River Ridge faces new competition at today's SAC championship meet.
By JAMAL THALJI
Published March 31, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - Today River Ridge heads into uncharted territory.
First comes the Royal Knights' first defense of their Sunshine Athletic Conference title at today's championship meet. River Ridge won its first crown last season, ending Zephyrhills' two-year reign.
As if the pressure of repeating was not enough, coach Mike Marlin's team faces another challenge. What it is exactly, they are not sure. That is because the Knights have not seen all the competition they face today.
"I think if we go in and lift well (today) we'll have a shot at it," Marlin said. "We haven't seen Pasco or Zephyrhills, so we're not sure what they have."
That's not all. River Ridge has not seen Wesley Chapel's complete lineup, just the Wildcats' best lifters at a section qualifier.
That is the result of a cost-cutting rule adopted this season by the SAC's athletic directors to shave transportation costs, restricting the travel of conference teams. East teams only lift against east teams and likewise on the west.
So while River Ridge is 4-0 against west competitors - Gulf, Hudson, Mitchell and a strong Ridgewood team - it has not seen what the east has to offer. That could be a problem today, as all nine teams each bring up to 20 lifters, some of whom the reigning SAC coach of the year has not scouted.
"It's hard to say who will win, because I haven't seen them all," said Marlin of the rest of the conference. "We can't have anybody not (weigh-in) or bomb out or not lift at least what they've been doing up to this point. Hopefully we're going to peak this week and do our best lifts this season, but you never know for sure. I think if our guys lift well, we've got as good a shot at it or better than anybody we've competed against."
Today's meet will showcase the county's best. Foremost among them are River Ridge 169-pounder Andrew Hutchison and Wesley Chapel 183-pounder Tommy Edwards, both of whom may be the county's top hopes at state.
Hutchison lifted at 154 last season, and Edwards won a title at 169. Both have totaled 650 this season: benching 365 and lifting 285 on the clean and jerk.
"Those are the two standouts from the county as far as really having a shot at going all the way," Marlin said.
Some other lifters to watch are Land O'Lakes' 119-pounder Jon Zakel, Wesley Chapel's 199-pounder Derek Zabko and Mitchell's two 219-pounders, Spencer Brown and Adam McManus.
River Ridge cannot match some teams star for star, Marlin said, but he doubts most teams can match the Royal Knights' depth.
"Of the teams that we've seen, I have more good lifters," Marlin said. "But not necessarily first place (lifters.)"
Leading the defending champions is Hutchison, a senior, and the Knights' lone three-time SAC champ. Also back from last year are runnerups Ryan Mistal and Jordan Powell. Marlin said a strong performance from all his lifters will take care of potential surprises.
"If it was just the teams from this side, I would feel a little more confident," Marlin said. "You never know the way the points are going to spread out."
