- May 14, 2026
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Vance Freeman’s mind began to wander. After months of trying to stay present, he thought about the future — one where he stood among the state’s best.
After the FHSAA Class 3A-District 12 meet, where he placed first for Traditional style in the 119-pound weight class, a victorious vision started to play out in his head.
“I definitely had sleepless nights,” said the Sarasota High senior. “Just dreaming about being on that platform with an attempt like I had on my bench (May 7) to win states.”
His vision has come to pass.
Freeman claimed gold for Traditional style in the 119-pound weight class at the 3A boys weightlifting state championship, held at Lakeland’s RP Funding Center. His 435 pounds lifted beat out Jupiter’s Manuel Hodgman (430) and Oviedo’s Jimmy Godwin (415).
With his triumph, the senior brought home the 13th individual state title in program history. He’s the 10th different champion all-time for the Sailors, who in the past featured Ben Thomas and Luis Aguilar as repeat winners in 1986-88 and 2011-12, respectively.
There won’t be an opportunity for Freeman — a soon-to-be graduate — to defend his title, but he owns just the second this decade for Sarasota after Mark Monchecourt in 2024.
“I just knew once I got my form locked in, once I figured everything out, that I could increase my potential by a crazy amount — 20-25 pounds,” Freeman said. “It was just all about really locking in this offseason and not taking every moment for granted.”
May 7, indeed, ended with him atop the podium and a gold medal draped around his neck. He grinned wide and proudly held up his score sheet as the in-arena announcer read his name.
That’s not to say it was a perfect meet. Along the way, there were failures.
Freeman hit his 105- and 110-pound lifts in the snatch, though couldn’t put up 125, having to settle for 110 as his high in that event. His first attempt in the clean and jerk was successful at 190 pounds, but he twice attempted and twice failed to lift 200.
He was tied for fifth place in Traditional style entering the bench press. And it was that final event of the day where he secured the state title.
All three of his attempts were successful — 225, 235 and 245 pounds. None of the 25 other competitors in his weight class could match or exceed 245, while only three of them hit all of their lifts like he did.
“Districts and regionals weren’t really the greatest meets for me,” Freeman said. “But I knew I had it in the tank. I knew what I could accomplish.”
Great or not, his results this postseason were resoundingly positive.
The senior swept Traditional-style titles in the 119-pound weight class at the district, regional and state levels for FHSAA Class 3A. He lifted a total of 405 pounds at the 3A-6 regional championship and 420 pounds at the 3A-12 district championship.
Freeman joined the sport as a freshman at the recommendation of Thor Miller, who at the time, was the Sarasota boys weightlifting coach. Miller, who served in that role up through last season, had to beg Freeman just to show up to practices that first year.
Now, at the end of his high school career, he attributes a lot of his success to Miller, he said. He molded Freeman into the state-champion lifter he became.
“It definitely takes a lot of effort and a lot of discipline,” Freeman said. “From staying under 120 pounds all four years of high school to fixing form to grinding with my teammates every single day — it’s a lot.”
Entering the state championship, success was plentiful for Sarasota. It won the team titles for both Traditional and Olympic style at the 3A-6 regional championship.
Senior Chris Schrum (139-pound weight class), junior Andrew Choate (154), senior Ty Drobney (183) and senior Jackson Costlow (199) all claimed individual titles in Olympic style. Senior Nick Migliaccio (169), meanwhile, won for both styles.
Schrum translated his regional results to a fourth-place Olympic-style finish May 7, lifting 460 total pounds. Costlow put up 545 pounds to earn bronze in that same style.
For the latter of the two, who nursed a torn labrum entering 2026, there was extra gratification in bringing home hardware from RP Funding Center.
“I started this season as the team manager,” Costlow said. “I didn’t even think I was going to lift, so to be able to come out here and perform like that, it meant a lot.”
Only one Sailor, though, left the meet as a state champion — Freeman. He joins a distinguished bunch in the annals of weightlifting history at Sarasota High School.
Holding a gold medal in his hands was only a dream, for a while. It was something he had visions of as the meet drew closer and closer.
It has since become reality.
