The top Manatee County weightlifter is Heather Ball

Heather Ball

To her credit: Ball finished ninth at the Class 2A state meet in the 101-pound division after securing Class 2A-Region 8 and Class 2A-District 16 championships, and winning the Manatee County Championship at 110 pounds. Manatee head coach Rich Lansky named her the team's MVP for the second consecutive year. A four-year varsity weightlifter, Ball competed in the Hurricanes' highest percentage of meets since her sophomore season.

Fast facts: Ball comes from a family of athletes. Her father was a three-sport athlete in high school -- football, basketball and baseball -- and her mother played volleyball at Southeast before going on to play at Division III North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Up next: Ball is headed to Florida State, where she will major in exercise sciences. Although she will not be on the Seminoles' weightlifting team, Ball plans to continue lifting with Manatee head coach Rich Lansky this summer and throughout college.

-- David Wilson

Honorable mentions

MANATEE -- Jenna Sypula, junior, 101; Nicole Caruso, junior, 110; Alexandra Hadlock, junior, 119; Callie Nichols, senior, 129; Brooke Schamber, junior, 154

BRADEN RIVER -- Sierra Rawley, junior, 183

PALMETTO -- Elizabeth Atkinson, junior, 199

BAYSHORE -- Makayla Rivera, freshman, 139; Alexis Dorrell, sophomore, 169; Elisabelle Polynice, junior, 183; Tyra Shelby, senior, 199; Jessica Marcelin, senior, unlimited

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "The top Manatee County weightlifter is Heather Ball ."