leading up to state. “It feels like I’m prepared for it more than ever. I’m going to perform to the best of my capabilities these next two weeks to really prep for it, and I’m going to break some records.”
Simmons improved upon his third-place performance at last year’s regionals, winning the 119 class with a 405 total (220 bench press, 185 clean and jerk). He finished 35 pounds ahead of runner-up Nathanel Vroman of Hilliard.
After the meet, Simmons said hard work got him to this point, but he added that the main credit goes to God.
“I wouldn’t be anything in this world but a blade of grass if it wasn’t for the good Lord above me,” Simmons said. “I say my prayers. I work every single day — two times a day.”
Raulerson expects Simmons to improve upon his fifth-place showing at state last year.
“I think he’ll definitely win state this year,” Raulerson said. “We all give it to God.”
The Tigers had a pair of fifth-place finishers in the traditional event in Thomas Williams and Tucker Baynard. Williams had a 505 total (280, 225) in the 183 class, while Baynard had a 620 total (365, 255) in the unlimited class.
Maddox Wheeler placed 12th in the 238 class with a 460 total (250, 210), while Trenton Klein was 17th in the 169 class with a 330 total (155, 175).
In the snatch, Simmons won his class with a 130 total. Raulerson finished in a three-way tie in his class with Keystone’s Bryar Schenck and Tyler Jenkins. Each had a 185 total, but Schenck was awarded the championship due to the weigh-in tiebreaker, which put Raulerson in second place.
