BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Union County High School had 11 qualify for regional competition in the traditional event (bench press and clean and jerk) and two in the snatch event at the District 7-1A meet, which was held March 29 at Keystone Heights High School.
The top six in each weight class earned the right to move on to the Region 2 finals, which will be held at Keystone on Friday, April 8, at 10 a.m.
Union placed third as a team in the traditional event with 34 points, finishing behind Keystone (95) and Palatka (44). The Tigers were 19 points ahead of fourth-place finisher Bradford.
Christian Simmons and Quinn Raulerson were individual champs in the traditional event. Simmons had a 395 total (225 bench press, 170 clean and jerk) in the 119 class, while Raulerson, who’s seeking to win his second straight state championship, had a 665 total (390, 275) in the 183 class.
Mikah Wilson and Tucker Baynard placed third and fourth, respectively, in the unlimited class. Wilson had a 600 total (325, 275), while Baynard had a 575 total (335, 240).
Maddox Wheeler took fourth in the 238 class with a 460 total (260, 200).
Four earned fifth-place finishes: Dayquan Diston with a 285 total (150, 135) in the 129 class, Thomas Williams with a 505 total (280, 225) in the 183 class, Erich Seager with a 455 total (260, 195) in the 199 class and Gabe Castlen with a 450 total (245, 205) in the 238 class.
Earning sixth-place finishes were Daylyn Diston with a 365 total (190, 175) in the 154 class and Trenton Klein with a 330 total (155, 175) in the 169 class.
In the snatch event, Simmons and Raulerson each placed second in his class with totals of 115 and 185, respectively.
