Seven Lady Wildcat weightlifters qualified for the state tournament at the sub-sectional competition January 14 at BCHS.

A dozen schools competed to send lifters to state with one sub-sectional remaining on January 28 in St. Augustine. The top three girls in each weight classification qualified.

Kasey Russell broke three school records at the meet with a 200 pound bench press, a 160 pound clean and jerk, and a 360 pound total in the unlimited class.  Tiffany Braddy continued to smash records with a 160 pound clean and jerk and a 360 pound total in the 169 weight class.

Jordan Perry qualified in the 101-pound class with a second place finish. Laken Head placed third in the weight class.

Kristen Burnham placed first and Ashley Wheeler second in the 139-pound class. McKenzi Hand was third in the 154-pound class.

The Lady Bobcats of Baker County Middle School continued on their winning ways with a 43-6 victory over Wilkinson Jr. High School on January 5.

Delicia Washington led the way for the Bobcats with 22 points. Zoe Hamil and Abby Rice each had 4 points, while Tristan Lauramore had 3, and Tyneisha Reed, Jada Jackson and Lindsey Love each had 2.

Then on January 9, the Lady Bobcats traveled to Hamilton County for their last conference game of the season and came away with a 38-23 win. Washington posted 26 points, Jackson had 6, Love scored 4 and Rice had 2.

The girls finished their season with an outstanding 13-1 overall record, going 8-0 in conference play. They travel to Madison County Middle School to play the Cowgirls in the championship game at 6 pm on January 19.

Former FSU football coach Bobby Bowden at the awards banquet.

Legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden, who lead the Florida State Seminoles to a national titles in 1999 and 1993, addressed the 2012 Wildcat football awards banquet January 6.

BCHS football coach Ryan Sulkowski said this week that his players, who met Coach Bowden before the event, were excited and humbled by the experience.

“That is what the banquet was all about, those kids,” he said. “And to have a speaker of that magnitude in not describable ... Our kids were honored that he chose to spend time with us for our special night ... He’s a great coach and even better man. Our kids have a memory to take with them for a lifetime.”

Mr. Bowden shared humorous stories and talked about the role that successful athletics programs often play in academic achievement.

And he gave players some words of wisdom to take with them as they prepare to enter adulthood.

Chelsey Ruise, left, drives past Baldwin defender.

The Lady Wildcat basketball team won its way into the finals of the Bishop Snyder Christmas Tournament before losing to rival Baldwin 54-42. The Cats beat Bishop Snyder in the first round and Ed White in the semi-final game.

Chelsey Ruise had 20 points in the 48-40 win over the White Commanders to lead all scorers. Ruise had 9 points in the final period as BCHS outscored White 16-6 to secure the win.