Monroe County has just two boys weightlifting teams, and this year, both earned a district championship. The Dolphins and Hurricanes share an Olympic title and Marathon won the traditional title outright. Between the teams, there were five district champs winning a combined eight titles, 32 regional qualifiers, two regional champions and four bids to the state meet. Three athletes returned home with medals from the state championships, and two of those athletes return to the weight room next year for another season of lifting.
Photos by Barry Gaukel, Doug Finger and Jackson Garcia.
MVP
Tanner Ross
Senior, Marathon
199-pound weight class
Marathon’s Tanner Ross was like superglue this season, with insane strength coupled with an extraordinary ability to bond his team into a cohesive unit. “We’re sorry to see this senior go as he has been a pillar of work ethic and excellence on this team,” said Jessie Schubert, Marathon head coach. Ross captured double district gold this season, then followed up with a pair of silver medals at regionals, punching his card to the state championships.The two-year state qualifier holds the school record in snatch and secured a pair of FHSAA top-10 finishes, placing ninth in traditional and winning a sixth-place medal in Olympic lifts.
Damian Stasiewicz
Senior, Marathon
169
Senior Damian Stasiewicz made his mark at districts, bringing home a pair of gold medals, then followed up at regionals with a gold in Olympic and silver in traditional. He earned a trip to states to cap off his senior year and finished in seventh place in Florida’s 1A in Olympic lifts.
Matthias Martinez-Velez
Junior, Marathon
139
“Don’t let his size fool you, he lifts heavy,” said Schubert. Martinez-Velez was the district champ in traditional and runner-up in Olympic lifts, and struck gold again at regionals in the traditional event while finishing fourth in Olympic. The junior strongman earned a spot at states and came home with a fourth-place medal in traditional lifts.
Max Childress
Junior, Marathon
183
“Max works hard and dreams big,” said Schubert of the focused junior. Childress’ dreams came true when he won a medal at states for his fifth-place performance in the traditional category of one of the toughest weight classes. His state medal followed up double district gold and double regional silver finishes, and with another year of gains ahead of him, Childress might as well be dreaming in solid gold.
Roland Gonzalez
Junior, Marathon
183
Despite it being his first year in the sport and falling in a highly-competitive weight class, junior Roland Gonzalez held his own this season. “Roland was picking up steam at the end of the season and is looking to make a bigger impact next season,” said Schubert. Gonzalez finished third in traditional and fourth in Olympic lifts at districts, qualifying for the next round, where he placed eighth in the traditional category at regionals.
Isaak Vallejo
Sophomore, Marathon
199
Schubert praised Isaak Vallejo’s improvement in his second season on the team. “Isaak has improved and landed in the top 40 in the state, just shy of the big stage,” he said. Vallejo finished second in traditional at districts and third in Olympic, then placed ninth in both events at regionals. The steadfast sophomore hopes to make enough gains in the offseason to punch his ticket to the big show in Lakeland.
Tyler Bettner
Junior, Coral Shores
139
After a year away from the sport, junior Tyler Bettner was back with a vengeance in 2025. “He has increased his strength significantly and finished third in the region for the Olympic,” said Hurricanes coach Erin Hamilton. “He is always focused on learning, growing and getting better.” At districts, Bettner won silver in traditional and finished fourth in Olympic, and at regionals, he added a fifth-place finish in Olympic to his bronze in traditional.
Sebastian Diaz
Senior, Coral Shores
199
Senior Sebastian Diaz finished fourth in Olympic and sixth in traditional at the district meet in a competitive weight class, but his strong performances at the bar were not his only contribution to the team. “Sebastian was our captain this year. He was an amazing leader and helped our new lifters significantly,” said Hamilton.
Zane Rindom
Senior
219
Praised for his team-mindedness and positive attitude, Coral Shores senior Zane Rindom brought home a pair of bronze medals from districts and followed up with two eighth-place finishes at regionals. His team spirit was described as an asset that will be sorely missed.
Aaron Lykins
Junior, Coral Shores
169
In his first year as a competitive weightlifter, Coral Shores junior Aaron Lykins made a statement this season. Lykins finished with dual district runner-up finishes, then earned a silver in Olympic lifts and bronze in traditional at regionals. HIs gains over the season set the tempo for a stellar upcoming senior campaign.
