A record day at local Olympic Weightlifting event

Perhaps the most exciting weightlifting event ever witnessed in this area took place at the YMCA on Saturday. Highlights of the contest included the performances of Norsemen/Valkyries club members Matt Fraser and Courtney Simkins, and the record breaking lifting of guest Francis Luna-Grenier of Montreal.

Luna-Grenier - born in 1987 - was competing at the end of his junior eligibility. He made the most of the outing by setting three new Canadian junior records and one senior mark. The muscular 69 kilo lifter made snatches of 125, 130 and 134 kilos; the final lift was a new junior and senior national record. In the clean and jerk he made 155, 161 and 165 to finish with a total of 299 kilos. With this performance Luna-Grenier jumps to the head of the list of male athletes trying to secure spots on the upcoming Olympic team.

Former Norsemen, Buck Ramsay, also in the running for an Olympic berth, made the trip to North Bay, but he chose to coach his teammate, two-time Commonwealth gold medalist and 2004 Olympian, Akos Sandor. Sandor lifted in the 105 kilos class and managed to snatch 155 kgs and clean and jerk 191 for a 346 kilo total. At present Sandor owns the third place spot on the Olympic list.

In the provincial junior event the Norsemen managed to win 6 of the 10 weight classes contested. Gold medalists included Jake Staples at 37 kilos, Reid Martel at 46, Mark Schoen at 51, Andrew Uyeda at 62, Matt Fraser at 77, and A.J. Wendover in the +105 class. Matt Fraser posted the best kilo-for-kilo performance of all the Ontario juniors by hoisting 113 kgs in the snatch and 139 in the clean and jerk.

In the female competition the Valkyries took 3 or the 4 gold medals awarded. Newcomer, Kathleen McMillan took gold in the 63 kilo class while Rebecca Kain won in the 69 kilo division. The highest female total of the day was put in by 58 kilo competitor Courtney Simkins. The 14 old St. Joseph-Scollard Hall student snatched 52 kilos and clean and jerked 66 for a 118 kilo total. Simkins was named the outstanding female lifter, while her teammate, Victoria Dubonnet, earned the top novice plaque.

At the close of the contest the Ontario junior team was named. Chosen on the basis of the top Sinclair formula performances since August, the six member male squad includes Norsemen : Matt Fraser, A.J. Wendover, Kirt Trahan, David Staniszewski and Andrew Uyeda. Arek Biedryzcki of the Toronto Weightlifting Club rounds out the team. The four member female team includes Valkyries: Kayla Turner and Courtney Simkins. They will be joined by Deana Taraff of Ottawa and Tiana Walt of Belleville.

The provincial junior contingent will compete at the 2008 Junior Nationals in Lake Country B.C. on January 19. Melody Ogletree and Richard Found of North Bay will be the team coaches.

Submitted to BayToday.ca