Gateway Invitational lifts off Saturday

On Saturday April 19th, the Y Norsemen and Valkyries weightlifting teams will host the Gateway Invitational Open in the main gym of the YMCA. A total of 35 lifters have entered the competition in both the female and male categories.

The fast rising Variety Village club coached by Abdallah Alsebi - a former Olympian from Syria - is planning on challenging the Norsemen and Valkyries in a number of weight classes. Other clubs competing will be the Toronto Weightlifting Club, the Ottawa Canucks, and Roy’s Gym of Sudbury.

Apart from awards in the various weight classes, also up for grabs are places on the Ontario Under-16 team going to the 40th Annual Young Louis Cyr contest in Montreal on May 3. To date Logan Baker of the Norsemen, and Courtney Simkin of the Valkyries, are assured spots on the 10 member squad.

Also, the Annual Wingate Lottery plaques will be awarded to the top scoring high school teams. The West Ferris male team, led by David Staniszewski and Kirt Trahan, looks poised to win its third straight title The team from Neil McNeil High School in Toronto appears to be the only threat to the Trojans.

The contest gets under way at 10:00 a.m. with the lighter male divisions. At noon all the female categories will lift, followed by the heavier male’s session at 2 p.m.

Submitted to BayToday.ca