TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Before the Lincoln girls weightlifting team left for state last week, head coach Jordan Bush handed each of the four girls a card. On it was the inscription, “don’t just leave a mark, leave a legacy.” It’s something Bush’s mom Diane, a longtime softball coach in New York, used to say before she passed away.
Bush knew this group had a chance to do something special, and that special group first showed up at Regionals.
“Ms. Jordan came up and screamed that we won,” remembered Breana Carter, who finished first in Traditional and second in Olympic at Regionals. “She was so excited. She ran into the bleachers, guys, I think we’re first! I think we’re first!”
“They were all like what?” laughed Bush. “I was like, guys we won! I think we were all shocked.”
For the first time in school history, the Trojans were regional champs.
“We were not favored to win at all,” said Bush. “It was a big shock. I love being an underdog.”
Four Trojans qualified for state, and that’s were this group went from special to legendary.
“I wasn’t really planning on winning. There was hope for that, but no true intention of winning.”
Senior Hannah Meckes won the Class 2A state championship for Traditional in the 110 weight class, the program’s first ever individual state champion.
“Finding out that I made history, I was like wow, me?” she said. “Wow, that’s crazy.”
As a team? The Trojans took second in Traditional in Class 2A, their highest finish ever.
“I was just like what?” said Lanie Woodson, who took 3rd in Traditional and 5th in Olympic in the 129 weight class. “We’re all on different platforms, so you know what each other is doing, but you don’t.”
“To watch four girls walk across the stage and get that trophy was special,” added Bush. “I’ve won a lot of trophies in my day, but this one’s the most special.”
A special season to remember.
“The seniors, they’re going on now,” said Miranda Hall, a junior who finished 2nd in Traditional and 3rd in Olympic in the Unlimited weight class. “This was the last time to really cherish the moments at state.”
“Athletes come and go, but when you stamp your place in history, it’s so special,” said Bush. “These ladies are strong, they kicked butt, they made history, and I’m so proud of them.”
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