The First Academy boys weightlifter becomes the first to claim state title

The First Academy’s Kyler Priester stepped onto the mat at the FHSAA Class 1A State Championship with one mission.

Win. 

He first began in the snatch and hit 225 pounds but failed his next two weights. Then he went to clean-and-jerk, and he hit 285 pounds. It felt like butter. Then he hit 300. 

Head coach Trey Tyler pulled him aside to tell him: You can either go for 315 and get second, or try 320 and have a chance to win states. 

Priester chose 320. 

“I came to win; I’m gonna do whatever it takes to win,” Priester said of his decision. “I knew I had to get it, so I went ahead and told (Tyler), ‘This is the way I want to do it and let’s get the win.’” 

His split-second decision paid off. Priester hit 320 in his clean-and-jerk to become the 219 weight class State Champion in the Olympic division with his total lift of 545, and the first lifter from TFA to ever win the crown. He also placed third at states in Traditional. 

“I hit it,” Priester said. “I watched the board get to the three green lights, and then I just got to screaming and yelling. I yelled at Coach Trey, in a good way, I thanked him after for our conversation, trusting and believing in me, and gave all my teammates a hug.”

Winning states feels surreal to Priester, but it also means a lot to him to be able to put the title in TFA’s school record books and accomplish it for the glory of God. He said someone had to be the first win the state title, and he’s grateful he was able to achieve it. He’s also grateful he will be able to come back next year to compete and do even more. 

The state meet was held at RP Funding Center in Lakeland — more than an hour drive from TFA. Priester was determined to make the drive worth it. 

“I had a conversation with my mom,” he said. “I told her we didn’t just drive all the way out here just to lose. I told her, ‘I want to win and win for the glory of God and come out with a win.’ I don’t like to put in all the work and not be able to get the outcome of a win.” 

Priester already had the winning headspace down, but he also needed to make himself angry to bring out the best. On the mat, he was telling himself, “No way this weight doesn’t think I’ll get it. No way this weight doesn’t think it’s going to go over my head.”

By reinforcing his confidence, the junior Royal Priester achieved his goal he’s had ever since first going to states his freshman year. 

GROWING AS A LIFTER

Priester started lifting to help with his strength in football; he also plays as a linebacker for TFA. After lifting for a year, he noticed he was more explosive in his runs, which allowed him to tackle and hit better. 

But through the first year, he fell in love with it. 

“Weights don’t care about your feelings,” he said. “They don’t care if you feel good or feel bad. They don’t care if you had a good day or a bad day. I love how there’s nothing changing — 225 (pounds) will be 225 today and tomorrow.” 

Falling in love with the sport and seeing the results in football kept him going. 

After reaching states his freshman year, Priester wanted to repeat his states appearance his sophomore year but scratched out at regionals. He had hit a personal record of 225 in snatch, which was huge for him, but the success got to his head. When Priester began clean-and-jerk, he was overconfident and started at a weight he shouldn’t have and missed it. He thought he knew what went wrong, so he went up five pounds but missed that, too, and his confidence faltered. 

Weightlifters need at least one attempt in snatch and one in clean-and-jerk, but Priester missed all three in clean lifting and scratched out. 

Experiencing the loss changed how he approached this year. 

Courtesy photo

At the beginning of the season, Priester had a conversation with Tyler about his consistency. Every meet he wore the same socks, same undershirt and followed the same routine every time he went up to the bar: Get his feet and hands set, roll the bar close to him, take two deep breaths and empty his mind to lift. 

“We have a great relationship,” Priester said of Tyler. “We talk back and forth, he gives me feedback on every lift. He helps me with every little detail. Nothing flies by Coach Trey.” 

By being consistent with following the same routine every lift and listening to Tyler, Priester was able to overcome his hurdles. He first did by winning first in Olympic and second in traditional at districts, then first in Olympic and Traditional at regionals. 

TFA as a team also won the district championship for the first time since 2022 and won the Olympic division at regionals Thursday, April 23. 

Priester said Tyler has been an incredible part of the success. 

“He helps anybody,” Priester said. “It doesn’t matter who you are on the team or whether you’re the best lifter or not the best lifter. If you need help or need some attention, he’ll go and correct you, tell you what you’re doing wrong.” 

That’s exactly what Tyler did to help Priester achieve his state title and will continue to as he grows for next year. 

Priester now will focus his efforts on spring football training, which includes weight training. But as for the road ahead in lifting, he already knows he wants to be back on the stage next spring. His goal is to break the state record, which means hitting 315 on snatch and more than 405 in clean-and-jerk. 

Right now, his personal records are 245 for snatch and 320 in clean-and-jerk. Every day, he will look toward becoming the best version of himself through consistency and focus, but now he knows he’s capable.