Friday, May 28, 2004

Local lifters shine at Tenn. meet

Recently, a number of athletes from Team Velocity’s weightlifting team participated in the Scenic Open in Chattanooga.

Madison Stockel, a resident of Newnan and a sixth-grade student at Woodward Academy, competed in the 35 kg class. Stockel won the gold medal and set a personal record in the snatch with a lift of 32.5 kg/71.5 lbs. Stockel also cleaned & jerked 37.5 kg/82.5 kg for combined total of 70 kg/154 lbs.

Kelsey Knapp, a resident of Peachtree City and a sophmore at Starr’s Mill High School, competed in 58-kg class and won the silver medal. Knapp snatched 35 kg/77 lbs. and clean & jerked 47.5 kg/ 104.5 lbs, for a combined total of 82.5 kg/181.5 lbs. She also went 6-for-6 completing each of her attempts.

Nile Knapp, a resident of Peachtree City and a sixth-grader at Rising Starr Middle School, competed in the 51-kg class and won the silver medal. Nile snatched 30 kg/66 lbs, clean & jerked 42.5 kg/ 93.5 lbs, for a combined total of 72.5 kg/159.5 lbs.

Jeff Messer, a resident of Peachtree City and a freshman at Starr’s Mill High School, competed in 77-kg class and won the bronze medal. Messer snatched 60 kg/132 lbs, clean & jerked 80 kg/ 176 lbs, for a combined total of 140 kg/308 lbs. He also went 6-for-6 completing each of his attempts.

Chandler Alford, a resident of Conyers and a graduating senior from Woodward Academy, competed in the 77-kg class. Alford will be attending the Georgia Institute of Technology this fall and competing for Georgia Tech at the Colliegate National Championships. Alford had the best clean & jerk of the meet with a lift of 145 kg/ 319 lbs.

All of the Athletes have qualifed to compete in USA Weightlifting’s School Age National Championships in Vineland, New Jersey the weekend of June 25-27.

The team also wishes to congratulate Ted Rutland, Alison Goodrich, and Shannon Sheesley for their efforts in the first weightlifting meet