Nature Coast girls sweep District 2A-9 traditional and Olympic titles

Nature Coast dominated the District 2A-9 girls weightlifting meet at Weeki Wachee High, claiming both the Olympic and traditional team championships and sending a string of lifters on to regionals. The Sharks outscored county rival Hernando by large margins, a rebound after an earlier county upset.

In Olympic competition, Nature Coast scored 64 team points to Hernando’s 34 and Weeki Wachee’s 32. The Sharks “took first by 30 points,” led by several individual winners. At 110 pounds, Casey Senzig totaled 230 to finish first, followed by teammate Kinsey Baker (220), who qualified for regionals. Dakota Francesco won the 139-pound Olympic division with a 220 total while Olivia Drummond finished second (200), the pair providing “two more regional qualifiers for the Sharks.” Abby Asteasuainzarra topped the 169 class at 240, with Abigail Breitrick second (230). Jadari Dormevil won the 199 class (225). Other Sharks advancing in the Olympic format included Katie Calise (second at 119, 220), Liliana Robles (fourth, 165), Aisha Fernandez (third at 129, 225), Alyssa Abbadessa (sixth, 220), Vanessa Elam (second via tiebreaker at 154, 265) and Gia Valenti (fourth, 210).

Nature Coast also led the traditional competition, scoring 60 team points to finish ahead of Hernando and Weeki Wachee, which tied at 32. At 110 pounds traditional, Senzig again finished first with a 245 total and teammate Lilyanna Norton was second (240); both qualified for regionals. Katie Calise captured the 119 traditional title with a 260 total. Francesco replicated her success in traditional at 139 with a 245 total, ahead of Autumn Roth (230), and those lifters also advanced to regionals.

Head coach Tania Kelly framed the win as a milestone in a sustained program run. “Five times in a row, we’re pretty excited about that,” Kelly said. “My girls, they all showed up at districts. They all hit the majority of their lifts. They came out, took no prisoners, did their thing. [...]”

The result matters for Hernando County beyond banners. For student-athletes like Casey Senzig, Dakota Francesco and Katie Calise, advancing to regionals is a tangible pathway to higher competition and scholarship visibility. For the community, the Sharks’ fifth consecutive district title signals program stability and investment in girls’ strength sports, which local advocates say supports physical health, self-confidence and equitable access to athletic opportunities traditionally dominated by boys. The win also resets a local rivalry; Nature Coast had been “upset by Hernando for the county championship last month,” and this district sweep offers a clear comeback.

Elsewhere in the region, other schools are also posting strong district results, underscoring growth in girls weightlifting across nearby districts. For Nature Coast, the next step is regional competition, where the list of qualifiers from both Olympic and traditional formats will aim to extend the Sharks’ season and bring more spotlight to girls lifting in Hernando County. Communities can expect local lifters to represent the county on the regional stage and to carry the program’s momentum into spring.