They are members of Team Georgia Weightlifting who have been preparing for the USA Weightlifting School Age Championship. The competition starts this Friday at Disney's Wide World of Sports resort in Orlando, Fla.
Team Georgia features students from several area middle and high schools, including Flowery Branch, Chestatee and West Hall. Team Georgia has students competing in all three age groups and 15 weight classes.
"I'm hoping to compete for one of the top three spots," said Chestatee High School football player, Jonathan Cain.
The competition will feature nearly 400 school-age lifters from around the country. Team Georgia's coach, Chestatee High football coach Stan Luttrell, and athletes feel that they are competitive enough to bring home a title.
The students, mostly athletes who are used to a rigorous schedule, have been preparing diligently.
"Most [high school] football players took these first few weeks off, but we have been getting up early and working out for the last four weeks," said Cain
Cain, who went to the championship last year, started lifting to improve his football skills and to become more athletic. Many students in Team Georgia use weightlifting to prepare for other sports.
"As coaches we are always looking for ways to motivate our athletes and Olympic-style weightlifting is a great way to do that," Luttrell said.
Olympic-style weight lifting, which differs from power lifting or bodybuilding, is comprised of two events; the snatch and the clean and jerk. The snatch demonstrates power and fluidity by requiring the athlete to lift a barbell from the ground to an overhead position in one motion. The clean and jerk lets the athlete use their momentum to raise the barbell. It is lifted from the floor to the shoulders (the clean) and then overhead (the jerk).
Last year, Team Georgia was represented by 15 students, now its numbers have grown to about 50. Luttrell feels the growth in the program means that Team Georgia is more competitive in the weightlifting team category.
"Going from 15 to 50 athletes shows you how the program is coming along," said Luttrell.
Megan Poole, a Chestatee High cheerleader, has been lifting for six months and is serious about using weightlifting to her advantage in the future.
Poole said, "I hope to go to college on a cheerleading scholarship and weightlifting can really help me be stronger and a better cheerleader."
Poole also said improvement in cheerleading wasn't her only motivation, "Lots of people think that girls can't be good at weightlifting, so I'm here to show them."
Coaches C.J. Stockle -- who trains athletes at Flowery Branch High -- and Luttrell want to develop the program even more. And they have placed a bid to hold next year's championship right here in Gainesville.
For more information on the weightlifters and the team -- including full results of their latest meets -- visit www.teamgaweightlifting.org. Or for more information on the USA Weightlifting School Age Championship, visit www.msbn.tv/usavision .
Members of Team Georgia weightlifting -- made up primarily of area prep athletes -- will be competing this weekend in their national championships in Orlando.
Members of Team Georgia weightlifting -- made up primarily of area prep athletes -- will be competing this weekend in their national championships in Orlando.
Members of Team Georgia weightlifting -- made up primarily of area prep athletes -- will be competing this weekend in their national championships in Orlando.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/6/210943