By DAN HOEHNE
daniel.hoehne@newssun.com
SEBRING - The grunts of exertion, the yells of encouragement and the clanking of steel were heard emanating from the Sebring Fieldhouse Thursday evening.
No, it wasn't the Blue Streak football team doing their offseason workouts, it was the dawning of the 2012-13 Girls Weightlifting season with the Lady Blue Streaks hosting Lake Placid.
And while this stage of the season is more to get a gauge of where returning lifters are at and to get the newbies the experience of competitive lifting, it was, after all a competition.
The Lady Dragons had their share of strong performances and top three finishes, but the depth of the Sebring squad would win the day.
Beginning in the lower weight classes, Blue Streak Kayla Bowen would take top honors, benching 65 pounds and hoisting 70 in the clean-and-jerk for a 135 total.
Lake Placid would take second and third in the class, with Liliana Sanchez and one of those newbies, Angel Nieto, totaling 115- and 110-pounds, respectively.
Moving up to the 110-pound class, Sebring got another win from Chantell Harris, who cleared 80 in both lifts for a 160 total.
The Dragons, again, would take the next two spots, as Brandy McMahon went 70 and 80 and Emily Waldron went 70 and 70.
Liz Whitehead got another Streak win, totaling 160 in the 119 class, while Shana'jh Heath of Sebring and Cheyenne Slade of Lake Placid each cleared 125 - with Heath coming in lighter on the scales to nudge her up in the standings.
At 129, Imani Powell had quite the impressive outing, clearing 120 in both lifts for a whopping 240 total, and lead a top-three sweep for Sebring.
Febe Murillo was second with 180 and Monica Tookes third at 165.
The winning ways continued in the 139 class, as Denise Constant went 90 and 105 for a 195 total.
Lady Dragon Abigail Samperi benched 75 and jerked 100 for 175 and second, while Hannah Gostch was third with at total of 170 lifted.
Lake Placid got a win at 154, with Dani Daigle totaling 195 to stay just ahead of the 190 total from Sebring's Teresa Ware.
The Streaks also took third with Briah Thomas 175-pound output.
Michelle Volny cleared 225 for the Streaks at 169, with teammate Jessica Belcher going for 210 and second place, and Lake Placid's Heidi South third at 160.
Bethany Phillips got another Dragon win in the 183 class, benching 110 and clearing a meet-high 125 in the jerk.
Monique Michelin and Milanda Michel took second and third for Sebring with 155 and 130, respectively.
Nykema Thomas totaled 240 to win the 199 class for the Streaks with Katie Hunter taking second for Lake Placid.
And Angela Dennard had a meet-high total of 255 to win the unlimited class, benching 135 and jerking 120.
Lady Dragon Marvishay Sholtz took second with a 220 total and Sebring's Ally Sanchez was third at 205.
The two teams will go at it again, with Avon Park also joining the fray, at a Highlands County meet Thursday, Nov. 29, at the Sebring Fieldhouse at 4 p.m.
Sunday, November 18, 2012 - www.newssun.com/SUN-11-18-12-LPSebGWL