State lifting: Arnold's Ensminger wins title; Blountstown second overall

KISSIMMEE — Blountstown upstaged Arnold at the Class 1A boys weightlifting meet on Saturday, but neither former team champion could unseat powerhouse Baker County.

Arnold’s Joel Ensminger in the 119-pound weight class and Blountstown’s Chaz Fain (154) won individual state championships. Baker County won the team title with 44 points. Blountstown was second with 20 and Arnold third with 119.

Ensminger had a 225-pound bench press and 210-pound clean and jerk for a 435 total. He bested Altha’s Ronnie Tucker, who matched Ensminger in the bench at 225 but only managed 195 in the clean and jerk for a 420 total.

Fain was 15 pounds better than Auburndale’s Lopton Pierre-Jacques after benching 300 and clean and jerking 275 for a 575 total.

Individual state runners-up included Blountstown’s Jawon Mosley (139) with a 255-245 — 500 mark and Wewahitchka’s Colton Price (169) with a 325-265 — 590

Other area teams with Top 6 finishers, which earns team points, were Altha (with 6 team points) and Wewahitchka (5), both Top 15 overall totals.

Area weightlifters’ results from the Class 1A state meet:

• Arnold: 1. Joel Ensminger (119) 225-210 — 435, 5. Devante Showers (119) 200-180 — 380, 5. Darius Smedley (129) 240-185 — 425, 13. Andrew McKelvie (129) 205-180 — 385, 10. Joseph Kibbe (139) 240-215 — 455, 12. Joey Green (139) 240-205 — 445, 4. Blake DeBoard (183) 325-265 — 590, 5. Sebastian Monroe (183) 325-265 — 590, 4. Danny Anderson (199) 340-255 — 595, 8. Chase Russell (199) 325-245 — 570, 7. Caleb Clayton-Molby (219) 295-315 — 610, 9. Seung Jin Lee (219) 330-275 — 605.
• Blountstown: 3. Hunter Jenks (119) 205-200 — 405, 2. Jawon Mosley (139) 255-245 — 500, 1. Chaz Fain (154) 300-275 — 575, 10. Chris Byrne (154) 275-235 — 510, 3. Ryan Hathcox (169) 310-275 — 585, 11. Dowling Lee (238) 325-280 — 605.
• Altha: 2. Ronnie Tucker (119) 225-195 — 420, 6. Trevor Wriston (129) 205-205 — 410, 7. Caleb Chew (154) 260-260 — 520, 10. Dakota Lynn (183) 290-245 — 535.
• Wewa: 14. Jacob Taylor (119) 175-170 — 345, 2. Colton Price (169) 325-265 — 590.
• Rutherford: 8. Nick Grant (154) 320-200 — 520.
• Bay: 15. Ka’Ron Harris (238) 330-0 — 330.
• Port St. Joe: 12. Chad Clark (hwt.) 370-265 — 635.
• Chipley: 13. Garrett Enfinger (hwt.) 330-285 — 615.