4/15/2010

By ERIN MATHEWS

Salina Journal

Several weightlifters with Olympics prospects will be among an estimated 35 competitors Saturday at a weightlifting meet in Salina, according to the meet director.

There is no admission charge to watch the competition at the second annual Kauffman/Stovall Junior and Open Weightlifting meet, set to start at 10 a.m. at the Salvation Army, 1137 N. Santa Fe.

Olympic weightlifting, which includes two lifts -- the snatch and the clean and jerk -- is an "explosive, dynamic" sport for spectators to watch, said meet director Dennis Espinosa. The lifts, which are completed from a standing position, are surprisingly quick, and the weights are quite heavy, he said.

"I guarantee they will see young athletes that are striving to be the best and put their heart, their passion and their commitment to work," he said.

First will be women lifters, followed at 12:30 p.m. by boys up to age 16 and at 2:30 by the men's category.

Among the local competitors will be South Middle School students McKenzie and Macy Pilgrim, 13- and 11-year-old sisters. They won the gold and silver medals in 2009 in the school-aged girls category at the International Weightlifting Federation national championship in Atlanta.

Cortland Enriquez, 13, who was the bronze medalist for school-aged boys at that meet also will compete.

The students are part of Reps and Sets Team Salina, a group of athletes Espinosa coaches at his Reps and Sets gym, 703 Bishop. Team members train for an hour or more four days a week at the gym under the guidance of Espinosa, who is a certified club coach and referee.

In addition to the Salina lifters, about 20 weightlifters from other parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri are expected to participate, including two sisters from Norman, Okla., who are double national champions and compete internationally, according to a Salina Area Chamber of Commerce press release.

Team Salina, formed in October 2000, is one of 154 national clubs sanctioned by USA Weightlifting.

The team has developed a world class weightlifter in Hilary Katzenmeier, 21, of Abilene, who is ranked 12th in the world and has qualified for the 2012 Olympic trials. Katzenmeier, who will not be competing in Salina on Saturday, will instead be lifting at the national collegiate competition this weekend in Minnesota, Espinosa said.

Espinosa said his goal is to take the club to a professional level that would expand athletic training and promote healthy programs for youth in Salina.

"I'd like to have an elite training center here that could funnel athletes into Olympic competition," he said.

Espinosa said he would like to see more people in Salina become familiar with Olympic weightlifting to generate the community support that would be necessary to host a national meet.

Benefits of weightlifting include increased power, improved coordination, better flexibility, enhanced cardiovascular fitness and improved bone density, Espinosa said.

To learn more about the program, visit www.rep sandsetsteamsalina.com.

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