MASS at The Arnold 2022
Weightlifting may have been moved from the “main show” this year due to the pure size of the competition, but our team still showed out and performed at NAOI at The Arnold. Here’s a rundown of our our week(end) went.
Kelsey started the team off with a solid comeback performance at 48/54/104. Can we all just admire that she had twins 6 months ago and is still killing it as a competitor (and an amazing mom)?! She is officially back on the platform, and we’re so excited to see what she will do this year.
Justus launched us into a full day of lifting/coaching on Friday morning with Pyrros Dimas sitting as his center judge. He went 63/85 for a total of 148.
Quinton and Andy were next on the docket. While Quinton didn’t hit a total, he started us off with a competition PR snatch at 96 and had (in his words) the best back room session ever. Andy hit a PR snatch at 93 and ended at 115 for clean and jerk for a 208 total.
Megan jumped onto the platform next and absolutely killed it. She not only hit a PR snatch at 66 kilos, but went on to hit 85 in clean and jerk (after holding it overhead for 3 long years) for a PR total of 151.
Coach Mike ended Friday for the team with the entire MASS team running his session. He went 108/131/239 with Eric and Seun loading, Mandi in the ref chair, Kyle as timekeeper, and the one and only Ryan U on the mic.
Mauk launched us into Sunday with a great view of what is to come hitting 127 for snatch, 158 for clean and jerk (and so close at 164), and a total of 285.
Seun and Eric took us to the opposite side of the competition and checked off three more PRs for the team. Seun hit a PR competition total with a 110 snatch (check that off), a 145 clean and jerk, and a 255 total. Eric then decided to just PR everything - hitting 122/158/280. We think it was the steaks.
Coach Mandi finally got 100 together for a clean and jerk (even though it got red lighted for wonky elbows). She is back on the platform as a Master’s after 3? years away from competing and ended at 72/95/167 placing her 2nd in the country for her weight class and age group. Coach Mike also killed it coaching at his first national meet (more to come for sure).
We cannot wait for the next meet and the next team trip. Not only are we proud of these performances, but we are beyond proud of our team for volunteering and supporting Columbus Weightlifting in running the largest meet ever. Every member of the team volunteered for at least one session, and we’re pretty sure Coach Mandi volunteered for over 15.
Kyle and Mandi will now be napping for the next week.
Let’s get to work for the next one, team.