PANAMA CITY – To say it’s been a roller coaster of a 12 months for senior Jakobie Baker would be an understatement.
A year ago, Baker finished fourth in the state in the 183 class; while he was determined to come back and compete for an elusive state title a few month later he wasn’t even sure he would get that chance.
A few weeks into fall football camp, the two sport athlete who started at wide receiver for Oakleaf broke his fibula and tibia requiring a metal rod and multiple screws in his lower leg causing him to miss his entire senior football season.
Unfortunately, it didn’t get any easier for him as according to his coach Dana Arthur, Baker’s uncle passed away prior to coming back from the injury just as he was preparing for the upcoming weightlifting season.
Yet despite the devastating injury and the death of his uncle, Baker was determined to get back to state and win that elusive state title.
On Saturday, Baker blew away the competition to win the 199 pound class individual state weightlifting title with a total of 690, 35 pounds ahead of runner-up William Davis from Lake Region. Like Davis, Baker benched 375 but his clean of 315 was the difference between gold and silver for Baker.
This is the way to fight to pull the elbows in and fight the bar! @_jakobie 375lb Bench in 3rd Lift at @FHSAA State Meet pic.twitter.com/EHXsrBasWQ
— Dana Arthur (@CoachArthur71) April 8, 2018
Easy 2nd attempt Clean and Jerk at 315lbs. Remember 8 months ago had a fractured Tibia/Fibula requiring a rod and 6 screws pic.twitter.com/Bu77i9WQoY
— Dana Arthur (@CoachArthur71) April 8, 2018
2018 @FHSAA 2A 199lb State Champion @_jakobie pic.twitter.com/gcYviMhZ82
— Dana Arthur (@CoachArthur71) April 8, 2018
Baker’s huge accomplishment wasn’t the only state title in the area as Alex Newman from Bartram Trail won the 183 title and Tyler Nguyen from Fleming Island won the 154 class.
Nguyen broke the state record in his weight class with a 330 pound clean and jerk to finish with a total of 645, 40 pounds more than runner-up Trevor Gilley from New Smyrna Beach.
🚨Fleming Island’s Tyler Nguyen just broke the state record for the clean and jerk for the 154 lb class by lifting 330 lbs🚨 pic.twitter.com/agRTZ8Pf9C
— FHSAA (@FHSAA) April 7, 2018
Newman became just the third weightlifter from Bartram Trail to win a individual state title by winning the 183 class title.
A combine total of 700 pounds was 50 pounds more than runner-up Kaden Jones from Columbia. Like Jones, Newman benched 370 but a clean of 330 was the difference between first and second.
Teammate Jackson Durden finished third in the 199 class with a total of 625 behind Baker and Davis.
Congrats to Alex Newman! State Champion in the 183 lb wt. class. He becomes only 3rd person in the history of Bartram Trail High School to win a Weightlifting State Championship ! pic.twitter.com/LpISMxDRCM
— Bartram Trail Weight Room (@GoBearsWeights) April 7, 2018
Spruce Creek won its 27 overall state title easily with 26 points well ahead of Navarre (14) and Sunlake, New Smyrna Beach and Port Charlotte whom all tied for third with 12 points. Bartram Trail was sixth with 11 points while Fleming Island tied for seventh with 9 points.
Congrats to all of the guys who competed today and all those who competed over the course of the entire season. Conference, District, and Regional Champions. We can add a 6th place Team finish @ States to that list. pic.twitter.com/jSauGQi12Z
— Bartram Trail Weight Room (@GoBearsWeights) April 7, 2018
Class 2A
1 Spruce Creek 26
2 Navarre 14
3 Sunlake 12
New Smyrna Beach 12
Port Charlotte 12
6 Bartram Trail 11
7 Auburndale 9
Fleming Island 9
9 Niceville 8
Manatee 8
11 Timber Creek 7
Harmony 7
Oakleaf 7
Lecanto 7
15 Pace 5
Columbia 5
Lake Region 5
Riverview 5
Lake Brantley 5
Dr. Phillips 4
North Port 4
Gulf Breeze 4
Poinciana 3
Wiregrass 3
Creekside 3
Park Vista 3
Charlotte 3
Osceola 3
Lake Weir 2
Palmetto 2
Sarasota 2
St. Augustine 2
Flagler Palm Coast 2
