St. Cloud Weightlifting Champion Mikey Ziss Leads the All-Area Team
Mikey Ziss, the reigning state champion from St. Cloud High School, has been named the leader of the All-Area Weightlifting Team. Ziss, a senior, has dominated the weightlifting scene this season, breaking multiple school records and setting personal bests in every meet. Ziss’s exceptional performance caught the attention of coaches and selectors throughout the area. He earned the highest overall score among all weightlifters in the region, cementing his status as the top lifter. “Mikey has had an incredible season,” said St. Cloud head coach John Smith. “He works tirelessly in the weight room and is constantly pushing himself to improve. He is an inspiration to his teammates and has earned the respect of his opponents.” Ziss is joined on the All-Area Team by several other outstanding weightlifters from the region. The team includes: *
105 lbs:
Alex Thompson (Sartell-St. Stephen) *
119 lbs:
Jake Larson (Sauk Rapids-Rice) *
129 lbs:
Sam Johnson (Rocori) *
139 lbs:
Nick Jones (Willmar) *
145 lbs:
Mikey Ziss (St. Cloud) *
154 lbs:
Ben Anderson (Brainerd) *
163 lbs:
Jake Werner (St. John’s Prep) *
171 lbs:
Joe Schmidt (St. Cloud) *
183 lbs:
Ryan Hanson (Monticello) *
199 lbs:
Jacob Guzman (Bemidji) *
219 lbs:
Josh Wilson (Alexandria) *
285 lbs:
Ben Walter (North Branch) These athletes have all demonstrated exceptional strength, technique, and determination throughout the season. They represent the best and brightest in high school weightlifting in the area. Ziss and the All-Area Team will now turn their attention to the state tournament, where they will compete for individual and team championships. The tournament will be held on March 10-11 at the University of Minnesota Field House.2024 Boys Weightlifting Season Recap
2024 Boys Weightlifting Season Recap
Leesburg claimed its second consecutive state team title, while seven athletes from the Orlando area secured individual championships.
Individual Champions
*
Mikey Ziss (St. Cloud, Jr.):
Repeated as Olympic and Traditional doubles champion, earning Orlando Sentinel Weightlifter of the Year and State Weightlifter of the Year honors. *
Kody Taylor (Winter Springs, Sr.):
Won both the Traditional and Olympic state titles. *
Kayden Adams (Leesburg, Jr.):
Olympic champion in the 129-pound weight class. *
Israel Clovis (Lake Minneola, Sr.):
Traditional champion in the 3A weight class with a total of 740 pounds. *
Lukas Crawley (Oviedo, Sr.):
Traditional champion in the 169-pound weight class with a total of 615 pounds. *
Zach Field (Leesburg, Sr.):
Second in Olympic and third in Traditional in the 199-pound weight class. *
Kevin Hill (Freedom, Sr.):
Olympic champion in the 169-pound weight class. *
Jeremy Lacey (Leesburg, Jr.):
Traditional champion in the 119-pound weight class. *
Roman Rea (Lake Howell, Sr.):
Second in both Traditional and Olympic in the 169-pound weight class. *
Anthony Rodriguez (Harmony, Sr.):
Third in both Traditional and Olympic in the 219-pound weight class. *
Elvie Valmores (Timber Creek, Sr.):
Second in both Traditional and Olympic in the 139-pound weight class.
Mikey Ziss: Weightlifter of the Year
Ziss dominated the smallest weight class, setting FHSAA state records in the snatch, clean-and-jerk, and Olympic total. He also represented Team USA at the IWF World Youth Championships in Peru.
All-Area Teams
The All-Area teams included lifters from participating schools in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and southwestern Volusia counties. Selections were made by the Orlando Sentinel staff in consultation with area coaches.St. Cloud weightlifting champion Mikey Ziss leads the All-Area team St. Cloud senior Mikey Ziss has been named the Times Media Co. Boys Weightlifting All-Area Captain after winning a state championship in the 199-pound weight class. Ziss, who finished the season with a 670-pound total, led a group of five All-Area first-team selections from St. Cloud. The Bulldogs also had two second-team selections and one honorable mention. Joining Ziss on the first team were teammates Tyler Anderson (139), Luke Anderson (154), Chase Grundei (170) and Jake Christenson (238). Anderson, a junior, finished second in the state at 139 pounds with a 530-pound total. Luke Anderson, a senior, was third in the state at 154 pounds with a 575-pound total. Grundei, a senior, was fourth in the state at 170 pounds with a 605-pound total. Christenson, a junior, was seventh in the state at 238 pounds with a 560-pound total. St. Cloud’s second-team selections were senior Dylan Nitz (129) and junior David Loehr (163). Nitz finished 10th in the state at 129 pounds with a 485-pound total. Loehr was 11th in the state at 163 pounds with a 525-pound total. St. Cloud senior Brock Benson (285) was an honorable mention selection. Benson finished 14th in the state at 285 pounds with a 490-pound total. Other All-Area first-team selections included: * Osceola senior Logan Krenz (106) * Harmony senior Adam Decker (112) * Pine Island senior Ethan Forcier (129) * Waseca senior Nolan Malo (145) * Cannon Falls senior Austin Ness (183) * Winona senior Austin Voss (219) Second-team selections included: * Osceola senior Garrett Krenz (129) * Pine Island senior Jacob Staska (139) * Waseca junior Caleb Bertrang (154) * Zumbrota-Mazeppa senior Tyler Wahl (163) * Kasson-Mantorville junior Mason Froehlich (170) * Triton senior Cameron Grunst (183) * Winona senior Mitchell Waldron (238) Honorable mention selections included: * Osceola senior Andrew Krenz (139) * Kasson-Mantorville junior Tyler Bowe (145) * St. James senior Chris Achterkirch (154) * Waseca junior Cole Streich (183) * Pine Island senior Gage Kulzer (219) * Cannon Falls junior Gavin Thorson (285)
