LAKELAND — Three first-time state qualifiers led the way at the girls weightlifting state meet as the top performers from Polk County with Auburndale’s Cailyn Rowe leading the way.
Rowe, a junior, mined silver with a second-place at 183 pounds in the Olympic competition on Saturday at the 2023 Girls Weightlifting State Finals at the RP Funding Center.
Lake Wales’ Jaycee Cobb and Anniah Styles each won bronze in the 119-pound weight class with Cobb taking third in Olympic and Styles taking third in Traditional.
Rowe made tremendous strides in her junior season and won her medal in the morning session.
“This is absolutely amazing,” Rowe said. “I didn’t qualify for states last year, so to come back and get second, I’m so proud of myself. I’m very happy.”
Rowe had a total lift of 310 pounds in Olympic competing in the same weight class as the top lifter in the meet, New Smyrna Beach’s Olivia Bond-West whose 460 pounds was the 50 pounds more than any other lifter in all the weight classes in Olympic. Rowe said she’s lifting about 120 pounds more than she did as a sophomore.