Make it two straight GHSA state gymnastic titles for the Lady Wolves of Buford High School. Coach Amanda Allen’s team tallied a total of 111.425 points to proudly perch themselves on top of the state championship mountain with Carrollton finishing second followed by Lambert, Forsyth Central, and Colquitt County.

The Lady Wolves were led by Lyndzi Jones who won the beam with a 9.7, and the floor exercise with a 9.55. Buford teammates Logan Nugent and Berkley Barrett finished first and second on the bar, and Buford was ready to take home their second straight state title.

I did a story for GPB Sports Now, three years ago on a fledgling Buford program that was then in its first year of competition. The goal was always to win a state championship and now Coach Allen has collected two in a row.

The key strengths to this year’s team: “We had some depth on this year’s team, everyone had something to contribute," says Coach Allen.

I asked about winning the titles back to back.

“The athletes have a lot of fun competing - they were there to compete, but the coaches….we were more nervous this time,” continues Coach Allen.

What about going for the three peat next year?

“I am sure that will be a nail biting, nerve racking time again. But we have several girls coming back. The team will have a lot of potential, so we will have a strong team again next year too.”

For a little history lesson, gymnastics began as a GHSA event in 1956 and it was a boys event only back then with Druid Hills winning the very first title. The sport then took seven years off to bounce back in 1964, again, just boys. The girl’s competition began in 1969 with Tucker High School winning the first crown.

And in 1987, the boy’s division was discontinued with just girls competition from that time on.

So congratulations to the Lady Wolves of Buford, the two-time reigning GHSA state champs in gymnastics!