Reaching the pinnacle of earning two state titles at the FHSAA boys weightlifting state championship meet might have been tougher for Peyton McKenzie than for any other qualifier.
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The DeLand junior suffered a back injury about a month and a half before the postseason, so the road to his already lofty goals looked like it was blocked.
“It was an overuse injury,” McKenzie said. “I was still kind of hurt at districts, but I didn’t have to go very high to win (with big lifts). It healed up really well. For regionals I felt almost 100%, and I was 100% for the state meet.”
The end result of the hard work on his recovery was not only winning both the Class 3A Olympic and Traditional style state titles in the 238-pound weight class, but he fulfilled his goal of breaking records in the process of winning a pair of titles. For that achievement he is the 2026 Orlando Sentinel Boys Weightlifter of the Year.
McKenzie was also named the Florida Dairy Farmers’ Class 3A lifter of the year.
In the Olympic style, he broke the state record with 315 pounds lifted in the snatch, and then posted a 370-pound clean and jerk to set another record with his 685 total. He added a 405 bench press to win the Traditional style, which combines the bench with the clean and jerk.
“Peyton really locked in (on his recovery), did his physical therapy sessions and followed the instructions of the doctors,” DeLand coach Damian Dunn said. “His healing process went better than expected.”
McKenzie, who is home-schooled, transferred from Orange City University to Lake Mary in the fall of 2025 to play football before a knee injury last summer hindered that plan. So, another path led him to lift for DeLand and compete nationally.
“When he decided to stop playing football and focus strictly on weightlifting, he had goals,” Dunn said. “He wanted to set the state record, become a national champ and he also wants to make the national team. He’s so locked in on his craft, and understands what he needs to do to reach those goals.”
McKenzie now has his sights set on winning at USA Weightlifting age group (16-17) national meets in June and December in the 94-kilogram weight class. His age group will compete on June 22 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
DeLand star Peyton McKenzie joins Boone, Leesburg, TFA weightlifting champs
Athletes of the year and Sentinel standouts are selected by the Sentinel staff with input from area coaches. Athletes represent schools eligible for the FHSAA state series from Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and southwest Volusia counties.
Sentinel Standouts
Caleb Land, East River, Jr.
He was runner-up in Class 3A in Olympic style in the 139-pound weight class with 490 lifts total. Runner-up in Traditional with 525.
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Luca Bruno, West Orange, Sr.
He was runner-up in 3A Traditional in the 154 weight class with 590 pounds, and was sixth in Olympic style with 495.
Mason Ewing, Boone, Sr.
He won the 3A state title Traditional style in the 183 weight class with 655 pounds. Finished 10th in Olympic style with 500 total.
Jacob Melendez, Timber Creek, Sr.
He was runner-up in 3A Olympic style in the 183 weight class with 555 pounds. Placed fifth in Traditional with 620 pounds.
Hayes O’Hara, Mount Dora, Sr.
He was runner-up in 2A Olympic style in the 183 weight class with 580 pounds, and placed third in Traditional with 650.
Ryan Thompson, Leesburg, Sr.
He was the 2A state champion in Olympic style in the 199 weight class with 615 pounds, and was runner-up in Traditional with 645.
Zion Cannon, Boone, Sr.
He finished third in 3A Traditional style in the 219 weight class with 715 pounds. Placed sixth in Olympic style with 560.
Kyle Priester, The First Academy, Jr.
He won the 1A state title in Olympic style in the 219 weight class with 545 pounds, and was third in Traditional with 625.
Kellen Hatcher, Umatilla, Sr.
He was runner-up in the 1A Olympic style in the 238 weight class with 545 pounds, and tied for third in Traditional with 635.
Terrence Thompson, Seminole, Sr.
He tied for fifth in 3A Olympic style in the 238 weight class with 540 pounds, and was sixth in Traditional with 640 pounds.
DeLand’s Peyton McKenzie, Leesburg’s Ryan Thompson lead weightlifting contenders
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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