On Jan. 14, Marathon made the quick trip to Key West for a final meet prior to each team’s district championships. The squads traded wins, with Marathon outscoring Key West in Olympic lifts, then Key West besting the Fins in the traditional event.
In the 101-pound class, Key West’s Courtney Ward and Althea Olsen each picked up a win. Ward won the Olympic event and Olsen the traditional. Riley Grogan and Keily Cardona-Quiche did the same at 110 pounds to sweep the lightweight events for the Lady Conchs.
Marathon’s Ashley Rasmussen put Marathon on the scoreboard in the 119-pound class, winning the traditional event, while Key West’s Caylee Moore won in Olympic.
The rest of the weight classes saw double winners, with athletes clearing the top totals in Olympic and traditional lifts. Marathon’s Tinashay Cunningham (129 pounds), Sofia Konyk (139), Adelle Bainbridge (154) and Justice Lee Isom (183) won their divisions. Key West’s Evalyn Norwood (169), Aaliyah McLeod (199) and Sofia Nafrere (Unlimited) were the double winners for the Lady Conchs.
Both coaches feel confident in their teams’ ability to show out in the post season. Marathon will be led by 2025 state medalists Ella Evans, who took the week off in an abundance of caution, and three-time state champion Justice Lee Isom, who is looking to further her lead in becoming Marathon’s most decorated athlete.
Lady Conchs coach Brett Fink has high hopes for several of his athletes to bring home postseason honors this year, and he has contenders at every weight class. “Both senior Althea Olsen, who advanced to regionals last year, and Courtney Ward, a junior newcomer this year, stand a good chance of advancing to regionals in the 101-pound weight class,” he said. Both athletes have traded wins all season long.
“Caylee Moore, another newcomer and senior, has been a standout in 119 this year, and we’re very hopeful she moves to regionals and possibly states. Mayaa Makimaa has also consistently been good in 119 and may have the opportunity to place and move on,” said Fink. “Meredith Barton, a sophomore, has made huge strides since last year in 154 and could earn us points and have a chance to advance. In 169, we expect senior Cami Linares and freshman Eva Norwood to compete for a spot on top of the leaderboard.”
In the upper classes, Fink has a strong contender in Jazzy Lyons in the 183 slot. Lyons qualified for regionals last season and is looking stronger this year. The Lady Conchs also have plenty of potential in the top two weight classes.
“We expect sophomore Aaliyah McLeod, who was the first-place finisher last year in 199, to continue her success in 199 and in the Unlimited class,” Fink said. “Sophomores Sophia Nafrere and Monea McLeod are also highly likely to place and advance.”
While the Fins and Conchs were pumping iron in Key West, the Hurricanes hosted Keys Gate for their final meet before districts. Coral Shores won the traditional contest while Keys Gate took top honors in the Olympic event. In the Olympic event, the ’Canes swept the final four weight classes. Grace Patterson (169), Lily Ooms (183), Elaina Kerns (199) and Vanessa Gabriel (Unlimited) won their classes. Ooms, Kerns and Gabriel each won their traditional classes as well. Other traditional event winners were Emily Hurt (119), Mackenzie Borguss (139), Karla Guitierrez (154) and Caylyn Gwilliam (169). Gabriel, a state qualifier in 2025, finished in the top 10 in the Olympic event and stands a fantastic chance to medal in both this time around.
Marathon and Coral Shores begin the road to states at the FHSAA 1A District 16 championships, hosted by Coral Shores at Key Largo School Jan. 20. Key West will travel to Archbishop McCarthy on Jan. 24 for the 2A event.
