Lakewood Ranch senior carries heavy load

Gretchen Ebert – LRHS News

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Senior Taylor Pearson has finally entered her last season on the girls weightlifting team for Lakewood Ranch High School.

LRHS senior Taylor Pearson has big weightlifting dreams. Pearson began weightlifting her freshman year as a Mustang and has continued ever since.

“My mom actually wanted me to try it out to see if I liked it and it stuck, which I’m thankful for because now I do it Olympically. If she hadn’t pushed me to it I wouldn’t be where I’m at now,” stated Pearson.

“One thing I like about lifting is that I can eat whatever I want because I will immediately burn it all off at practice. But one thing I don’t like is that some people like to think that lifting will make me look bulky or manly. I’ve been lifting for four years, and I definitely don’t look like a man.”
Pearson now lifts in the 129 weight class.

Olympic weightlifting, which she participates in outside of school, is a different, more advanced version of the authentic weightlifting, which uses kilos instead of pounds, as well as a snatch, clean, and jerk, rather than a bench, clean, and jerk routine used in high school competitions.

Pearson is also a part of Team Florida Gulf Coast, which competes with other teams around the state. Her weight class on this Olympic team is 58kg.

“If you’re good enough you can qualify for a bunch of different national competitions, and eventually make it to the actual Olympics,” said Pearson.

After asking Pearson about the Olympics, she quickly stated that she did want to one day be an Olympic athlete in this sport.

Mustang weightlifting coach Mick Koczersut has high hopes for the senior.

“Taylor has done a great job lifting. She now does it year round and works constantly with her personal trainer. I expect she will qualify in regionals and compete well in states.”

Along with Pearson, many of the girls on her team placed at districts and went to regionals last season.

“I think we have a good chance at doing that again and hopefully winning best team,” stated Pearson. “I want to make it to states this year. The past three years have taught me to stay humble, especially when you don’t place where you wanted.”