Coral Shores and Marathon had highly successful seasons in boys weightlifting this year. Coral Shores finished their district competitions by taking third place as a team in Olympic weightlifting and fourth in traditional, while Marathon claimed the district runner-up trophies in both categories and went on to secure third in traditional lifting at regionals. Between the two teams, Monroe County earned nine district titles and sent three athletes to the state event, where one lifter from each team finished in the top 10. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the accomplishments is that a majority of the athletes will return next season stronger and ready to claim more hardware. Congratulations to the 2024 All-Keys Boys Weightlifting Team.
Lifter of the Year
AJ Johnson
Senior, Coral Shores
219 pounds
Coral Shores strongman AJ Johnson was the only Keys lifter to qualify for the state championship in both styles of lifting. The senior finished in eighth place in Olympic lifting, the top finisher in the county. The double district champ added a silver regional medal in Olympic lifts and bronze in traditional. Johnson is praised for his teamwork as much as his hard work in the weightroom.
Tanner Ross
Junior, Marathon
199 pounds
Tanner Ross earned double district championship medals and went on to finish fourth at regionals in Olympic lifts, qualifying him for the state championships. Ross finished ninth there and continues to work hard in the weight room for his upcoming senior season.
Chase Leird
Junior, Marathon
119 pounds
After a productive offseason, Marathon’s Chase Leird earned himself two district gold medals. He secured a spot at the state championships in traditional lifts after winning bronze at regionals.
Max Childress
Sophomore, Marathon
183 pounds
Marathon’s Max Childress secured gold medals at districts in both lifting events and then earned a silver regional medal in traditional and bronze in Olympic lifts. Just a sophomore, Childress was just 10 pounds away from a state championship nod.
Damian Stasiewicz
Junior, Marathon
154 pounds
Dolphin 154-pounder Damian Stasiewicz brought home a pair of silver medals from districts, competing against one of the top lifters in the state. He then earned a bronze at regionals in traditional and a fourth place in Olympic lifts.
Matthias Martinez-Velez
Sophomore, Marathon
139 pounds
With two seasons of eligibility remaining, sophomore Matthias Martinez-Velez wasted no time making a name for himself in weightlifting. Martinez-Velez brought home a silver medal from districts in traditional lifting, then did the same at regionals, where he came within a few places of qualifying for the state meet.
Xavier Johnson
Sophomore, Coral Shores
183 pounds
Coral Shores’ Xavier Johnson claimed a pair of bronze medals at districts, showing promise in both the Olympic and traditional events. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Johnson has plenty of potential to make a showing at states in the near future.
Braulio Garcia
Junior, Marathon
238 pounds
Braulio Garcia won a district championship in traditional lifts, then placed sixth at regionals. Since competing there, the hard-working junior has added 35 pounds to his bench press, making his senior campaign one full of great expectations.
Eduardo Garcia
Sophomore, Marathon
238 pounds
Sophomore Eduardo Garcia captured a bronze medal at districts in traditional lifts and silver in Olympic. He went on to finish ninth at regionals in Olympic lifts. Just a sophomore, Garcia looks promising for a repeat or better in Olympic next season and has already added to his bench to enhance his traditional event scoring as well.
Zane Rindom
Junior, Coral Shores
219 pounds
Coral Shores’ Zane Rindom was fourth in the district in traditional lifts and fifth in Olympic. His Olympic total qualified him for regionals, where he placed ninth in the event. The talented junior has everything it takes to go even further in his senior campaign.
