Last weekend at the USA Weightlifting Collegiate Nationals in Shreveport, La., the USOEC weightlifting team won two titles and left with a majority of the team placing high in their respective weight classes.
Senior Steve Jarvis from Niagara, Wis., was able to lift a personal total score of 340 kg at the championships. This was enough for Jarvis, 105 kg weight class, to take the title home his first time to nationals. Injuries had kept him from competing for the last few years.
“It’s been awhile since I lifted a new personal best. It feels pretty great,” Jarvis said. “I’ve been really working on technique, and it definitely made a difference.”
Jarvis’ personal records at this tournament were 155 kg in the snatch and 185 kg in the clean-and-jerk in addition to his total points.
Allie Henry, a senior from River Falls, Wis., was able to set personal records in the snatch, clean-and-jerk, as well as her total score at the 2011 Collegiate Championships. That record setting meet for Henry was enough to win her a championship title at 69 kg.
“It feels great to have all my hard work pay off,” Henry said. “I missed a jerk I shouldn’t have, but I am still happy with my performance.”
Her new personal records are 86 kg for the snatch, 99 kg for the clean, and a new total personal record of 189 kg.
For Jarvis and Henry, their collegiate titles mean that they will compete for the U.S. at the University World competition this August in Shenzhen, China.
Sophomore Andrew Vrabel, from Highland, Ill., said he put up bigger numbers than he did last year.
“I totaled 43 kg more this year than I did last year. I snatched 90 and 115, which was a huge improvement,” Vrabel said.
Vrabel gives credit to the training he has received at the USOEC for the huge jump in totals and improvements in technique he has received in the last year.
“Training here, I have an edge over everyone else,” Vrabel said. “The training partners here are good for me. My training partner here and I push each other really hard in the gym.”
Robin Feuerman, a junior from Altamonte Springs, Fla., tied for second place after her final lift totaled 166 kg. By the rules of USA Weightlifting, Feuerman lost the tie and received third place because Feuerman’s opponent weighed less than she did.
The remaining USOEC lifters in the women’s divisions also placed well: sophomore Britta Carlson and freshman Patricia Park placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 53 kg division. Freshman Jerilyn “Rael” Smith placed fourth in the 75+ kg division.
On the men’s side, freshman Dean Beyers placed fourth in the 105 kg division. Junior Josh Barnett placed fifth in the 62 kg division and sophomore Dan Gorelik placed eighth at 85 kg.
