MADISON, Fla. (WTXL) - Until Saturday, just two weightlifters in Madison County High School history had won a State Championship. On Saturday, the Cowboys doubled that amount, and they won a team title, the school's first.
The Cowboys edged powerhouse Baker Bounty by one point in the Class 1A State Finals to win the school's first ever team title in boys weightlifting. Head coach Mike Coe proud of this group, and it's an even bigger accomplishment given the fact that in the last decade, Baker County has been the State Runner-up or the Champion every single year.
"We've been chasing them all year," he said Monday. "We finished runner up to them in Regionals and then we came back at state and it was between us two. It came down to the very, very last lift. Pretty special any time you get a chance to go against the very best and you come out on top."
Coe added the team gave up most of their prom to win the State Championship. It was a small sacrifice for a group that set this goal last season.
"It was a blessing," said Kima McDaniel, who captured the 183 individual title. "The guys we got this year, this might be the only title we have so we have to enjoy every minute. It's just hard to explain. It was a great feeling. It was that close, knowing it was so close, it was dramatic."
Diante Hartsfield won the 219 title, and added winning State was a great feeling to have.
"Knowing all the hard work we put in has paid off," he said. "To be at the end of a meet and to have the state title, the strongest team in Florida, it's great."
