3 gold for Norseman at Ontario Jrs.

The Norsemen and Valkyries Weightlifting Club team played host to the 2009 Ontario Junior Championship at the YMCA on Saturday. Highlights of the contest included the performance of local product, Logan Baker, in the male 77 kilo class, and the record breaking lifting of Scarborough heavyweight, Matthew O’Brien.

In the male portion of the contest, the Norsemen had three gold medalists. Zach Gebhart won the 46 kilo class with lifts of 35 in the snatch and 50 in the clean and jerk. David Staniszewski, lifting in his last contest as a junior, took top honours in the 105 kilo division by hoisting 90 in the snatch and 120 in the clean and jerk. Meanwhile, Logan Baker put up the top total in the 77 kilo class and registered the second highest Sinclair (kilo – for – kilo) rating among all the male competitors. Baker, a 16-year-old St. Joseph–Scollard Hall student, snatched 100 kilos and clean and jerked 125.

Norseman, Kempton Morris won silver in the 51 kilo class, while newcomer Sean Patterson took a bronze at 46. The youngest competitor on the day was Lucas Edmonds. Edmonds, born in 2001, placed 4th in the 46 kilo class by snatching 14 kilos and clean and jerking 20.

The best lifter of the day, according to Sinclair formula, was the +105 kilo champion, Matthew O’Brien. The 19 year old O’Brien, lifting for the Variety Village team from Scarborough, had a perfect day on the platform. He made all three of his snatch attempts; finishing with 135 kilos. In the clean and jerk he also made all three, finishing with 165. Both marks, as well as the 300 kilo total, are new provincial junior records. At the finish of the contest O’Brien was awarded the trophy as the male best lifter.

In the female competition, 12-year-old, Bronwynn Sheppard, was the first gold medalist for the Valkyries. Sheppard, who weighed in at 33.7 kilos, won the 44 kilo class and set personal records with 22 kilos in the snatch and 30 in the clean and jerk. Shannon Claridge, was the winner in the 48 kilo class and also received the top novice lifter award. Stavrula Liritzis took the title at 69 kilos by lifting 57 kilos in the snatch and 72 in the clean and jerk.

Sixteen-year-old Courtney Simkins was the top performer in the 63 kilo division and was later named the best female lifter by formula. Simkins made 60 kilos in the snatch and 75 in the clean and jerk.

Silver medalists for the Valkyries were Zara Sheppard in the 44 kilo class, and Shauna Chester at 75 kilos. Amber Potter won the bronze in the +75 division by totaling one kilo more than teammate Lindsay Newman.

At the conclusion of the contest the 10 member Ontario team (4 females and six males) was announced. The squad will compete in the 2010 Junior Nationals in Lachute, Quebec on January 23. Courtney Simkins, Stavrula Liritzis, and Logan Baker will make the trip, along with team manager Larry Sheppard.

Photo of Logan Baker doing the Clean and Jerk. Photo courtesy Joanna Liritzis