The past two weeks have been quite busy for the newly created Team Georgia weightlifting team. Since its establishment in mid-July of this year, the lifters of Team Georgia have trained vigorously in preparation for the fall tournaments: the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Junior Pan American Championship and the Chattanooga Open.

Olympic Weightlifting competitions consist of two disciplines: the snatch and the clean and jerk. Each lifter gets three attempts at the snatch and three attempts at the clean and jerk. The best snatch and best clean and jerk attempts are added together to calculate a total, and the lifter with the best total wins his/her respective weight class. In addition, teams also compete against each other with each lifter representing a team. Each weight class has a number system to calculate points for each place. The team with the most team points wins the competition.

On Oct. 20-22, the IWF held the Junior Pan American Championship in Carguas, Puerto Rico. Thirteen countries, including Team USA, competed for the title of best country in the Pan-Americas. Chandler Alford of Conyers, Ga. won three silver medals in the 77 kg (169.5 lbs) weight class and had a terrific day. He made his opening snatch with 117 kg (257.5 lbs) and moved on to make 120 kg (264 lbs) in his second attempt. His final attempt of 121 kg (266.5 lbs) became a new personal record and won him the silver medal in the snatch competition. He nailed his opening clean and jerk of 150 kg (330 lbs), made his second at 157 kg (345.5 lbs), and won the silver medal in the clean and jerk with his final at 162 kg (356.5 lbs), another new personal best. His efforts won him the silver medal overall in his weight class with a total of 283 kg (622.5 lbs). The silver medal put points on the board for Team USA. In the end, the Team USA won second overall in the male division and fourth overall in the female division.

“It was amazing to see that all my efforts in the gym paid off,” says Alford. “Although I didn’t get the gold, I did my absolute best and got points for [Team USA]. That’s what made it worth while.”

On Oct. 29, the Chattanooga Open was held in Chattanooga, Tenn. and Team Georgia showed up and produced very good results. Brittany Williams of Peachtree City competed in the 75 kg (165 lbs) weight class and received first place. She missed her opening snatch of 42.5 kg (93.5 lbs), came back to make it in her second attempt, and almost made a third attempt at 45 kg (99 lbs). She made all three of her clean and jerks at 52.5 kg (115.5 lbs), 57.5 kg (126.5 lbs), and 60 kg (132 lbs), which is a new personal record. She totaled 102.5 kg (225.5 lbs).

Mike Melear of Fayetteville won first place in the 44 kg (96.8 lbs) weight class. He missed his first two snatches and made his third at 45 kg (99 lbs). His clean and jerks were solid at 52.5 kg (115.5 lbs), 57.5 kg (126.5 lbs), and 60 kg (132 lbs), which is a new personal best. Melear totaled 105 kg (231 lbs).

Travis Cooper of Tyrone made all six of his lifts and won his gold medal in the 77 kg (169.5 lbs) weight class. He snatched 102.5 kg (225.5 lbs), 107.5 kg (236.5 lbs), and 110 kg (242 lbs), which broke his old personal record. He clean and jerked 135 kg (297 lbs), 140 kg (308 lbs), and 145 kg (319 lbs), another broken personal best. His total was 255 kg (561 lbs).

“I was definitely on-fire that day,” says Cooper. “It felt so good to nail those lifts, especially after working in the hot summer.”

Alford is a sophomore at Georgia Tech, is majoring in electrical engineering and has been lifting for five years. Melear is a sixth grader at Flat Rock Middle School and has been lifting for two years. Williams is a junior at Starr’s Mill High School and has been lifting for two years. and Cooper, a senior at Sandy Creek High School, has been lifting for two years.

Formally Team Velocity Weightlifting, Team Georgia is a little under three months old and is stationed in Newnan. The team trains under Coach C.J. Stockel, a certified USA Weightlifting coach and United States Olympic Committee Coach of the Year Award recipient. For more information on Team Georgia Weightlifting, go to www.teamgaweightlifting.org or e-mail Coach Stockel at cj.stockel@teamgaweightlifting.org.

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