In her senior year, Leesburg High weightlifter Hannah Stubbs stands as a confident leader for the Yellow Jackets, a program that has built a powerhouse reputation under coach Josh Boyer.

Hannah began weightlifting as a sophomore after hearing about the sport through school announcements and decided to enroll in the class. She has grown into a confident leader on the team. The Leesburg program, under head coach Josh Boyer, has achieved incredible success in recent years, including multiple FHSAA Class 2A state titles in Olympic and Traditional categories, highlighted by historic feats like winning with team state titles with minimal medalists.

Hannah credits much of her development to role models like former teammates Justise Davis and Nevaeh Wells.

“These ladies are my role models because they always kept their heads held high and stayed true to their values,” she says. “Having them as leaders motivated me to grow into a better version of myself.”

A standout memory for Stubbs isn’t a single lift but the team bonding off the platform.

“My favorite lifting memory was when we would go out to eat as a team to debrief and have fun,” she says. 

Under Boyer’s guidance, Hanna has internalized key lessons.

“The most important lesson Coach Boyer has taught me is that hard work and discipline matter, especially when no one is watching,” she says. “Also, how important it is to have the right mindset when competing; he calls it ‘flipping the switch.'”

The sport has profoundly shaped her character.

“Weightlifting has helped build my confidence and created a mental toughness by telling myself to keep going even when I didn’t think I could,” Hannah says. 

One piece of advice from Boyer stands out. “You’re capable of much more than you think.” Those seven words, she says, dissolve doubts during tough attempts and fuel her drive to complete her lifts for the team.

“When I feel like I can’t do an attempt or believe I’m going to fail, I think about what he says and all my doubts and worries go out the window,” she says. “It gives me the confidence to keep going and do what I need for the team.”

Hannah overcame her biggest challenge early on: comparison.

“When I first started, all I could say to myself was why am I not as good as everyone else,” she says. “That mindset made me lose confidence… my joy for lifting started to dwindle. It took a while, but I realized I needed to focus on my own growth instead of measuring myself against others. Only then did I start to shine.”

Now, she offers wisdom to younger athletes.

“Everyone’s journey is different, so don’t compare yours to others,” she says. “Competing for Leesburg is an honor. Before I joined, I didn’t realize how big the program was, and seeing how it’s grown makes me even more grateful to be a part of it,” Hannah says.

Looking ahead, she’s focused on the district championship and beyond.

“What I’m looking forward to is seeing how well I do in our district and hopefully go back to the FHSAA State Championships and help the team possibly bring back another big trophy,” she says.

A multi-sport athlete, Hannah also captains the varsity soccer team.  When she’s not competing in athletics she enjoys watching true crime documentaries and hanging out with friends.

After graduation, Hannah plans to attend Lake Tech Police Academy to become a police officer, with aspirations to become a detective in a year or two. While currently too busy for volunteer work, she previously served regularly with her church at the Salvation Army.

Her faith is also very important to her, with Galatians 6:9 as her favorite Bible verse, which says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” It reminds her, she says, that hard work and faith pay off even when results aren’t immediate.

Photos provided by Visual Sports Photography, Nicole Hamel and Iron Jungle Weightlifting