Lake Wales' Devon Briggs, Kayden Arliss place 2nd, 4th at USA weightlifting
It didn’t matter to Tashawn Williams that some of his top weightlifters placed high at the 2022 state high school meet back in April or that many of those same weightlifters accomplished goals that built Lakes Wales High into one of the top weightlifting programs in Polk County.
When the high school season ended, Williams wanted his student-athletes to make a name for themselves on a national scale. Now-graduated Devon Briggs and senior Kayden Arliss each qualified for the USA Weightlifting National Championships held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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At the national meet, Briggs, headed to Concord University to play football, placed second in the nation lifting 605 pounds in total weight — he snatched 264 pounds and produced a clean-and-jerk of 341 pounds.
Arliss placed in the 16-17 age group. She lifted a total of 336 pounds with personal records in the snatch (145 pounds) and a clean-and-jerk (191 pounds).
“The goal was to just kind of make names for ourselves and just represent the community and the town there," Williams said. "They both worked really hard. Our mentality was to try to be great, and we were great that day.
"I’m happy, just super excited for my kids. Kayden and Briggs have a bright future. And they made a name for themselves on the biggest stage. They showed they have staying power in the sport. Just couldn’t be anymore proud. It was just a wonderful weekend.”
Arliss, who was a state runner-up and an all-county weightlifter, said she continued to do what she was taught during the high school season.
“I think I worked most on consistency in my life to help control it through my training cycle,” Arliss said. “I trained with my Max Effort Training team as well as high school conditioning and I feel like that prepared me mentally and physically to become the best athlete I can be. To prepare for the meet, we just worked.
"Honestly, didn’t think I would place this high, but I knew the hours had to add up to something. Coach Williams always told me I had to trust the process. My coaches and family being there with me was definitely the highlight of the meet. The support I receive from them is unmatched and I know we’re always going to turn it up together.”
Briggs, who finished as a runner-up in both traditional and snatch at state and was also an all-county weightlifter, said he still needed to work on his form.
“I just worked on getting my form better every day just to do my best, and it felt great and very exciting,” Briggs said.
Participating in vigorous daily training is what led to Briggs placing second at state and the same went for Arliss’ second-place finish at nationals.
Immediately following their respective high school seasons, both Lake Wales weightlifters trained at Max Level Training, Williams’ business venture. The business trains all Polk County weightlifters, including some from Discovery and Winter Haven high schools.
But when it came to his own weightlifters focusing on nationals, Briggs and Arliss trained for hours each day engaging in pulls, jerks, snatches, as well as squats, to get the legs stronger.
That effort won’t stop. Both weightlifters are now training for the next big USA event — the American Open Finals scheduled for Nov. 3 in Atlanta.
After that, Briggs will play guard on the Concord University football team while Arliss prepares to improve on her state runner-up finish from last season.
“We expect to be a state champion this year and (a champion at) the Olympics. That’s what we’re we are preaching for,” Williams said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lake Wales' Devon Briggs, Kayden Arliss place 2nd, 4th at USA weightlifting
