MIDDLEBURG - It is well known how the Middleburg High School gymnasium has a certain "aura" to it with the past few years seeing a rise in the Bronco Nation successes with volleyball, softball, basketball and football having emerged recently as state contenders.

Notch one for the Broncos' girls weightlifting team, coached by Rhiannon Weiskopf, who Friday took down all challengers in the Clay County Weightlifting championships with a strategic attack in all weight classes that added up to 56 team points in Olympic lifts and 69 points in Traditional lifts.

"The momentum that comes from our school-wide success is huge in helping us propel to the top," said Middleburg coach Rhiannon Weiskopf. "Our girls want to be recognized as being the best in their sport. We have high expectations in the classroom as well as the weight room and they step up to meet and exceed those expectations, which is one of the many reasons I am proud to be their coach."

Amongst the challengers was a defending state champion Clay High team, albeit with a graduation-depleted lineup but still with super champion Emma Heck and a new coach; Fleming Island with a coach determined to challenge for medals with probably the strongest returning lineup of young athletes, and also Oakleaf High, also with a new coach, but also with a strong tradition of state champion mettle.

On the bubble, Ridgeview has always had a strong lineup, maybe just not enough of them, and the Panthers will send contenders to the state meet. St. Johns Country Day School, also with a slowly growing lineup number, punches away with a state champion already on the roster, but now with friends.

For Weiskopf, it seems depth at all positions was the key to her team success with the Broncos ahead of Fleming Island's 46 and Ridgeview's 40 in Olympics while besting Oakleaf in Traditional, 45, and Fleming Island, 44, right in the mix.

"I feel confident we will have the opportunity to take the most lifters MHS has ever taken to State in girls weightlifting this year," said Weiskopf. "Our girls are up for the challenge and excited to even be on the biggest stage."

In the top three finishers for most of the weight divisions, Middleburg and Fleming Island names were repeat placers with the Lady Broncos getting strong team points from 1-2 finishes in both disciplines from Caylee Johnson and Madison Underwood at 154 and a 1-2 finish in Olympics from Kerra Clarida and Autumn Pelfry in Unlimited.

Middleburg got a 1-2 in Traditional at 110 with Ariana Seibel and Kalynn Gaither finishing ahead in a close matchup with Ridgeview's Deja Hill. Hill had the best Olympic Snatch and tied with Seidel in Clean and Jerk, but Seidel had the best Bench Press in that division.

"My veteran lifters have consistently pushed themselves each meet to meet their own goals for this season" said Weiskopf. "They want to push themselves to get new maxes each week and county was an opportunity for them to show off their hard work. We will continue to maintain over the next few weeks to make sure they are ready for districts."

Fleming Island, on the other hand, with coach Sean Coultis, amping up a team of returners with new faces, got a handful of double first placers; tops in Olympics as well as Tradition, with Bradi Johnson winning both at 119; Lily O'Steen winning both at 169 and Leah Anderson winning both at 183.

Coultis almost had a fourth 1-2 finish with Leah Anderson winning Olympics at 101, but getting second to Middleburg's Ash Piniero in Traditional by just a pound; 211-210.

Clay's Emma Heck, as expected, dominated the numbers to take both titles at 129 with best lift totals in all three lifts; Olympic Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Bench Press, to win that division that included St. Johns Country Day School Olympic Snatch champion Addison Frisbee.

Also, for Clay, Ansley Lyda, at 199, crushed all three disciplines to win both disciplines with a 20-30 pound difference in her challengers including a best of 190 in clean and jerk that was best of the day just five pounds better than Caylee Johnson of Middleburg's 185 at 154.

For Oakleaf, veteran De'Jean Mote won at 139 Traditional with the best clean and jerk and bench press in that division knocking Fleming Island's Kathryn Ward to second in Traditional by 10 pounds with best bench press. Christiana Beasley won at Traditional in Unlimited.

Ridgeview got a first in Olympics and third in Tradition from Deja Hill in 110 and a second in Olympics and third in Tradition from sister Jada Hill at 101. Ania Haber, who returns to the battle after a weigh-in dispute at last year's districts kept her from advancing, punched in with seconds in Olympics and Tradition at 119 behind Fleming Island's Bradi Johnson. Daelle Calixter got thirds in both disciplines at 154 with Harper Herring also getting thirds in both at 183.

Keystone Heights got a best of seventh in Olympics from Ashlyn Brown in 154 while Orange Park got a best of third in Olympics at Unlimited from Alohilani Richburg; also fifth in Tradition, and a third in Olympics from Kayleana Henry at 110.

For St. Johns, Frisbee was second in Olympics and seventh in Traditional. Gabi Ocequera finished fifth in the Olympics for the Spartans. Unlimited Sasha Wallace was seventh in both disciplines.