The boys at Marathon High School were intimidated by senior Rachel Torres-Brown when they first met her.
The transfer from Lake Brantley High School (near Orlando) spent her summer working out in an area usually dominated by the guys — the school gym. A competitive weightlifter since her freshman year, Torres-Brown was surprised more girls weren’t in the weight room and that Marathon didn’t have a weightlifting team.
So she decided to start a girls weightlifting team — a first for high schools in the Florida Keys.
“It took a lot of persistence, a lot of me trying to push for it,” Torres-Brown of the inaugural season. “It took a lot of me going in the gym during the summer and working out, showing everyone that it was something I really wanted.”
She met with Athletic Director Teresa Konrath over the summer and got the team together in September. Torres-Brown said there was little initial interest from other girls to join until seniors Sydney Konrath and Jordan Roney signed on. Freshman Oriana Mendez joined shortly after.
The four girls have been lifting ever since.
“I thought it’d be a cool new experience I’ve never tried before,” said Sydney Konrath, who plays volleyball, soccer and softball. “We’re learning about form. It’s crazy when you get your form right and correct how much more weight you can lift.”
A major difference she and Roney, who plays the same sports, see with weightlifting is the support the girls have for each other during events, even if they’re on opposing teams.
“At the meets, all of the girls cheer for each other,” Roney said. “You set individual goals [weight limits] in weightlifting. It’s a team thing but it’s also an individual thing.”
The Lady Dolphins compete in District 16-1A, which includes 11 schools, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association. Marathon has competed in four meets this season.
The district championship meet is at 10 a.m. Jan. 9 at Pine Crest School. The top 10 lifters in each weight class compete against each other. The top three lifters in each weight class moves on to regionals.
While physical ability is a major part of sports, Roney is surprised how much mental control is involved in weightlifting. Studying form and gradually lifting more weight throughout the season has boosted her confidence.
“Your body can lift a certain amount of weight, but when you can lift 85 pounds and not 90 pounds, it’s all mental,” she said.
Carrying the team next year falls on Mendez because the other three members are graduating. She didn’t see herself lifting in the gym with other girls but since the team’s inception, she sees herself continuing with the team until she graduates.
“It’s a lot different than what people think. It’s learning the techniques and then adding weight as you go on,” Mendez said. “All the other girls on the other teams are pretty encouraging.”
Coach Jessie Schubert said interest in the sport has grown among other girls as well as boys to join a weightlifting team next year. There are talks of starting a boys team next year if there is enough interest.
“It gives the girls a great amount of confidence, they surprise themselves when they move up in weight quickly,” Schubert said. “They’re getting stronger and learning how to push themselves in a realistic environment. They can take these skills to any gym and teach other girls how to do this, empowering themselves and each other.”
While weightlifting may traditionally seem reserved for only the boys, the four girls hope their peers will join and grow the team next year.
“Girls are scared they’re going to get masculine looking but they’re not going to get bulky like they think they will,” Torres-Brown said. “It’s more about power, not getting a shredded look. I say go for it — you’ll get what you put into it.”
Konrath is seventh in the 154 weight class, benching 85 pounds. She has a clean and jerk of 105 pounds.
Roney is eighth in the 154 weight class, benching 85 pounds. She has a clean and jerk of 95 pounds.
Mendez is fifth in the 169 weight class, benching 105 pounds. She has a clean and jerk of 100 pounds.
Torres-Brown is first in the 183 weight class, benching 150 pounds. She has a clean and jerk of 170 pounds.
Courtesy of: FLorida Keys Keynoter and Reporter