PANAMA CITY BEACH — Somewhere, athletic coaches in the Pensacola area are smiling.
Arnold High School hosting the Class 1A and 2A girls weightlifting championships over the weekend was a plum for local tourism and a showcase for the area.
It also was an extended hand to Panhandle high schools that no longer traveled hundreds of miles, sometimes the length of the state, to compete in state championships.
"We’re happy to be in this part of the state," Florida High School Athletic Association Executive Director George Tomyn said Saturday. "This is a bit of a break for a lot of schools that have had to go a good distance in the past.
"Talking to some of the judges, they seemed to be quite pleased with the venue. It’s been a good crowd."
Tomyn said that the FHSAA would huddle with Arnold administrators to make some tweaks and minor adjustments before the boys weightlifting tournaments here in early April.
Foremost are better sight lines for parents and other supporters of the athletes while the lifters are competing.
Tomyn didn’t compare the gate on Friday for the 1A tournament to the 2017 championships hosted by Belleview High School. The FHSAA keeps that portion of the receipts.
"Overall we’re pleased to be here," Tomyn said. "We’ve been greeted in public very respectfully.
"We like to move (state championships) around the state if we can give different people the opportunity to host."
Timber Creek Athletic Director Jim Priest was among those making a 6½-hour drive from the Orlando area to support five athletes from the school.
His attitude could best be summed up that the change of venue was a good thing to do, but please don’t make them travel here for the next decade. Arnold reportedly has a two-year contract to host both the boys and girls 1A and 2A weightlifting events.
"I guess we got spoiled in Osceola County," Priest said. "But this evens everything out. It’s all fair for everybody."
Those in the Miami area might disagree, but the only alternative to the geographic argument is staging all championships in Central Florida.
Arnold Athletic Director Rick Green said that the school parked about 240-250 cars on Friday, Arnold receiving the $10 charge for each vehicle, along with concessions in the gymnasium.
"I think it went very smoothly," Green said. "I had one complaint yesterday from someone not being able to see.
"It actually went better than I thought it would."