GULF SHORES- She may not be the strongest woman in Alabama, but Stephanie Plummer is certainly extremely strong with her dedication, desire and determination to be the best she can be. Plummer easily exhibited those positive vibes in the 12^th annual Alabama’s Strongest Man/Woman contest held in Gulf Shores after finishing fifth in her novice division a year ago.

“I actually did much better this year as the competition was much stronger this go around,” said Plummer after finishing tenth in the Women’s Novice.

Plummer, who will turn 40 years old in September, trained for almost a year to venture into her second state event with the help of trainer Seth Galyen at Burn Boot Camp and constant workouts at 24/7 Health Club in Harvest. She entered the competition with a boatload of confidence and exited the event with no regrets and the feeling of she presented her best among fierce competition.

“I plan on going back next year and looking at possibly competing in another event in a couple months,” said Plummer. “I’m trying to get myself psyched up to where I need to be.”

In Gulf Shores, the 5-foot-8, 185-pound Plummer finished with 15 points overall in the five-event competition. The winner, Jacey Bayman, came within one point of a perfect competition scoring 49 out of a possible 50.

Plummer went through the “Odd Object Press Medley” with one rep at 23.44 seconds. In the “Box Deadlift,” she posted four reps earning four points. With two reps in 32.43 seconds, she scored three points in the “Keg Carry Medley.” In the “Dinnie Ring Hold,” Plummer posted a time of hanging on the rings at 42.76 seconds. In the “Keg Load Series,” two lifts at 4.75 seconds.

“It was a long day of competition which began at 8:30 a.m. and lasted until about 2:00 p.m. there on the beach as the events rotate through all divisions,” said Plummer, who works for Huntsville City Schools as a teacher at the Physical Science Academy. “I would have done much better if it wasn’t for two mishaps during the competition that cost me possible more points.”

One mishap occurred when she was running with the beer keg in the sand pit. She fell onto the 100-pound keg as she lost her footing. She regained her composure, picked up the keg and continued to the finish. “I kept going. That was my goal,” she added.

Plummer suffered a near-death auto accident nearly 20 years ago suffering a traumatic brain injury, broken bones and had to have hip replacement surgery and went through years of recuperation having to learn again to write, walk and talk.

Her second mishap in the Strongest Man/Woman competition reminded her of her car accident. “In the odd object press event I accidently head my head twice with the 75-pound keg that I have to lift over my head,” explained Plummer. “I pulled straight up and in the process hit the side of my head with the keg in the exact spot where there is a screw in place from brain surgery I had from the car accident. While lifting a 75-pound sandbag I hit my head again in the very same spot. I walked away as my head was spinning. I was in pain.”

She did not suffer any damage to herself, but the incidents did cause her to not score as high as she was planning, “Yes, those two mishaps cost me in points, but I kept pushing through and finished the competition,” said Plummer.