'It feels amazing': George Jenkins' Draper earns 3rd; Ridge's Saint Louis nabs 3rd
An unexpected cough and common cold happened to senior George Jenkins weightlifter William Draper about a week ago.
Draper, 17, woke up and started to cough. He would go on to recover strong just before the FHSAA 2024 Boys 3A State Championships Friday at the RP Funding Center. Draper (154 pounds) claimed third place in Traditional thanks to lifting a total of 490 pounds, tying for the highest placing 3A Polk County weightlifter.
“It feels amazing man. All the hard work came to fruition: You get to be shown for third place,” Draper said. “Finally (my) senior year. (It’s) just something to show off, right?”
In Draper’s sophomore year, he placed 12th at 139 pounds. And in his junior year, he didn’t make weight.
Knowing how close he was two years ago, not even a common cold could stop him, though it didn’t seem like that at first. Draper took a week off from school and lifting to focus on getting better.
The day before state was the first day he got back in the gym to train.
“…(I) just did some light lifting, nothing too heavy. (I) just try to move technically,” Draper said.
Draper knew the magnitude of the situation despite his sickness.
“It’s just unlucky timing. (It) doesn’t matter what happens; just got to stay confident — can’t let it mess with you,” Draper said.
Draper decided early on that he would fight for his one true passion of weightlifting, as he didn’t compete in any other sports in high school because he just loves to lift.
It all started for Draper when he showed up for weightlifting tryouts. Of course, he made the team and went on to win districts and placed high in regions. His junior year he missed weight in districts, so he couldn’t compete.
Draper had a lot of motivation heading into his senior year before accomplishing a top three finish in state his last year in high school.
In the very near future, Draper said he will compete in FWF Florida State Championships, US Weightlifting Club and he will see what he can do with weightlifting in college.
County: 'Consistent in my lifts': Polk County's Canet, Hart, Chastain, Temples earn county titles
Region: Weightlifting regionals: Frostproof's Wise claims double title, Lake Wales repeats
Ridge’s A-Jay Saint Louis claims 3rd
Ridge Community senior weightlifter A-Jay Saint Louis quit every sport he ever tried his freshman year of high school — until he found the sport of weightlifting.
He loved the sport so much because to Saint Louis, it was finally a sport he was good at. The Davenport native just wanted to impress his mother at the time.
Four years later, Saint Louis, 18, placed third at state in the traditional category thanks to lifting a total of 435 pounds.
“It feels pretty nice man. If it wasn’t for the man above, and the man here, Earl Sly, (and) I also thank Desiree Saez and my mother and my whole family for making this possible,” Saint Louis said. “It would have been better if I placed first. But you know, I’ll take a top three. Today wasn’t really that good of a day. Could have did better.”
Ironically, this is how he felt his sophomore year when he scratched at districts.
But Saint Louis redeemed himself his junior year, advancing to state for the first time.
In 2024, Saint Louis hasn’t lost a big tournament since April of 2023. While placing third in state is customarily good, he hasn’t had the third-place feeling in quite some time.
He will continue to train for more wins, while also preparing to weightlift in college.
“He’s worked hard. And it’s been a challenge to keep him on the right path to accomplish what we did today,” Sly said.
Other top-10 Polk County placers in Olympics are: Haines City’s Gael Guzman (119 pounds, 340 total lift, 5th), Ridge Community’s Mathew Warden (, 119, 10th, 310 pounds), Lake Gibson’s Nathaniel Goldsmith (139, 9th, 400 pounds) and Lakeland’s Caleb Stokes (unlimited, 9th, 520 pounds.
And top-10 Polk County placers in Traditional are: Haines City’s Jayson Merritt (139, 9th, 430 pounds), Saint Louis (139, 10th, 430 pounds), Draper (154, 6th, 540 pounds), Bartow’s Jordan Schley (238, 9th, 580 pounds) and Stokes (unlimited, 6th, 700 pounds).
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: George Jenkins Draper wins 3rd; Ridge's Saint Louis posts 3rd
