Allie Hickling (maiden name Grys) is no stranger to competition. The 2014 PHS graduate made quite a name for herself on the high school softball field at Portland High School. After high school, she was a standout for the Lansing Community College softball team for two years and ended her college career playing two years for Grand Valley State University. Before graduating from college in 2018, she received both academic and athletic All-American honors.
Today, Hickling calls Florida home, and she is completing in a whole new sport. She is actively involved in bodybuilding and fitness competitions. She told the Beacon, “As an athlete, I naturally spent a lot of time in the gym. I started bodybuilding in 2021, competed in my first show in April of 2022, and have continued competing since then.”
Hickling has already found quite a bit of success in these competitions. She said, “I’ve won multiple classes in different shows across the country. I’ve competed in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Washington D.C., and Texas. I am a nationally qualified NPC bikini and fit model competitor, and I received first callouts at my first national show this year in Texas.”
Her goal is to get her pro card with the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) as a natural competitor. The IFBB is a worldwide organization for the management of fitness and bodybuilding.
These competitions have not been a long-term focus for Hickling. She said, “Looking back now, I never would have thought that my bucket list item of competing in a show would lead me to where I am today. Remember, risk is always better than regret!”
Hickling was recently selected as a contender for the next Ms. Health & Fitness. Today she is in the contest’s top 10. In this contest, Hickling says, “I’m in the running to be featured on the cover of HERS magazine and win $20,000.”
You can use the link below to vote for her.
Hickling says, “You can vote one time every 24 hours for free or donate money for additional votes and to support child cancer research.” Voting for the current round ends Thursday, February 19th at 7PM PST.
You can also follow Hickling’s journey on Instagram @grysleybear_gains.
Photo from NPC Nationals in Texas. Photo credit: NPC News Online
