The weight room isn’t just for boys any longer.
Meet the Charlotte High School Girls Weightlifting Team.
The two-time defending region champs are sending 10 girls to the State Championships next weekend.
“boys are always considered the strong ones. The athletic ones, and especially with us doing so well, that should really empower people,” said Ilandria Carmelo, a member of the Charlotte Girls Weightlifting Team.
They’re a part of a new generation of girls.
Girls who embrace muscles. Girls who sparked the rapid rise of fitness training programs, like CrossFit.
“It’s one of those things that has just grown — it is so popular, all the girls want to do it,” said Charlotte Girls Weightlifting Coach Angie Nolan.
“We had well over 75 try out for our team.”
Being a part of the weightlifting team has more than just physical benefits.
“I think it makes you feel a lot more valuable,” said Kendall Chavarria. “It’s really awesome to say, I can do this, and it was cool to say I was a part of our weightlifting team and how well we did.”
And if being strong is the new trend, give Charlotte some major cool points. The Tarpons have seven girls that can bench-press more than their body weight.
Last year, Charlotte’s Breanna Jacobs won a state championship in the 110-pound weight class, by benching 160 pounds. She looks to defend her title next Saturday in Kissimmee.