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Below: Sub-Junior Team Update
Coaches Corner
National Team Selection (Part 2)
By Rob Wagner
In the last edition of the newsletter we had posted information on team selection for the open and junior levels of powerlifting world teams. In this edition we will cover the Masters world team selection and the selection process for both the bench press and Masters bench press world championships. Since hindsight is twenty-twenty I would be amiss if I didn't direct you to the USAPL rulebook for information on the selection of the world teams. Remember that some of these rules have been changed or altered in the past two years and that may explain some of the discrepancies you may find. I also must point out one error in the last article. I had stated that the women's team was made up of 11 lifters and that number is actually 10 lifters.
The Masters lifters face the same criteria of winning the Masters Nationals and passing the drug test. The Men's Masters is held, as a separate meet, while the Women's Masters is contested at the Women's National Championships. The Master's team selection has a twist in that there are three age groups for the men and two for the women. Each age group team for the men has 11 positions and the women have 10 slots for each age group. Those age groups for the men are as follows, Masters I (40-49), Masters II (50-59) and Masters III (60 and up). The women's teams are broken down into Masters (40-49) and Masters (50 and up). All weight classes are the same as the open categories for both men and women.
Team selection is based on the highest total in each respective age category for that body weight. Remember, the USAPL contests age groups based on a five year split. So the highest total in the 40-44 and the 45-49 years age groups would be awarded the Masters I slot for that bodyweight. If the winner turns the nomination down then it goes to the second best total in the 10-year age group. If that individual turns it down the slots are awarded to the lifters that did not earn slots but have the highest Wilkes formula for the age group category. This becomes the selection process for the alternates according to Master's chairman Johnny Graham. The only twist to this comes if two alternates and the primary slot come from the same weight class. Since international rule limit each team to only two deep per class per age group. The final decision on alternate selection is left to the coach when this occurs.
The master's Bench Press world team follows the same format as the selection process for the Masters world team. Individuals competing in the Bench Press Nationals are eligible for participation for this team. The open Bench Press World team follows a format similar to those of the Open and Junior/ sub junior groups in their selection process. The winners have the automatic team spot. All winners must pass a drug test before being named to the team. If automatic team selections decline the invitation then alternates will be selected to fill the rest of the 11 (men) or 10 (women) -person team rosters. Alternates can be selected based on projected placing in the past three worlds, aggregated. This produces a weighted score. Let me give an example. Johnny Lifter benched 200kg in the 100 kg class, placing second. Ben Press benched 185kg in the 90 kg class placing second as well. Now in the past three worlds Johnny's bench would have placed him in 3rd in 1999, 5th in 2000 and 4th in 2001 giving him an average placing of 4th. Ben's lift placed theoretically placed him 5th in 1999, 6th in 2000 and 4th in 2001. His average placing would have been 5th. Between the two, Johnny would be the first alternate because his average placing was higher then Ben's. As mentioned in part 1 ties are broken by subjective factors, including international experience, availability, past record of behavior, and if they are financially capable and a commitment to go. The team coaches make the decisions in these cases because they have the experience with the individuals and the circumstances of the meets themselves.
To summarize most of the selection process is fairly standard. There are some differences between the groups and in some instances the genders. As a committee we are striving to create a more uniform and consistent process that is acceptable to the lifters but also to the coaches and administrators involved. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at rwagner@pobox.upenn.edu.
USAPL Sub Junior Team for 2002
MEN WOMEN
52 kg Mike Hafenbrack - Nebraska 44 kg Erin Dickey - Michigan
56 kg Vinny Niedoliwka - Michigan 48 kg Jenn Maile - Alaska
60 kg Ryan Smith - Michigan 48 kg Leslie Kitleko - Lousiana
60 kg Brently Marchand - Lousiana 52 kg Carly Nogle - Michigan
67.5 kg Caleb Williams - Pennsylvania 56 kg Alyssa Hichcock - Wisconsin
75 kg Kyle Ricchio - Wisconsin 60 kg Amber Mesik - Michigan
90 kg John Buford - Lousiana 67.5 kg Molly Dennany - Michigan
90 kg Derek Baker - Pennsylvania 75 kg Ashley Sanders - Lousiana
110 kg Drew Traub - Indiana 82.5 kg Maggen Millen - Michigan
110 kg Cody Walters - Lousiana 90+ kg Erika Headrick - Wisconsin
125 kg Nick Rasmussen - Michigan
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