weightlifting | Crestview News Bulletin

Baker weightlifting sweeps district

Written by Randy Dickson on March 31, 2023. Posted in Sports, weightlifting.

The order of finish was the same in the Traditional. 1-Baker 71, 2-Jay 33, 3-Northview 18, 4-Catholic 16.

Carter Glenn; 139, Brady Bright; 169 and Dalton Cotten; 183 were double champions. Jonathan Lindros; 219 and Justin Barbaree; 154 took home championships in the Traditional lift.

Glenn, a state champion in 2022 won the Traditional with 455 pounds and the Olympic with 370 pounds.

Bright recorded lifts of 550 in the Traditional and 430 in the Olympic. Cotton was 505 in the Traditional and 355 in the Olympic.

Barbaree powered up 420 pounds to win his championship. Lindros lifted 475 pounds to win his title.

Baker had 12 second place finishers, eight third place finishers, two fourth place finishers and two lifters take fifth in their event.

The next stop for the Gators is the regional meet in Port St. Joe on April 7.

Crestview weightlifters claim district championship

Written by Randy Dickson on March 31, 2023. Posted in Sports, weightlifting.

“I’m extremely proud of these young men,” coach Thomas Grant said. “I think this is the first district trophy since 1999 when we also won state.

“We won the Olympic and finished third in the traditional.”

Champions in Olympic were: Cayden Cook, 129 weight class; Eli Anglin, 154; Ethan Myers, 169; Elijah Whaley-Boyd, 183; Caleb Krumnow, 238.

Taking second place in Olympic were: Trey Hardmen, 129; Braxton Ratcliff, 169; Maddox Reeves, unlimited.

Third place finishers were: Gage Franklin, 119; Aubrey Watkins, 139; Reece Kilian, 199.

Anglin was a double champion taking the Traditional lift as well. Myers and Reeves took second in Traditional.

For complete results go to weightliftingscore.com and follow the click on boys district, District 2-3A.

Former Gator enjoying banner year for Coastal Alabama

Written by Randy Dickson on March 30, 2023. Posted in baseball, football, Sports, weightlifting.

Steele loves to hunt and fish. His dream is to one day own a charter boat out of Destin. Any dreams for being on the water will have to wait for now until he finishes his playing days in baseball.

Steele is currently a member of the Coastal Alabama Community College baseball team where he’s a redshirt freshman catcher and pitcher. He’s hitting .386 on the season and has hit four home runs.

Steele spent his true freshman season as a member of the Northwest Florida State baseball team. When the Raiders signed a transfer catcher from Southeastern Conference power Mississippi State, Steele saw the writing on the wall and headed west to Baldwin County Alabama and Coastal Alabama.

He’ll be on the move again at the end of this season as the school will no longer field a baseball team. That won’t stop Steele from finding another place to play the game he loves.

“I’ve played since I was old enough to throw a baseball,” he said. “I played youth ball all the way up until I got to the Baker middle school team. I moved up to varsity my ninth-grade year until I graduated.”

Baker graduate Zane Steele gets ready to receive a pitch from his catcher position for the Coastal Alabama baseball team.

Steele has a year of eligibility remaining at the junior college level and three years total that he can still play. That gives him several options as he looks for the next stop on his baseball journey. He can sign with another junior college and play his final year of ball at that level, or he can sign with a four-year school for his final three years.

“I’m not in panic mode,” he said. “Coaches can’t start talking to you until March 8. it just started to where they can start talking to you. But I’m not really worried about it.”

Steele tries to be honest when assessing his own game.

“I have a pretty strong arm,” he said. “I’m up to 92 (miles an hour with his pitch) off the mound. If having a strong arm also helps, I’ll stay behind the plate at catcher.”

The years of lifting weights also has given him pop with the bat. He thinks that will help him as he looks for his next landing spot.

Using his strong arm behind the plate is one of the things Steele likes most about catching.

“I like being sneaky when a runner is on first base,” he said. “I try to throw behind him to pick him off.”

The hardest part of the game for Steele is one most batters deal with, keeping things in perspective.

“It’s just keeping your head up and not letting like a strike out, a bad pitch or maybe a bad swing get to you,” he said. “I’m always thinking about the next swing. And if I make an out, I remind myself when you fail seven out of 10 times, you’re considered successful in baseball.”

Ezell sees hard work, dedication pay off in weightlifting

Written by Brian Lester on March 9, 2023. Posted in Sports, weightlifting.

Though she didn’t earn a medal at the 3A state weightlifting meet, the Crestview senior placed in the top 10 in both Olympic (7th) and traditional (10th), with total lifts of 320 and 335 pounds.

Her clean and jerk was a PR of 185 pounds. Her bench total was 150, also a PR.

“To look back and think of how proud 12-year-old me would be of me now, it’s incredible.”

Both the clean and jerk and bench totals mean a lot to Ezell considering the back story. It was at 175 pounds where she scratched at state last year in clean and jerk. Getting the bench total that she did meant even more.

“I hurt my shoulder my junior year and 150 has been a number I’ve been going for since then. To hit it, it shows all of my hard work paid off,” Ezell said.

Ezell went to state as a junior as well. She should have gone as a sophomore but those hopes were derailed by a tough day at the regional.

To go back-to-back years was a big deal for Ezell.

“It meant the world,” Ezell said. “I scratched on bench at the regional my sophomore year, and that made getting to state even more of a goal. I wanted to prove I could do it. I finally did, and did it twice. It made me feel I can accomplish whatever I want to accomplish.”

Ezell said she got into weightlifting because of her dad and sister. Both of them made it to state when they were in high school.

She used to be a softball player but her family inspired her to get into weightlifting.

“I started lifting and fell in love with it,” Ezell said. “My dad supported me with my decision and pushed me to keep going.

She is glad she did get into lifting.

“I have always said the best decision was picking up the bar. It was an immediate love for the sport,” Ezell said.

She said the toughest thing about weightlifting is keeping the doubts out of her head and just going out and doing the best she can.

The good thing is there is no shortage of support.

“One of my favorite parts of the sport is seeing the support the weightlifting community has for each other,” Ezell said. “That pushes me to do even better. We love cheering and supporting each other.”

While her high school career is done, she plans to continue lifting.

“When I go to college, I want to find a gym that is USA Weightlifting-registered, and I hope to continue to compete,” Ezell said.

Muse leads way for Bulldogs at Navarre Invitational

Written by Brian Lester on January 12, 2023. Posted in Sports, weightlifting.

Muse, who competes in the 119-pound weight division, also earned the pound for pound title for Olympic.

She recorded a total lift of 315 pounds to win her weight class in Olympic. In the traditional event, she placed fourth with a total lift of 310 pounds.

Muse had three other lifters place in the top five in Olympic. Ciera Ezell took fourth in the 169-pound weight class with a total lift of 300 pounds. Aniston Conlee finished fifth in the 129-pound weight class and Campbell Toolan placed fifth in the 139-pound weight division with a total lift of 240 pounds.

Conlee was also fourth in her weight class in the traditional competition, recording a total lift of 280 pounds.

The Bulldogs placed fifth as a team in Olympic and were sixth in traditional. Crestview now turns its attention to the District 1-3A meet on Jan. 25 in Niceville. Muse and Ezell will both be looking for a return trip to state.

Muse was second last year in snatch, which is now part of the Olympic category, and took third in traditional. She competed in the 110-pound weight division last season and is eyeing her third trip to state.

Ezell took 12th in traditional and 13th in snatch.

Crestview makes strong showing at competition

Written by archive on April 4, 2019. Posted in high-school, Sports, weightlifting.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview makes strong showing at competition

Baker hosts district weightlifting meet

Written by archive on March 15, 2016. Posted in high-school, Sports, weightlifting.

BAKER — Fresh off winning the Oliver’s Nursery Invitational, Baker School’s boys weightlifting team goes for the District 1-1A title Wednesday at Baker.

“I’m really excited about the district championship,” Coach Andy Valmus said. “We hosted Oliver’s Nursery Invitational (March 9). Last year we didn’t place, and this year we won it.

“I think a lot of our guys are going to see the same guys in competition (that competed against them in the Oliver’s Nursery meet). And we are going to bring over Pensacola High School and Catholic for the district meet.”

West Florida Tech, Jay, Northview and Rocky Bayou Christian will join Baker, PHS and Catholic at the district meet.

Three Gators won their weight class at the Oliver’s Nursery meet, and another 13 lifters medaled.

Christian Sanguyo won the 129-pound class, Logan Cadenhead the 139-pound and Montae Barto won the 238-pound class.

“Winning is big, because both of my brothers lift,” Sanguyo, a senior, said. “I would like to make it to state with a 460 total. My best total now is 445.

“I’ll try to get better in the clean because that’s where the power comes from.”

Cadenhead, a junior, said weightlifting helps him prove something to himself each time he increases his best lift. He’s hoping a win at the invitational will indicate things to come.

“It will get my confidence up (so) I can place and go farther,” he said.

Tyler Oliver — a 2015 Baker graduate who has gone from Gator lifter last year to an assistant coach this year — said he’s happy to give back to the school and team.

“It’s fun to come back and see the guys improve over the years and be a part of it,” he said. “Weightlifting definitely helps you (build) confidence.”

In the past six years, the Gators have won their last 27 dual meets, and that record has remained intact, even with most lifters competing in other sports.

“Coach (Adam) Henry (Baker’s baseball coach) does a great job of allowing,” Valmus said. “Coach (David) Oglesby does the same for the guys in track. Coach O1 (David) and O2 (Rusty Oglesby) do a great job of allowing them to come here to compete and then get their track workout in.”

Strength training is Gator athletes’ foundation of success, head football coach and athletic director Matt Brunson said.

“We believe that whatever sport our athletes choose to play, they are going to be better prepared to be successful in that sport based on the strength levels they have achieved,” he said.

“What the kids at Baker have bought into is our saying, “There’s no substitute for strength and there is no excuse for the lack of it.”

—

UPCOMING

WHAT: District 1-1A weightlifting meet

WHEN: 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 16

WHERE: Baker School

COST: $5

Team scores: Baker 67, West Florida Tech 49, Jay 43, Rocky Bayou Christian 24, Northview 14.

Baker medalists

119, 3rd: Conner Dupree; 4th, Bradley Inscore

129, 1st: Christian Sanguyo

139, 1st: Logan Cadenhead; 3rd, Austin Oglesby

154, 3rd: Chris Roller; 4th, Ethan Garrett

169, 2nd: Jacob Gilmore; 4th, Jacob Twele

183, 4th: Tom Crowson; 6th, Zach Brown

199, 3rd: Nick Adams; 6th, Tyler Richards

219, 3rd: Dylan Martin

238,1st: Montae Barto

Unlimited, 4th: Chris Stanley

Oliver's Nursery Invitational Results

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker hosts district weightlifting meet

Baker's Oglesby, McCranie win state weightlifting titles

Written by archive on February 5, 2016. Posted in high-school, Sports, weightlifting.

Friday was a banner day for Baker School’s girls weightlifting team at the Class 1A state championship in Kissimmee. Powered by state champions Mykala McCranie and Mary Oglesby the Gators finished fourth in the state.

Oglesby, a senior picked up the gold medal in the 183 pound class with combined lifts totaling 365 pound. She 15 pounds ahead of the second-place lifter.

The championship was a long time coming for Oglesby, but it was worth the wait.

“It’s a culmination of everything I worked for the last seven years and it paid off,” she said. “I had a good day, but I didn’t have my best day.

“It’s still amazing.”

McCranie, like Oglesby is a senior and a veteran of multiple state competitions. She won the unlimited class with lifts totally 415 pounds. Her closest competitor was 45 pounds behind with lifts of 370.

“It feels amazing,” McCranie said. “I’m so blessed to have come to state five years and win once.”

Baker Coach David Oglesby, Mary’s father, said all the girls at state made a great showing for themselves.

“I’m proud of all the girls,” he said. “They worked so hard.

“This is huge because a lot of people are going to take notice of girls weightlifting because we have two state champions.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker's Oglesby, McCranie win state weightlifting titles

13 things you didn't know about Baker's Mykala McCranie

Written by archive on February 2, 2016. Posted in high-school, Sports, weightlifting.

BAKER — Mykala McCranie, facing Friday’s Class 1A state girls weightlifting championships in Kissimmee, is second to none.

The Baker School senior competes in the unlimited class, where her lifts are 40 pounds better than the state's second-best lifter. If all goes as planned, by the end of Friday, McCranie will stand on the podium as a state champion.

Gator girls weightlifting Coach David Oglesby said McCranie is everything a coach could hope for in a lifter.

“In a nutshell, you could say about Mykala, that she’s a silent leader, but she does everything right,” he said. “She works hard and people see that.

“She has been to state every time since eighth grade.”

McCranie is the rare lifter whose bench press and clean are almost equal.

“The funny thing is she’s 210 on the bench and 205 clean so she’s right there,” Oglesby said. “I think she can do 220 at the state in the bench and I think she might be able to do 220 in the power clean.

“I think she’s not where she’s going to be when she gets to state. I think she’s going to have personal records at state.”

We now catch up with Mykala McCranie.

How old were you when you started weightlifting?

I want to say I was 14. I was in the eighth grade.

What's the best part of weightlifting?

Coming in and spending time with the girls and having fun.

What's the worst part of weightlifting?

Whenever we have to run.

What are your expectations this season?

Hopefully to win a state championship.

If you had to pick a different sport to play, what would it be?

Soccer, because it’s a lot of fun.

What is your favorite weightlifting experience?

Probably last year at state, spending time with the girls that went down there. We had a lot of fun.

What are your hobbies outside weightlifting?

Hunting, fishing, softball.

What's your dream career?

A neonatal nurse.

Do you want to lift weights in college?

I think it would be fun.

What is your favorite movie?

“The Lion King.”

Who is your favorite singer?

Seventh Time Down, a Christian group.

If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be?

Sponge Bob, because that was the last one I watched.

If you could live in any other period in history, which one would you choose?

I would probably go 20 or 25 years into the future to see how things turned out.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 13 things you didn't know about Baker's Mykala McCranie

Baker weightlifters eye state championship

Written by archive on February 2, 2016. Posted in high-school, Sports, weightlifting.

BAKER — Five lifters from Baker School’s girls weightlifting team will be in Kissimmee on Friday for the Class 1A state finals.

Four of them won their region, and three have the best lifts in the state heading into the state finals.

Veterans Mykala McCranie — unlimited class — and Mary Oglesby — 189 class — lead the Gator forces.

McCranie this year has lifted 40 pounds more than anyone in her class. Oglesby is right behind her, having lifted 35 pounds more than the 189 class' second-best lifter.

Sarah Nunley (119) is tied with best lift in the state. Brittany Anderson is a region champion in the 169 class and Taylor Brunson qualified in the 154 class.

Gator Coach David Oglesby, Mary’s father, is excited about Baker’s chances at state.

“They changed the weightlifting into two divisions,” he said. “1A is going to lift on Friday, and 2A is going to lift on Saturday. This is actually the first time at the state meet that it’s going to be a little bit more level.

“Since they (the state) divided it up into two classes, we are not going against the Navarres and the Nicevilles and the Fort Walton Beaches anymore. Whereas we would go down there before and hope (to have lifters) place, four of my lifters could win state championships.”

The girls are equally excited about the state meet.

“I know (as a senior) this is it, so I’m blessed to have the opportunity to go down there and compete,” Mary Oglesby said. “This is my last shot. I’m blessed to have this group of girls. It’s been a great group to work with, so to bring home something ( a state championship) that symbolizes all of our work would be awesome.”

McCranie has been to the state meet every year since she was in the eighth grade, but competing at state never gets old for her.

“It’s nerve-racking, but it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s really important to get the championship. I love this school and I would love to see it because it hasn’t happened in the past.”

Brunson — better known for her volleyball court exploits — is ready to give the big stage her best shot.

“It’s a totally different situation than volleyball,” she said. “It’s an individual sport, so you don’t have to worry about the other (lifters on the team).

"It would be awesome for the school to win a state championship.”

Nunley said she can be her own worst enemy.

“I’m a head case,” she said. “I just need to get it in my head that I can actually do what I’m capable of.

“I went (to the state meet) last year to watch Mykala and Mary, so I know what it looks like, but I’m hoping to get first and bring home a state championship.”

This also is Anderson’s first trip to the state meet.

“I’m excited about going, but I’m nervous thinking about it,” she said. “I have to push myself harder to get to where I need to be.”

After losing to Mosley by a point in the region, David Oglesby knows that, even with the new classification system, Baker will lift against schools two, three or four times larger than it is.

And while he wouldn’t predict who would win, he was confident in making a statement about his team.

“Nobody is going to work harder than our Baker student athletes,” he said. "No one.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker weightlifters eye state championship

Oliver's Nursery Invitational Results

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