Bay High’s Alannah Rhodes and North Bay Haven’s McKenzie Hatcher were named the Bay County Girls Co-Weightlifters of the Year after reaching the top of the sport.
Rhodes won the Class 2A state championship in the 101-pound Olympic weightlifting category and also earned bronze in the traditional lift. Hatcher captured the Class 1A state titles in both the 169-pound traditional and Olympic lifts.
Coach of the Year: Donka Flaig (Arnold), Aaron Paille (North Bay Haven)
The Arnold Lady Marlins dominated, winning district titles in both the Olympic and traditional categories, then following up with a regional title in the Olympic lift and a runner-up finish in the traditional lift. Arnold sent five state qualifiers: Penny Lashley, Kennedy McAuliffe, Amberlynn Dubuque, Madison Barnes and Laela Kern.
North Bay Haven also had a strong showing, sweeping district titles in both the Olympic and traditional categories and then placing second in the Olympic lift and third in the traditional lift at regionals. North Bay Haven sent six to the state meet: Marianne Masters, Abigail Christoph, Ella Sapp, Madelyn Kimball, Caitlynn Nur and McKenzie Hatcher. The team finished sixth in the Olympic competition and third in the traditional lift at state.
1st Team All-County
Madison Barnes (Sr., Arnold), Penny Lashley (Sr., Arnold), Kennedy McAuliffe (Sr., Arnold), Alannah Rhodes (Sr., Bay), Jalynn Buerke (Sr., Bozeman), Cadence Dillon (Fr., Bozeman), Bella Blitch (Fr., Mosley), Kinzley Eaves (Sr., Mosley), McKenzie Hatcher (Jr., North Bay Haven), Madelyn Kimball (Sr., North Bay Haven), Marianne Masters (Sr., North Bay Haven), Olivia Vazquez (7th, Rutherford).
2nd Team All-County
Amberlynn Dubuque (Fr., Arnold), Laela Kern (Sr., Arnold), Nadia Williams (Sr., Arnold), Holley Bohn (Sr., Bay), Kate Wilson (So., Bay), Calie Dillon (Fr., Bozeman), Lexy McDaniel (So., Bozeman), Alyssa Monastra (Sr., Bozeman), Dawn Goines (Fr., Mosley), Ella Sapp (Sr., North Bay Haven), Piper Pearson (7th, North Bay Haven).
Honorable Mentions
Leah Cline (So., Arnold), Kinzley Mellies (Fr., Arnold), Kinsley Ward (So., Arnold), Taylyn French (Jr., Bay), Sokhna Gueye (Fr., Bay), Michelle Smith (Sr., Bay), Eliana Cavanaugh (8th, Bozeman), Alana Morales-Meeks (Fr., Bozeman), Reagan Roan (Jr., Bozeman), Grace Cornell (So., Mosley), Hannah McGonagil (So., Mosley), Abigail Christoph (So., North Bay Haven), Janiah Lewis (Sr., North Bay Haven), Caitlynn Nur (Jr., North Bay Haven).
Adebanji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: State champions headline the Bay County girls weightlifting teams
Reporting by Adebanji Bamidele, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
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By Adebanji Bamidele, Panama City News Herald | USA TODAY Network
