Niceville's Connor Mathews, a standout high school football player bound for Air Force, has also made a name for himself in weightlifting. At the 3A FHSAA Boys Weightlifting State Championships, Mathews broke five state records in the 219-pound weight class, including snatch, clean and jerk, bench press, traditional total, and Olympic total. His impressive performance included a 305-pound snatch, a 390-pound clean and jerk, and a 415-pound bench press, culminating in a total of 805 pounds in the traditional class. Mathews' achievements have firmly established him as the most successful lifter in the history of FHSAA state weightlifting.
Despite his football prowess, Mathews's dedication to weightlifting has been evident through his record-breaking feats and back-to-back state titles. His determination to excel in both sports has earned him recognition as a talented athlete with a bright future ahead. With a remarkable display of strength and skill, Mathews has rewritten the record books and solidified his status as a dominant force in high school weightlifting.