CHIP LITHERLAND PHOTOGRAPHY

sport essay: power girls

In between the high-pitched screams and clanging of dropped weights, girls from across the state of Florida compete in the FHSAA Girls Weightlifting State Championships in New Port Richey, Florida. The relatively new sport is attracting hundreds of young girls of all weight classes to comepte against each other in a sport traditionaly dedicated for men. The popularity of girls weightlfiting in Florida has prompted Florida to be only state to have the program recognized.

Spruce Creek High School weightlifter Heather Wolfe, center, of Port Orange, Fla., is mobbed by teammates after she won 1st in the 101-pound weight class during the 2007 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Championship at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Florida. From left are Raquel Abadia, foreground, Leigha Nave, Kristian Rainge-Campbell, and Kaysie Junco.
   
Southeast High School's Caland McGruder grimaces as she benches in the 154-lbs. weight class during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
   
Second-place finisher and Manatee High School weightlifter Hannah Crowe clean-and-jerks during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
     
  
Oviedo High School weightlifter Abigail Butcher stretches underneath the bleachers during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
   
First-place finisher and New Smyrna Beach High School weightlifter Miranda Whitley laughs as she fails to clear a weight on the very last clean and jerk of the night in the 119-Pound weight class during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
   
Hand chalk settles on a weight on the ground during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
     
  
Spruce Creek High School students from Port Orange mentally prep on the winner's stand during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida. The school won in overall points, and is widely considered the front-runner every year.
   
Amande Romine of Atlantic High School in Delray Beach focuses on her clean and jerk in the unlimited weight class during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
   
Baker County High School students Delaney Walker, clockwise from top, Cassie Register, Heather North, Leslie Tanner laugh with each other while taking a few Kodak moments during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
     
  
A weightlifter reaches down for a practice run of her clean and jerk in the 110 lbs. weight class during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
   
Second-place finisher and Port Charlotte High School weightlifter Jennifer Zoia, who had a combined weight of 300 in the 119-Pound weight class, falls to the ground after just missing her final weight during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
   
St. Cloud High School weightlifter Lauren Schroeder screams in pain after the weights fell on her shin during a clean and jerk in the 119-pound weight class during the 2007 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Championship at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Florida.
     
  
Gainesville High School weightlifting fans cheer on Erica Cook during a clean and jerk in the 110-pound weight class at the 2007 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Championship at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Florida.
   
Central High School weightlifter Johnisha Jackson of Brooksville, Fla., dons red nail polish as she gets a grip while bench pressing in the unlimited weight class at the 2007 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Championship at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.
   
Spruce Creek High School weightlifter Kristian Rainge-Campbell cries after making a successful clean and jerk to place second in the 154-Pound weight class during the 2008 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Finals in New Port Richey, Florida.
     
  
After missing a bench of 150lbs. for the third time in the 101-pound weight class, Winter Springs High School weightlifter Stacy Cabrel falls to the floor in tears during the 2007 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Championship at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Florida.
   
Manatee High School weightlifter Jenna Rio of Bradenton, Fla., warms up prior to competing in the clean and jerk during the 2007 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Championship at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Florida.
   
Injured Manatee High School weightlifter Jenna Rio of Bradenton, Fla., is carried to the winner's podium by her teammates Hannah Crowe, left in red, and Cari Kirkland, right, after the 2007 FHSAA Girls Weightlifting Championship at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Florida. She was injured when her weights fell on her leg during a clean and jerk in the 101-pound weight class competition.