Bozeman's Franks keeps reaching new heights

In less than two years, Bozeman sophomore Kasey Franks has reached the pinnacle of high school weightlifting.

She won the 199-pound weight class national championship in the National High School Coaches Association National Weightlifting Championships on Saturday at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, the site of her FHSAA state championship in February.

She bench-pressed 205 pounds and clean-and-jerked 155 to win with a total of 360, about 50 pounds better than second place, Franks said.

Franks said it took a few hours for the impact of the achievement to sink in. When it did, she began realizing the possibilities that could come with a national title.

"It's not just state anymore, it's on a national level so that's a whole new league," Franks said. "There's not much further I can go other than the Junior Olympics or the Olympics, and I want to do that.

"I want to go to the Junior Olympics. I want to put Panama City on the map for something other than beautiful beaches."

She's certainly on her way.

With state and national titles under her belt, Franks' eyes are set on competing in the Olympics. To a 16-year-old with two more years of high school left, reaching the sport's pinnacle isn't an unrealistic goal.

"I believe so because I live, breathe, eat and sleep weightlifting," Franks said. "It's something I enjoy doing. Like girls enjoy cheerleading and guys football, I love weightlifting."

After winning the state title, Franks was invited by the NHSCA to its national meet. Now that the NHSCA meet is over, Franks will continue training, but is looking for sponsors and a coach.

Franks said her toughest competition at the national meet came from Manatee's Heather Crowe. Crowe finished second to Franks at the state and national meets.

While a rivalry may be in the making, Franks is hoping to find more competition.

"I think more girls should think about competing," she said. "Weightlifting isn't just for guys, and I want to see more girls like me. I want to see what's out there and I want somebody to challenge me."

To continue staying ahead of her competition, Franks already has started training for next year.

Franks said her training routine includes high repetitions in bench press and clean-and-jerk. She's added a non-traditional trunk training, which Franks said includes working her abdominal and back muscles to helps her stability in the clean-and-jerk. She's also running more.

"You see all these other girls and you say, ‘I want to be as good as she is,' or ‘I want to be as strong as she is,' you don't really see yourself in that position," Franks said. "To know that you're one of those girls that other girls look up to, it's really humbling."