The Ontario Weightlifting Association’s Scholastic Challenge was staged Saturday in the main gym at Canadore College’s Commerce Court facility. The contest, hosted by the Canadore Panthers and Norsemen and Valkyries clubs, featured male and female athletes competing for individual weight class medals, as well as team awards at the at the post-secondary, high school, and elementary levels.
The opening session of lifting was for females in the divisions from 48 to 58 kilos. The gold medal winners in each of the categories were Marie Claveau of Duex Russeaux in Ottawa at 48 kilos, Hannah Knight of Widdifield at 53 kilos, and Zara Sheppard of ESC Algonquin at 58 kilos,
Males in the weight categories from 46 kilos up to 77 kilos took part in the second session of the competition. The various winners were: Connor
Bazilsky of Bayside Intermediate in Belleville at 46 kilos, Koltin Atkins of Widdifield at 50, Joel Asselin of Sudbury’s College Notre Dame at 62 kilos, and Dylan Wong of Ryerson at 69 kilos. Canadore’s Colton Gill was the top performer in the 77 kilo division.
The third lifting session featured females in the 63 and 69 kilo categories. Jenni Sundin of Nipissing University was the winner at 63 kilos, with a total of 138. She made 57 kilos in the snatch and 81 kilos in the clean and jerk. Sundin, a member of the Kalmar Athletic Club of Sweden, is studying in Nipissing’s Bachelor of Physical Health and Education program. Her total qualifies her to compete in the Swedish Nationals in May. The 69 kilo gold went to Laura McInnis of McMaster. McInnis made 60 in the snatch and 82 in the clean and jerk for an aggregate score of 142 kilos.
Males in the 85, 94, 105 and +105 kilo categories took to the platform in the fourth session. Aiden Woods of Canadore won the 85 kilo title. Meanwhile, the 94 kilo gold was won by Graeme Stevens of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary in Sudbury.
Liam Macdonald of Canadore finished first at 105 kilos, and +105 title went to Richard Duncan of Lo-Ellen.
The female classes, 75 and +75 kilos, wrapped up the championship. Nipissing University’s Vanessa Gagnon won the 75 kilo gold with the highest total of the day. Gagnon made 69 kilos in the snatch and 80 kilos in the clean and jerk for 149. The +75 kilo gold went to Chelsea-Lynne Jibb of Canadore.
The trophies for the best kilo- for- kilo performances of the day went to College Notre Dame’s Joel Asselin on the male side, and Jenni Sundin of Nipissing from the female roster. The top novice female trophy went to the silver medalist in the female 75 kilo class, Cassandra Carlucci of the U of T Mississauga, the male novice trophy was won by Canadore’s Colton Gill.
The Ontario Weightlifting Association’s Scholastic pennants were awarded to the top team at three levels. Based on points, the Chippewa Intermediate representatives, Hunter Edmonds and Dylan Hall- Archibald, were awarded the Elementary School title. The Lo-Ellen Park squad took the High School pennant.
The Canadore Panthers were the best College/University team for the third year running; according to the placings of its top five lifters, the club scored 137 points.
Nipissing University finished with 131 points to place second in the post-secondary team rankings.
