USAPL Women's Nationals
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2007 USAPL Women's Nationals was definitely the year of the up-and-comers. That's not to say that our seasoned veterans didn't shine (of particular note was Jessica O'Donnell's 600 pound squat attempt!), but some of our younger lifters stole the show with the result being some highly contested weight classes and age categories. We had several returning Teen and Juniors in the mix with our veterans, and they gave the Open lifters a run for their money!
The 48 kg class was arguably the deepest and most competitive class this year. With the elimination of the Open 44 kg class, the 48 kg class doubled. In the end, Cheryl Anderson came out on top with a 355 kg total. Former 44 kg competitors Erin Dickey (Jr winner) and Kendra Miller (T1 winner and Best Lightweight Teen/Junior Lifter) battled it out until the last deadlift, with the 14 year-old Kendra edging Erin out to place second. Separated by only 20 kg, Maria Pfister, Ann Leverett (M3 winner), Jonna Ocampo, and Maura Shuttleworth placed 4th-6th, respectively. Cathy Solan bettered her total from last year to win the M1 class, Kimberly Ryman won the M2s, and Sarah Nyburg took home the T3 trophy. Lauren Guidry took second to Dickey in the Jrs, and Gina Trinidad and Melissa Werner battled it out in the T2s, with Gina coming out on top. Although there was no Open 44 kg class, there were still 3 Jr/Sub-Jr competitors in the 44 kg class: T1 (Monica Johnston), T3 (Alesha Summers), and Jr (Maria Pfister-JR). Congratulations to Ann Leverett for taking home the Best Lightweight Master's trophy. Friday afternoon Sioux-z Hartwig-Gary earned her 7th USAPL National Championship with a 417.5 kg total - 8 times her bodyweight! Sioux-z also won the overall Best Lightweight Lifter award. Second place competitor Rowena Lopez came in with a 340 total, which included a strong 155 kg deadlift. Joni Mach improved upon last years total to get the M1 win over Theresa Michaels. Once again, our teen lifters provided some great competition for each other, with the T1 title coming down to the last deadlift. Marlena Daniel upped her total from last year considerably, but missed a 107.5 kg pull, giving Michelle Van Dusen the win. These two ladies were pretty equally matched in all lifts, I am sure we can expect more great platform action from them in the future. Veteran teen lifter Sara Beebe won the T3 title while Amanda O'Neil took home the T2 trophy. M2 competitor Vera Nelson was unable to get a bench in and did not total. Saturday morning 56 kg class saw the return of Jennifer Maile to a new weight class, but the same competitive spirit. The brand-new Mom came away with a 10 kg win over Ashley Matherne, who missed her third pull. However, Ashley's second pull was enough to secure the second place Open finish on bodyweight over T3 winner Katie Van Dusen and win her the Jr title. With 1st-3rd place only separated by 10 kg, I am sure we can expect more exciting competition from these 3 ladies in the future! Kristen Yukeness had a great 8 for 9 day and placed 4th in the Open, and Kristin Speyerer and Jennifer Daleiden rounded out the Jr class. Kim Douglas beat out Mercedes Cernicka and Kelly Heim for the T2 title and Samantha Baker and Cheylee Lyman placed 2nd and 3rd in the T3 class. Veteran lifter Kate Dingle-Craig struggled to get a squat in, but still managed a solid 320 total and the M1 title, while Barbara Zintsmaster took home the M3 title. The 60 kg class had some fantastic battles in a few categories. In the Open, it was the battle of the Jenns that stole the show. Both Jenns got all 3 squat attempts and were separated by 10 kg, with Perry having the higher squat, but we all know the strength of Thompson's bench. However, Thompson had some trouble getting her 2nd and 3rd attempt benches, but had one of the most impressive lifts of the competition on her first bench- a 115 kg lift with no bench shirt! In the end, Jennifer Perry earned the Open championship with a 185 kg 3rd pull and a PR total, edging Thompson out by only 2.5 kg. Rita Carlson (M3 winner) and Meghan Jovanovich (Jr 2nd place) rounded out the Open category. Jenna Farek had a near perfect day to win the Jr class, while Jillian Daleiden came in 3rd. Returning T1 winner Elizabeth Feller had a greatly improved total on her way to her second title. Veteran Angela Simmons had a fantastic day, winning the M2 title in her first year in this category with a 387.5 kg total. Her total was 40 kgs more than she totaled last year at Nationals- and she set a new M2 American bench record! Lannette Lopez came in second in the M2's, and Faith Ireland went 8 for 9 on her way to the M5 title. Master lifter Patty Burnett was unable to total. The 67.5 kg is historically one of the largest classes, and this year was no exception. The Open category was dominated by 3-time World Champion Priscilla Ribic. Priscilla came away with a 600 kg total and also won the Best Middleweight award. This is the 11th time that Priscilla has totaled 600 or above, and she is still the only USAPL female lifter to break the 600 Wilkes barrier. Best Middleweight Teen/Junior lifter and Junior category winner Alyssa Hitchcock came in second in the Open with an excellent 465 kg total. She was followed by veteran Paula Houston (M2 winner) and newcomer Rebecca Crapo, who put up a 400 kg total in her first Nationals. Further congratulations go to Paula Houston, for winning the Best Middleweight Master's trophy and setting a new M2 American record in the bench. The Open category was rounded out by Donna Marts (2nd M2 category), M3 winner Ruth Welding, Kelli Lambert, and M1 winner Sherry Franks. Caryn Daniels placed 2nd in the M1 class while Women's Committee head Gina Stapleton came in third in the M2s. Gaile Moore took home the M4 trophy. USAPL Jrs and Teens had a great showing in this class; Kayrie Spinney took 2nd in the Jr category, followed by Veronica Reico. T3 Pamela Bartz scored a 9 for 9 day and an excellent 415 kg total, Elizabeth Aldridge came in second. Meagan Chapell won the T2 category and Shelby Steele won the T1s. Liane Blyne and Disa Hatfield flipped-flopped weight class this year, with Disa Hatfield winning her 3rd National title in the 75 kg class. Although they didn't enter a team, Disa was the second Next Level Fitness lifter at this meet to win an Open title (Jenn Perry, 60 kg Open winner also trains out of Next Level.) Cydney Smith came out with second place with a 450 kg total, Laura Stryland trailed by only 2.5 kg but took home the M1 title. Jane Larsen Welborne had a PR day with a 437.5 kg total in 4th. Only 13.5 kg separated 2nd through 4th place this year! Donna Bryant won the M2 title, with Theresa Merrick coming in 2nd. Terry Lee and Marsha Serre won the M3 and M4 classes, respectively. Both of these ladies also scored new American records in their respective classes. Terry Lee's 128.5 kg squat and 89 kg bench were both M3 records, while Marsha's 147.5 kg deadlift was a new mark in the M4s. Kami Schroer won the T2 class, while Lena Watson took the T3 with a 9 for 9 day and an excellent 440 kg total. 2006 World Champion Liane Blyne competed in the 82.5 kg class this year. She gave everyone a bit of a scare, missing her opening squat and blacking out on her second. Like the champion she is, she came back and got her third attempt and went on to a PR bench of 142.5 kg, a new Open National meet record. Malinda Baum had PR squat and set a new M1 American total record; she took second in the open and beat out 3rd place open competitor Rhonda Clark for the M1 title. Rhonda has a tremendous deadlift, though, and pulled a new American record in the M1's. National's only M6 competitor Regina Hackney came back from a year-long injury to total 300+ kg. Her total was a new American M6 record; she also nabbed new M6 American squat and bench records. She attempted to break the deadlift record, but instead got a laugh out of the crowd when she looked at coach Larry Maile after her attempt and said "You gotta be kidding me!" No doubt she'll get it soon enough. T3 winner Monica Millet had a 7 for 9 day and a 455 kg total. Monica set all four T3 National meet records and her squat and total were also new American records in the T3 class, congratulations! The 90 kg class had a strong showing of young talent in the Open class. At only age 19, Bonica Brown is a veteran of the Open World team. She sailed to a number 1 finish in the Open and T3 class, which included new American T3 records in the bench (130 kg), deadlift (227.5 kg), and total (575 kg). Bonica also took home the best Heavyweight Teen/Junior trophy. Jill Arnow struggled a bit on the bench, waiting until her 3rd attempt to get one in, but she still finished second with a nice 485 kg total and also won the M2 category (Paullette Calhoun was second.) Jill also set all 4 American records in the M2 class! Katey Dodge and Francesca Mangaoang-Brodine battled it out for third in the Open, with Katey edging her out by only 2.5 kg. Tamara Maloun won the T2 compliments of a 150 kg squat, Hope Block came in second. The Junior category winner was Leigh Arnold. Spectators were trying to figure out why 90+ kg competitor Jessica O'Donnell was smiling on her first two squat attempts, when we saw 600 lbs on the bar for her third we knew why! Jessica got it moving but couldn't lock out, however, there is no doubt that we will see that for 3 white lights in Austria. Jessica went on to a 640 kg total and a 5th Open Title and Best Heavyweight Lifter title. T3 winner Lana Allen broke the 500 kg total barrier for second place in the Open with Megan Maurer coming in third. Lana also set a new T3 bench record, breaking the 300 lb barrier with a 308 lb bench. Sue Hallen missed her third attempt dead and came in 4th, but she secured the M3 title. Jade Dickens rounded out the Open class. Last year, Harriet Hall had a bit of a scare passing out on the platform during the squats. She came back this year to win the M4 category and the best Heavyweight Master's Lifter. Harriet went sans suits for the squat and dead, but still put up 400+ lbs in both! Junior winner Brittney Kean had an excellent day, only missing her last pull to total 402.5 kg. Some of our lifters struggled this year, Allison Mattox was unable to get a pull in and Vanessa Gauthier, T3 Tamara Walter, and M1 competitor Andrea Anderson struggled with depth on the squat and were unable to total, hopefully we will see all these ladies back next year for another round. Northeastern storms kept several lifters away this weekend, however we still had over 100 women in Baton Rouge competing. As always, the level of competition among our women was fantastic, and a testament to the recent IPF Master's, Sub-Junior's, and Open titles our Worlds' teams have brought home. Our veteran Master's lifters continue to excel and put up PR's, and there is great future in our Teen and Junior lifers. Thank you to Paul and Joel Fletcher and their staff for hosting a fantastic National meet. Thank you to all our coaches, families, and friends, without whom none of us would be able to excel in this sport. Next year, Johnny Graham will be hosting Nationals in Killeen, Texas. See ya'll next year! Team Champions Open Team 1st - Team Titan Combined Team 1st - Alaska Iron Maidens - 117 points 2nd - Harts House of Power - 93 points 3rd - Phantom Warriers - 87 points Master's Teams 1st - Team Nitro (2nd year in a row) 2nd - Phantom Warriers 3rd - Alaska Iron Maidens Teenage/Junior Teams 1st - Hart's House of Power (3rd year in a row) - 76 points 2nd - NECEDAH - 66 points 3rd - Team Magendie - 64 points 4th - LSU - 63 points 5th/6th - Texas A&M & Univ of Texas |
Contest Photos
Thanks to George Marts (photographer) and Priscilla Ribic for sending them in. 
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