For the first time in program history, the Gainesville boys weightlifting team is sending two Olympic competition lifters to the FHSAA Weightlifting state championships.

Junior Nicholas “Nick” Tisher will be joining teammate Jacob Goode at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland next Saturday, April 20, to compete for a Class 2A state title.

Tisher, who finished fifth in the Olympic competition at the Class 2A-Region 1 meet last week, has been recognized as the Pavlik Orthodontics Athlete of the Week for the week of April 1.

He finished with a total of 445 pounds to put his name in the record books alongside Goode.

“It’s an amazing moment to be the first people to do something and it is not something that I take lightly,” Tisher said. “I’m extremely proud, although it’s not just Jacob and I that are being recognized in school history. It’s truly the entire team. The things that we did this season was something we never thought would have happened. We went from a three-person team last year to almost 15 this year and the growth that we saw from each and every person was tremendous.”

Making the feat even bigger is that Tisher was not able to fully compete last year due to a torn ACL.

“Nick has come a long way,” said GHS boys weightlifting coach Deac Story. “This year he has come back and worked harder than he ever has before. He plays football, so he already has a tough winner’s mindset. I wish I had more on the team like him.”

Two weeks ago, Tisher won a district championship in the Olympic and received third place in the traditional event. The week prior against Eastside he lifted more weight than anyone else at the whole meet.

His current personal records are 180 (snatch), 275 (Clean and Jerk), and 290 (Bench).

Weightlifting is actually considered his off-season sport.

Tisher, who maintains a 3.6 GPA, is a third-year starter on the GHS varsity football team.

He said there is one word that is the key to his success.

“I think dedication is the main thing really,” he said. “You have to truly love the sport that you play or whatever you do in life. You have to strive to want to make yourself better and make the people around you better. I try to take that attitude into weightlifting.”

He’s looking forward to the opportunity of competing on a state level with his fellow Hurricane.

“Jacob and I will continue to go in the weight room try and perfect our craft and to try and make us the best version that we can possibly be so that we have no doubt in ourselves or in our skill set going into the state championship,” he said. “It’s one of the most meticulous sports. If you’re half a second too early or too late you don’t get the lift. If you’re an inch too close or too far away, you’ll lose it all. It takes very strong minds and I think that we have that mindset going into state.”

Tisher is the 33^rd athlete to be selected for the weekly award during the 2023-24 school year.

Last week’s winner was Sarah Priester of the Newberry softball team.

The junior C/1B/OF batted .667 with 12 runs batted in, including two doubles and two triples as part of a 3-0 week. She also scored eight runs and was 6-for-6 in putouts.

Other recent winners include Evan Fleming of the Buchholz boys track and field team and Kennith Martin of the Eastside boys track & field team.

For a complete list of winners, click here.

Coaches are encouraged to email their nominations each week, along with stats, no later than Sunday night to mike.ridaught@mainstreetdailynews.com.