Tensions were at an all-time high as the CCHS girls gathered into the school gym for the 2024 Girls Weightlifting FHSAA District Competition. Cypress Creek High School and six other schools in the district including Pasco High School, Zephyrhills High School, Gulf High School, River Ridge High School, Wesley Chapel High School, and King High School competed head-to-head in all events at districts. 

Seventeen girls from our school competed in the meet. Competitors include seniors Hayli Angarano, Madison Buboltz, Sadie Council, Ariadna Diaz-Jimenez, Arianna Manzano; juniors Bella Baldschun, Morgan Carbone, Janelly Reyes; sophomores Ava Diaz, Addison Haintz, Emeley Poblick, Madison Robles; freshmen Caitlyn Buboltz, Aubree Collins, Sarah MacMullan, Makayla Pilet, and Audree Stump. They competed in “Snatch” and “Bench Press” for Traditional lifts and “Clean and Jerk” and “Snatch” for Olympic events. 

The girls’ weightlifting team had their game faces on as they started to practice and prepare for the upcoming events in hopes of making it to regional competition and bringing our school lots of pride. 

In preparation before meets, freshman Sarah MacMullan said, “I like to listen to music, I don’t like hearing all the background noise going on around me. It can psych me out, so I just put in my air pods and take them out before its time for me to compete.” She added, “My favorite hype artist before I compete is King Von.” 

The Coyote Girls Weightlifting Team did a fantastic job performing all three Olympic and Traditional events. One highlight of the competition was junior Janelly Reyes placing first in both Olympic and Traditional events in her weight category as well as placing third overall in both Olympic and Traditional events as top lifter. 

“It means a lot to me to be able to perform at districts. I love representing the school especially when having my mom as my coach which pushes me to perform well at every important meet,” Reyes explained. 

MacMullan also performed well, placing second in Traditional, first in Olympic, and eighth overall in Olympic top lifters. More highlights of the competition were seniors Madison Buboltz, Ariana Manzano and junior Bella Baldschun all placing third in Traditional events in their weight categories. Manzano and Buboltz also placed second in Olympic events. Additionally, junior Morgan Carbone placed third in Olympic events in her weight category. Cypress Creek placed third overall as a school in both Traditional and Olympic events and we could not be prouder of our coyote girls! 

This regular and post season of girls weightlifting so far has been one to remember. For so many of the girls, this season has taught them some amazing lessons that can be carried on into next year’s season.  

When describing her biggest takeaway of the season so far, Carbone shared, “I think this season reminded me most to be patient. I joined the Olympic gym right before the season started and had to rework all my techniques. I know it will all be worth it in the end but it’s really challenging right now taking steps backward.”  

A few CCHS girls got the chance to compete at the 2a R3 FHSAA Regional Competition at River Ridge High School on February 2. Girls included seniors Hayli Angarano, Madison Buboltz, Ariadna Diaz-Jimenez, Arianna Manzano, juniors Bella Baldschun, Morgan Carbone, Janelly Reyes, sophomores Ava Diaz, Addison Haintz, Emeley Poblick, and freshmen Sarah MacMullan, Makayla Pilet, and Audree Stump. 

The Coyote Girls Weightlifting Team did an amazing job at regionals with six out of the thirteen girls hitting new personal records (PRs) as well as Reyes breaking school records in the “Clean and Jerk” event. She also won Olympic lifts regional champion, with Manzano as the runner up. Cypress Creek as a school finished sixth place in Olympic events and eleventh place in Traditional events out of 26 teams in the region. 

Districts and Regionals may be over, but the job is not over yet for these girls with states and qualifiers on the line. Congratulations to state qualifiers seniors Madison Buboltz, Arianna Manzano, and juniors Morgan Carbone and Janelly Reyes for making it to the next state meet in Lakeland, Florida on Saturday, February 17.  

We can’t wait to watch our girls compete for the state title and hope to see many coyotes show their support for our Girls Weightlifting Team!