FPC’s Buchanan claims state weightlifting title

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

Flagler Palm Coast High School weightlifter Annie Buchanan has officially joined the winner’s circle after her top finish at the Class 3A FHSAA Girls Weightlifting State Championships on Feb. 13.

Buchanan earned her spot after completing all six lift attempts (235 for the bench press and 215 for the clean and jerk) for a total of 450 in the 199-pound weight division. George Jenkins’ Dallas Dickey was second place with a 365-pound total.

“I was super excited,” Buchanan said. “I was just smiling ear to ear after I finished lifting!”

Buchanan is only the third lifter in FPC’s history to walk away as a state champion. One of the other two is her older sister, Lexi Buchanan — then a sophomore — who took the state title in 2018 (425 total). Three short years later, the two share the same honor.

“It feels great to join her,” she said. “She was definitely one of my biggest motivations.”

Head coach Duane Hagstrom said that Buchanan has been a project as far as her ability to compete, but she’s matured greatly in the last three years.

“As a freshman, if she missed a lift, her day was over and we couldn’t get her reeled back in,” he said. “We don’t have the problem now. She is calm and cool regardless of the situation.”

The energy at this year’s championships were slightly different due to COVID-19, but even the altered atmosphere wasn’t enough to deter Buchanan. She said that prior to winning, she was simply focused on lifting making all of her attempts. Upon winning, tears of pride and excitement streamed down her face, as her longtime goal had become a reality.

Hagstrom shared in this sentiment, saying that he told her after she won that he has “cried tears of joy every time I’ve had a state champ." Buchanan was no different. But, he joked that if she told anyone about his tears, he would deny it.

A champion at heart and in the weight room, Buchanan now sets her sights on the lacrosse fields as one of FPC’s goalies. The girls lacrosse team will next play at home on Feb. 23, hosting Pedro Menendez at 5:30 p.m..