AUBURNDALE — Auburndale junior Alaney Hancock was the high school’s weight room training for the upcoming district meet when it happened.
“I just fell and I dropped the bar on my neck,” she said. “I was devastated that I couldn’t finish weightlifting and so couldn’t participate in any district (girls soccer) games or the district (girls weightlifting) meet from there.”
Hancock’s neck injury put her in a neck brace and kept her from strenuous activity for three month. After being a first-team, all-county selection in girls weightlifting as a freshman, she was favored to finish in the top five at the state meet at 110 pounds last season.
It was a double blow for Auburndale because the girls soccer team was now down a second key player. Madison Houlihan had injured her knee and her status to return for the postseason initially was questionable. However, she too ended up being out for the remaining of her junior season.
With their seasons winding down, Hancock and Houlihan are back, playing at their best and are looking forward to a strong finish as the girls soccer district tournaments and girls weightlifting meets begin this week. The 5A-6 district tournament begins Wednesday, but Auburndale moved from No. 2 to No. 1 in the final FHSAA rankings and will receive a first-round bye. The Bloodhounds will play the Gateway-Lake Buena Vista winner in the semifinals on Monday. The Auburndale girls weightlifting team will head to Lake Wales for the meet that begins at 2 p.m. on Thursday.