Blanchard, Class of 2000, was a key member of the Vikings’ world-class gymnastics program. During her time with the program, Lakeside finished second at state in 1998 and 1999and third at state in 2000. Individually, she won the all-around state title, along with the bars, beam, and floor events during her sophomore season. In 2000, she won her second all-around state title while also winning the beam event. Over her high school career, she won multiple awards including DeKalb Gymnast of the Year in 1999. The following year in 2000, she was named Gymnast of the Year by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. Following high school, Blanchard attended The George Washington University where she majored in visual communications while being on the gymnastics team. The George Washington gymnastics team won the Atlantic 10 championship her freshman, sophomore and junior year. She was named team captain in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. During her junior season, she tied for the highest score in floor exercise history with a score of 9.950. Following her collegiate career she moved back to Atlanta where she currently resides, and has been working as a nurse clinician at Northside Hospital. She remains involved in the community where she serves on the PTA and is President of the Foundation at Henderson Mill Elementary.
Finney, Class of 1975, was on the Vikings swimming and gymnastics teams. Finney won four state titles with the gymnastics team as a member of the 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974 state title teams. Individually, she was a four-time state medalist on the uneven bars, medaling in the 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974 seasons. In 1974, Finney won her individual county championship, winning the title on the uneven bars. Along with her accomplishments with the gymnastics teams, she was also a varsity cheerleader during her senior season. Finney also competed in bodybuilding and pageants, and won the Miss Muscles Bodybuilding competition in her sophomore year and was a finalist for Miss Lakeside in her senior year. She was named Miss Congeniality, the award given to the contestant who is the friendliest, most kind-hearted, and approachable. Following her time at Lakeside, Finney attended the University of Georgia on a gymnastics scholarship. She lettered with the Bulldogs’ gymnastics team in both the 1975 and 1976 seasons. While at UGA, she was a member of the Tri Delta sorority. Academically, Finney was a sales major in Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Following her graduation, she entered the workforce as a pharmaceutical sales representative. Finney passed away of natural causes on March 2, 2006 at
the age of 49.
Ansley, Class of 1972, was on the gymnastics team during her time at Lakeside. Having no prior experience in the sport, Ansley took up gymnastics in high school and fell in love with the sport. The only experience she had prior to joining the team was doing back walkovers in her yard growing up. The sport felt natural to her. In her last two seasons, Lakeside Hall of Fame Inaugural Class inductee Lucia Norwood became the head gymnastics coach and changed the program. In Ansley’s junior and senior seasons with the Vikings, she won back-to-back state championships, beginning Lakeside’s reign of nine consecutive years of winning the state championship. Ansley gives Coach Norwood all of the credit as she helped the Lady Vikings become champions. While they were experiencing victory as a team under Coach Norwood, Ansley was able to medal in individual state events. She placed fourth in the beam event her junior year and as a senior, placed fourth in the floor exercise. After graduating from Lakeside, Ansley attended Emory University for nursing and became an emergency room nurse which she did for 45 years before retiring in July of 2022. She also returned to Lakeside in 1975 to teach health and physical education and was an assistant gymnastics coach, following in the footsteps of Coach Norwood.
The Lakeside High School Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring the rich history and achievements of high school athletes who graduated from Lakeside High School in Atlanta, Georgia.
.png){kind=small}