Latest news with #BobbyJohns
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lady Gators ring in historic season
WEWAHITCHKA, Fla. (WMBB) – Wewahitchka High School girls' weightlifting team made history by being crowned state champions in both the Olympic and traditional categories of the FHSAA Class 1A Rural Division. The achievement was credited not just to the athletes, but to the entire school and community, according to head coach Bobby Johns. 'It was really more than just about our girls,' Johns said. 'It was about our school and our community, and it was meant to be shared with them.' Two lifters were named double state champions: Emma Rustin and Mackenzie Hatcher, who each took home titles in both Olympic and traditional events. As a team, Wewahitchka was awarded both the Olympic and Traditional State Championships, a feat not often achieved, especially by a school of its size. Rustin, a junior, was named champion with a 365-pound total in Olympic and 380 pounds in Traditional. 'A great feeling was experienced,' Rustin said. 'I felt like I represented well. I think we all did. The pride of the community was carried with us. Hard work was proven to pay off, even when it doesn't feel like it.' Hatcher, a sophomore, posted 395 pounds in Olympic and 390 in Traditional. Ashlyn Ake added a first-place finish with 385 pounds in Olympic, contributing to the team's overall success. 'I am definitely very honored,' Hatcher said. 'Having the support of my school and being able to grow as an athlete and a person over these four years—those memories will always be treasured.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lady Gators aiming to make Wewahistory at State
WEWAHITCHKA, Fla. (WMBB) – The Wewahitchka High School girls weightlifting team is coming off of a regional title and looking to win the program's first state championship this weekend. 'Winning a state championship in anything is difficult,' head coach Bobby Johns said. A second-place finish in last year's regional and state competition has left the Wewahitchka Gators eager for redemption. 'One of our goals was to win regionals. We swept that,' Johns said. From the beginning of the season, one of the biggest goals has already been achieved by Wewahitchka, with gold being brought home in both Traditional and Olympic at regionals. The importance of controlling the mental game has been emphasized by senior Ashlyn Ake, who said the regional win gave the Gators the confidence to prepare for State. 'It's going to get hard. But like I said, this is more of a mental game than just like being physically strong enough. Mental has a big part in this sport,' Ake said. Lessons from last year's state championship have been taken by Johns, and this year, the team focuses on consistency rather than the need to hit PRs in order to win. As one of the smallest high schools in Florida, a state championship is rarely won by Wewahitchka, and the weightlifting team has never brought home a title. 'It's huge for us at our school because there's only been a few state champions this school has ever had and none in weightlifting as a team. I've had some in cross country, in softball obviously, years ago in basketball, but it's been very few and far between,' Johns said. The Lady Gators will travel to Lakeland on Friday, February 14. Weigh-ins are scheduled for Friday evening, and the State competition is set to begin on Saturday, Feb. 15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
