April 4, 2025
Mount Dora High’s Hayes O’Hara Headed To Boys Weightlifting State Championships
By Kyle Coppola
Mount Dora High’s Hayes O’Hara Headed To Boys Weightlifting State Championships
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Hayes O’Hara has emerged as one of the top weightlifters Central Florida this season, and the Mount Dora High School junior has put the entire state on notice and he will now compete at the FHSAA State Championships on April 11th in Lakeland.
A dual-sport athlete competing in both varsity football and weightlifting, O’Hara posted a stellar 2025 campaign in the 183-pound weight class, capturing top honors at major meets and sweeping district and regional titles in both the Olympic and Traditional divisions.
O’Hara, who is also dual-enrolled at Lake-Sumter State College, boasts a 4.2 GPA and trains six days a week. Known by teammates and coaches for his humility and leadership, the soft-spoken junior has earned respect both on and off the platform.
In 2024, O’Hara made his state debut, placing eighth in the Traditional lift category. He returned stronger this season, opening 2025 with a first-place finish at the Lake-Sumter Invitational (Traditional 183) and winning the prestigious Bulldog Invitational in Live Oak, where he also earned “Best Bench Press” honors across the 183-pound and unlimited classes.
O’Hara later secured second in the Olympic division at the Lake-Sumter Invitational, before turning his attention to the postseason. O’Hara swept both Olympic and Traditional titles at Districts and Regionals. He will be among the favorites to win a state championship in Lakeland.
His passion for the sport runs in the family. His cousin, Molly O’Hara of East Ridge High School, placed fourth in the state in Olympic and fifth in Traditional lifting in her respective class. Molly is only a freshman and has a ton of potential to be a state champion one day.
O’Hara’s relentless work ethic, humble demeanor, and academic excellence make him one of the most well-rounded athletes in Lake County — and a name to watch as he prepares to take center stage in Lakeland. Good Luck Hayes!
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
