KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - After a decade of dominance as repeat boys state weightlifting champions, the Keystone Heights High boys weightlifting team answered the bell for yet another Clay County Championship double team title as the Indians scored team titles in both disciplines; Olympics and Traditional, on Friday in their own gym.
"Kids know to come to our weightlifting team, you have to be ready to work," said Keystone Heights coach Steve Reynolds. "This program is somewhat storied with former coach Lantz Lowery setting the standard very high. We just want to continue that legacy."

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Area teams got their final flexes as district championships are scheduled for March 24-29.

District 1-3A, Region 1: Oakleaf, Bartram Trail, Creekside, Nease, Tocoi Creek at Pace High, Monday, March 24, Noon start. Regions at Deland, April 2 10 a.m. start.

District 3-2A, Region 1: Middleburg, Ridgeview, Suwannee, Columbia, Baker County at Fort Walton Beach, Thursday, March 27 11 a.m. start. Regions at Suwannee, April 5 10 a.m. start

Distrit 4-2A, Region 1: Clay, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Bishop Kenny, Fernandina Beach, Yulee at Fort Walton Beach, Thursday, March 27, 11 a.m. start. Regions at Suwannee, April 5 10 a.m. start

District 8-1A Region 2: Keystone Heights, Crescent City, Father Lopez, Hawthorne, Interlachen, Taylor, Trinity Christian (Deltona) at Keystone Heights, Wednesday, March 26, 4 p.m. start. Region at Keystone Heights, April 4 4 p.m. start.

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For the Indians, with three individual champions in the Olympics format; Colton Hollingsworth at 129, Layton Wright at 169 and Jackson Herman at Unlimited, the team scores finished with the Indians topping 3A Oakleaf 59-42 with Fleming Island close in third with 40 points with Middleburg just a point off with 39. The final three were Clay (24), Ridgeview (15) and Orange Park (0).
In Traditional, with Keystone Heights landing four golds; Elijah Mize at 119, Hollingsworth at 129, Kyle Perkins at 199 and Trace Woodsen at 219, the Indians piled on with 62 points over Oakleaf's 51 and Middleburg's 40 for third. The next four teams were Clay (34), Fleming Island (17), Ridgview and Orange Park with eight apiece.
In one of the more impressive performances of the day, Oakleaf High junior Noah Shevchook, who joined older brother Elijah on the podium at state last; Elijah state champion at 154 in Traditional and third in Olympics, and Noah third at 129 in Olympics and Traditional, totaled a massive 610 pounds to win in Traditional.
"I just think about all the times me and my brothers worked out together and what it meant," said Shevchook, after a clean and jerk of 295 in the 154 weight division at the Clay County Championship on his second try after success a 285 and a near miss at his first try at 295. "I want to bring home a state title like my brother and maybe get a second one next year."
Shevchook's 610 total was only bettered by Unlimited's Eli Iscoa from Clay at 615 and Middleburg Trent Pavlus with a 610.
In the Olympics scoring Shevchook totaled 520 to win by 110 pounds over Fleming Island's Austn Davis with 219, 238 and Unlimited the only weight groups better than Shevchook's total.
"I've been eating fish, chicken and white rice since last year to keep lean and strong," said Shevchook, who earned top Olympics and Traditional lifter titles as well. "It's all about doing the work."
County champions in Olympics were, from Oakleaf, Ray Williams at 119 330-310 over Keystone Heights' Elijah Mize; from Keystone Heights at 129, Hollingsworth 350-335 over Ridgeview's Edward Silva; from Oakleaf at 139, Gentle Clark over Middleburg's Ashton Harp 420-350; Keystone Heights' Layton Wright over Middeburg's Mason Peevy 420-410 at 169; Fleming Island's Brady Digman over Middlburg's Wein Sulph 475-470 at 183; Fleming Island's Griffin Vollertsen over Keystone Heights' Kyle Perkins 495-485 at 199; Fleming Island's Dehmir Jackson over Keystone Heights Trase Wooden 540-480 at 219; Oakleaf's Ethan Simons over Keystone Heights' Brayden Wester 580-440 at 238, and Keystone Heights Jackson Herman over Middleburg's Trent Pavlus 540-510 at Unlimited.
In Traditional, county champions were Keystone Heights Elijah Mize over Oakleaf's Ray Williams 410-405 at 119; Keystone Heights' Colton Hollingsworth over Oakleaf's Daniel Israel 430-400 at 129; Oakleaf's Gentle Clark over Clay's Zerek Migliore 495-445 at 139; Oakleaf's Noah Shevchook over Keystone Heights Damien Dunlap 610-465 at 154; Oakleaf's Christian Rodriguez over Oakleaf's Brenton Matlock 550-495 at 169; Middleburg's Sam Craven over Fleming Island's Brady Digman 575-520 at 183; Keystone Height's Kyle Perkins over Keystone Heights' Zane Leger 585-560 at 199; Keystone Heights Trase Wooden over Orange Park's J Jenning 540-510 at 219; Oakleaf's Ethan Simons over Keystone Heights Brayden Wester 605-555 at 238, and Clay's Eli Iscoa over Middleburg's Trent Pavlus 615-610 at Unlimited.