The winter season has officially arrived, at least in Florida high school sports.
The FHSAA girls weightlifting regular season began Monday, Oct. 19, marking the start of the winter sports season, which also includes soccer, basketball and wrestling.
With the 2026 season underway, it's time to take a look at some of the strongest high school athletes in Palm Beach County.
This year's competitors include Wellington's Amelia Ciriaco, the reigning Palm Beach Post Player of the Year, and Oxbridge Academy's Sienna Burroughs, who helped establish the ThunderWolves' program.
Don't forget to have your say by voting in our girls weightlifting preseason Player of the Year poll, which will be open until noon on Friday, Oct. 23.
Girls Weightlifting: Palm Beach County Preseason Watch List
Amelia Ciriaco, Sr., Wellington
Last season: State runner-up
in the Olympic and fourth in traditional in the Class 3A 119-pound division. Regional champion in Traditional, Olympic; District champion in Traditional, Olympic.
Sienna Burroughs, Sr., Oxbridge Academy
Last season: Fifth-place finisher in the Olympic and 10th in traditional in the Class 1A 101-pound division. Runner-up in Olympic, fourth place in Traditional at regionals. District champion in Traditional, Olympic.
Audrey DellaVecchia, Sr., Wellington
Last season: 10th-place finisher in the traditional lift in the Class 3A 129-pound division.
Ashlyn Martin, Sr., King’s Academy
Last season: Eighth-place finisher in the traditional lift in the Class 1A 139-pound division. Regional champion in Traditional, runner-up in Olympic; District champion in Traditional, runner-up in Olympic.
Taikha Jean-Claude, So., Boynton Beach
Last season: Seventh place finish in Class 2A 199-pound Olympic lift; Regional champion in Olympic lift; District champion in Olympic.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County girls weightlifting: Players to know, preseason poll










