Lakeland, Fla. — The Villages High School has another state champion.
And it has a first — a two-timer.
Kristian Sarakinis, a senior on The Villages High School boys weightlifting team, captured both the Traditional and Olympic individual state titles at 129 pounds in the Class 1A Boys Weightlifting State Championships on Saturday inside the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Sarakinis becomes the sixth Buffalo athlete in school history to win a state championship — and its first two-time state champ — after tallying a score of 495 in the Traditional format and 385 in the Olympic discipline.
"It's just a super surreal moment," Sarakinis said. "It still hasn't quite hit me that I won and it's my last meet. I've battled every setback possible over these past four years, whether that be multiple back injuries, placing second in back-to-back years, cutting weight, or having the mental ability to lift year round."
Sarakinis battled back from a serious back injury earlier this year that sidelined him for the beginning of the season — and threatened his season in its entirety — getting his run back to the state meet off to a slower start than most.
The senior eventually bounced back to sweep both titles at the Class 1A-District 10 meet on March 29 and again at the Class 1A-Region 3 meet on April 5, punching his ticket to the sport's biggest stage in Lakeland.
"He has done everything you could possibly ask of him to get to this point," said VHS boys weightlifting head coach Jason Poplaski. "A kid like Kristian is really not hard to coach and I could not be more proud of him. To see his growth over the last four years and the challenges and disappointments, that makes this so special."
Poplaski, the father of 2022 VHS boys weightlifting state champion, Ellis Poplaski, said watching Sarakinis stand atop the podium brought out some familiar emotions once again.
"Honestly, it felt like I was watching Ellis win it all over again," Poplaski said. "I had tears in my eyes. No one can ever take this away from him."
Sarakinis wasn't alone in having a good showing at the state meet on Saturday, by any means, as six of his Buffalo teammates accounted for ten additional Top 10 finishes.
Cohen Smith finished Top 10 in both the Olympic and Traditional disciplines at 119 pounds, while Bryton Russ (219), Maleek Williams (238) and Luke Phillips (unlimited) also pulled off a pair of Top 10 finishes at their respective weights. Additionally, Tanner Ostrom placed at 139 pounds in the Traditional lift and Andrew Mommaerts did the same at 219 pounds in the Olympic.
As a team, the Buffalo took fourth overall in the state in both the Olympic and Traditional standings, respectively.
Sarakinis goes into VHS lore as its sixth state champion, following in the footsteps of brothers Colton and Taylor Jackson (2013, wrestling), Emma Symonds (2019, high jump), Ellis Poplaski (2022, weightlifting) and Caley Sosnowski (2023, javelin).
"It's been really tough mentally and physically," Sarakinis said. "But now that it's over, I'm at peace and happy with all the hard work I've put in over my career and seeing how far I've come."
Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org or by calling (352) 259-6890.
