January 30, 2025
Villages Charter Graduate Kristian Sarakinis Returns To Receive State Weightlifting Championship Rings
By Kyle Coppola
Villages Charter Graduate Kristian Sarakinis Returns To Receive State Weightlifting Championship Rings
THE VILLAGES, Fla. — Former Villages Charter School weightlifter Kristian Sarakinis returned to campus this week to receive his state championship rings, capping off a remarkable high school career that saw him claim two state titles last year.
Sarakinis, who graduated in 2024, dominated the 139-pound weight class during his senior season, securing gold in both the Traditional and Olympic divisions at the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Weightlifting Championships.
(Sarakinis shows off his muscles. He became a double FHSAA State Champion in boys weightlifting last year in the 139 pound class. Photo Credit Jose Rodriguez.)
In the Traditional category, Sarakinis posted a total lift of 495 pounds, outpacing Suwannee’s Will Garcia, who finished in second place with 440 pounds. He also reigned supreme in the Olympic category, lifting a combined 385 pounds to defeat Mark Garcia of Suwannee by a 15-pound margin.
Sarakinis medaled as a junior at the FHSAA State Championships, earning a 2nd place finish in Traditionals and a 6th place finish in Olympic. As a sophomore, he also secured a 2nd place finish in the 119-pound weight class in Traditional for The Villages.
(Sarakinis made a jump from 119 pound to 139 pound weight class his junior year ultimately preparing him to become double state champion in 2024 as a senior. Photo Credit – Jose Rodriguez.)
A standout student-athlete, Sarakinis was not only known for his strength on the platform but also for his dedication in the classroom and leadership among his peers. Sarakinis is currently attending Florida Atlantic University where he is studying business economics. Sarakinis now does weightlifting for fun but has indicated he may make a comeback to competitive weightlifting in the future.
Sarakinis’ double championship performance was an amazing accomplishment. We are so proud of him. Congratulations to his family who attended the ceremony and to everyone who has impacted this young man’s life. Way to go Kristian!
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.
