Team Florida of Pensacola

Wanting to wish Team Florida of Pensacola’s athletes safe travels and strong studies as they start the next chapter of their lives. These five have been with me for a minimum of 4 years and watching them grow as athletes and as I people has been a pleasure. I’ll still be with them on the platform and as a coach but not seeing them in the gym on a constant basis is going to be different! On to bigger and better things and time to experience adulthood! Congrats fellas!!! FL Weighlifting Federation

Quick recap from The Praelium this past weekend!! Started out with Colton Weeks Colton in one of the first sessions powering 75kg and power clean and jerking 90kg to qualify him for FL Weighlifting Federation state championships and most likely USAW nationals. Followed by Mama OT doing her thing on the platform. Tying her all time sn**ch PR and hitting a new clean and jerk PR! Lastly on Sunday Kirsty Anne first ever meet and went out and crushed it going 4/6.. she was extremely nervous to be on the platform but once she stepped on it she controlled it and crushed it!!

In 1998, I began my journey in Olympic weightlifting. What started as a passion has grown into nearly three decades of lifting, coaching, and sharing the techniques and principles that make this sport so meaningful.

Over the past 28 years, I’ve watched Olympic weightlifting evolve in many ways—some for the better, and some that have challenged what I believe this sport should represent. Through it all, one thing has never changed for me: coaching has never been about recognition, status, or personal fame. It has always been about the athlete.

As coaches, our place is on the side of the platform supporting, teaching, and believing in our athletes while they stand in the spotlight they have earned through their hard work and dedication. Their success is the true measure of our work.

At TFP, our mission has always been to develop athletes from the ground up—not only on the platform but as people. We believe in building strong foundations, earning trust, and investing in long-term growth. We don’t believe in taking shortcuts or poaching athletes. We believe in creating an environment where athletes choose to stay because they know they are valued, challenged, and genuinely cared for.

Like every coach, I’ve made mistakes throughout my career. Some of those mistakes have affected people, and I take responsibility for them. Those experiences have humbled me, taught me valuable lessons, and made me a better coach and a better person. Growth isn’t just something I ask of my athletes—it’s something I continue to expect from myself every day.

As I look back on this journey, I’m grateful for every athlete, coach, mentor, and lesson that has shaped me. My commitment remains the same today as it was when I first stepped into this sport: to serve the athlete with integrity, to teach with honesty, and to leave this sport better than I found it. Photo cred: Taryn Jo and Cass Ritter FL Weighlifting Federation

It’s that time!! Finishing prep work being done and it’s go time!!! FL Weighlifting Federation

New things being learned and PRs being hit!! Colton making his percentages look easy so we kept going hitting an 8kg PR in the sn**ch, kid will be moving some weight, Aiva making her percentages look easy so that’s telling these aren’t her correct numbers anymore and our youngest Lukas learning the fundamentals and making it look better and better!!

Congratulations and good luck to our high school boys who made it to state!!! Go out and crush it!! Everyone in the team is super proud of each of you!!