GOOD HOPE — The Good Hope High School weightlifting team recently won its second straight state title, a feat recognized by the Good Hope City Council.

Good Hope’s boys and girls won the Class 4A championship and finished second overall out of all divisions, from 1A to 7A, during Saturday’s state weightlifting meet, and some of that success can be attributed to a new weight room that the city helped fund. 

The council donated $32,244 to help build the weight room in April 2016, and that contribution has paid dividends to the school and city after the back-to-back championships, Good Hope Mayor Jerry Bartlett said after the council honored the weightlifting team at Monday’s meeting.

“They have got what we think is the best weightlifting facility in the county by far,” he said.

The new facility may have helped, but the work of football coach and athletic director Alan Scott and strength coach Patrick McDonald has helped push the weightlifting team to new heights, Bartlett said. 

“It’s a testament to what Coach Scott and Coach McDonald are doing that we win the state championship two years in a row,” he said. “They have taken this facility and ran with it, and they’re making us proud.” 

McDonald thanked the council for their support in building the new facility, and said it is a big upgrade from the previous weight room that the school had. 

“It’s one of the best facilities in North Alabama by far,” he said. “The kids have got the best of the best, and I think ya’ll for helping us out with that.”

McDonald also encouraged the council members to come to the school to see the weight room and see the hard work that athletes are doing in the new facility. 

“It makes me proud, it makes all of the Good Hope community proud,” he said.