2011 PA States and York Open
Originally Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2011 2:14 PM
I apologize for taking so long to blog about the meet. I have had literally no free time since July 29th; I've driven many hundreds of miles, trained people, worked in the gym, and shuttled kids all over the mid-Atlantic. I'm blogging, in fact, from Severna Park, MD while delivering equipment.
The PA State Champs and York Open was an outstanding meet, easily the best meet I've ever produced or help produced. When Dave Miller started his affiliation with the Keystone Games, the meet grew from six participants to 25 or so, then 27 in my first year, then 49, now 80 registrants for our first PA State Championships (we are no longer associated with the Keystone Games); this is tangible local growth in our sport, following on the heels of the Baltimore Open with 77 lifters; in the two meets along I83 this year, at least 150 unique individuals lifted. The local participation is a credit to Tim Guarino, Leo Totten, John Fillippinni, Phil Stablein, and all the other coaches who bring lifters up and get them to compete. I would like to thank my co-Meet Director, Regis Becker, for his support and helping me with the meet. Without him, Dave, the Montgomery men, and the rest of Pittsburgh Barbell, we could not have had a successful meet. Likewise, I'd like to thank the folks at York Barbell, especially Tim and Dave, for their gracious welcome and assistance. I need to mentiont he support of Jason and Lindsey Lauer, John Fillippinni, Pete and Chuck Wan de Water, and my wife, Sally Van de water, for all their help in the prep and completion of meet labor.
The first session was the School-Age males and the Open Men's 56, 62, 69 kilo lifters. The only Senior lifter in this group was Jon Zajac from Lancaster County, who valiantly finished a great total after having surgery earlier this year. Matt and Cody from York catholic High School qualified for Schoolage Nationals in their first meet, and Dante Clementi, Nick Musa, and Stephen Mink also posted totals which would qualify them for School-Age Nationals. The early highlight of the session was Reese LaDuke qualifying in the 13-under age group and 35 kg weight class as an 11 year old weighing only 26 kg. Dante took home the best schoolage male award.
Our second session was the women's session; we had lifters ranging in age from 14 through 60 (almost 60, Sheron). Sheron Smith from Crossfit Hanover won the best Master Award in her first meet; she also set State age group records in the 75+ class. The best lifter award went to Kelly Charniga, who came from Michigan to compete. Kelly, thank you for coming out; you inspired many of the women and girls in the audience and competition with your determination and strength. Aubriee Luckenbaugh from York qualified for Collegiate Nationals, and Samantha Wright of Crossfit Center City, in her first meet, qualified for Senior Nationals and the American Open.
Our third session was the Men's 77s and in-state 85s. This session started about 30 minutes late, which was the case for the rest of the day. School-Age lifter Jonathan Rizk totaled 215, and two other 77s totaled over 220, led by Phil Schneider's 247.
The fourth session was the out of state 85s and all 94s. Rich Landry from New York came out of the session as the best Master Lifter with a 418 Sinclair-Metzler-Malone total, though he placed 2nd in the weight class to Alex McInnes of Delaware. Pittsburgh Barbell's Cameron Davidson, a strength coach at PSU, qualified for the American Open and Nationals with his 269 total.Pete Van de Water had a 250 total in his return home, though he just missed a 260+ total.
Michael Kreatsoulas of Pendragon was the only lifter of the day who totaled over 300 with his 302 as a 105 in the 5th session. Jim Rutter hit a 286 total, and had the highest total of any Master Lifter. Michael George of PBB won the 105+ State title with his 232 total.
Please keep lifting and competing and coaching, and we'll see you next year.