Mount Rushmore of North Bay Haven: Vote for a fifth sports great for the Buccaneers

Coaches leading newfound winning programs and record-setting athletes are products of the best North Bay Haven has to offer.

Today we dive into the final part of the News Herald's "High School Athletics Mount Rushmore" series. The series features all six Bay County schools, highlighting the significant and quintessential figures of the athletic programs at each school.

Bay County district dominanceNorth Bay Haven and Bozeman win big in high-scoring district tournament finales

All-CountyMeet the All-Bay County boys track and field athletes and team of the year

The mountain's players and coaches are determined by their impact on the program, the community and beyond. We at the News Herald appreciate our readers and would love to get you involved.

Accompanying each article is a poll to vote for someone you believe would fill a potential fifth spot on the mountain.

Margaret Bartlow

Once Bartlow fell in love with long-distance running, it was only a matter of time before she would start winning meets and setting records. During the cross-country season, she won gold in county, district, regionals and took home fourth in the state cross-country championships.

During the spring track season, Bartlow secured the title of county champion twice in the 3,200 meters, claimed district championships in both the 1,600 and 3,200 events twice, and emerged as the region champion in both events.

At the state competition, Bartlow earned a silver medal in the 1,600 and a bronze in the 3,200. She holds the title of the fastest female long-distance runner in Bay County history, setting records in both events.

Butch Bernard

The softball program has dominated around the county as of late, and a crucial part of that is the leadership of coach Butch Bernard. Taking over in 2014, Bernard has tallied 124 victories and won four Bay County championships and six consecutive district championships.

Chris Bibbs

One of the most impactful basketball players in the county, Chris Bibbs was excellent in several facets of the game, but one stood out: elite scoring.

In three seasons, Bibbs led the county in scoring, averaging 24 points, six rebounds, and two steals per game. He led the Buccaneers from a six-win season his first year to a school-record 23 victories and the region playoffs his senior season.

Bibbs is the all-time scoring leader for North Bay Haven with 1,641 points and last starred at Coastal Alabama.

Zane Turnipseed

Wrestling coach Zane Turnipseed invested in the youth and built belief inside the walls of North Bay Haven. He has won two consecutive district dual wrestling titles and eclipsed 100 career dual wins this past season.

Turnipseed built a middle school-to-high school pipeline that has produced Zander Stillgess and All-American Bryant Siegal, who reached 100 wins in their varsity wrestling careers, and All-American David Mercado, who won the program's first individual state title.

Banji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.