The Country Strong Weightlifting team suited up in their singlets and traveled to Unrivaled Strength in North Canton, Ohio for a competition April 6.

Only three team members competed in this event: senior Chelsea Homan, junior Alec Coulter, and freshman Jacob Hilton.

Coulter and Hilton started the day with weigh-in at 7 a.m. and lifting at 9 a.m. Coulter weighed in at 64 kilos (140.8 pounds) and Hilton weighed in at 81 kilos (178.2 pounds).

Hilton opened with a snatch attempt of 62 kilos (136 pounds) but unfortunately missed. However, on his second attempt he put up the 62 kilos. For his third snatch he attempted 72 kilos (158.4 pounds) making the lift for a new personal record!

Coulter’s opening snatch was 63 kilos, and it was a good lift! His second attempt was at 67 kilos, and he easily made this lift once again. For his last attempt he went for a personal record at 77 kilos, and thanks to his fierce concentration managed to lift weight.

Next up was clean and jerk. Hilton, making all three lifts, opened with 87 kilos (191 pounds. He moved up to 95 kilos (209 pounds). His last attempt was a whopping 100 kilos (220 pounds) for a personal record—and with a good fight he made the lift!

Hilton humbly remarked, “It was a solid meet.”

Coulter continued on to make two out of three lifts. He opened with 86 kilos (189.2 pounds) managing to make the lift. For his second attempt he smashed 93 kilos (204.6 pounds). Coulter’s goal for this meet was to clean and jerk 100 kilos. For his third attempt he had a good fight for 100 kilos but unfortunately could not hold the weight.

Coulter looks forward to getting back in the gym to achieve this lift.

“I had a lot of fun hitting my personal records and getting ready for Anaheim [junior nationals],” said Coulter.

Last for the day was Homan weighing in at 58 kilos (127 pounds). Weigh-in was 1 p.m. with the session starting at 3 p.m. Homan had her best meet going six out of six for all lifts.

Starting out the snatch portion she opened with 48 kilos (105 pounds). Next she attempted 52 kilos (115 pounds). Her last attempt was a personal record at 56 kilos (123 pounds) for a great ending to the snatch competition.

Ending the competition with the clean and jerk portion Homan had big goals for her clean and jerk. Prior to the competition she was hoping to clean and jerk 75 kilos (165 pounds). Her first attempt was at 66 kilos (145.2 pounds). She struggled with this weight a little but nonetheless made the lift. For her second attempt she smashed her previous max at 71 kilos (154 pounds).

Last up was the daunting 75 kilo lift. Going out to the platform she was nervous, but through a hard fight she ended up making the lift for a new personal record at 165 pounds.

Coach Tim Griesser commented, “After a grueling 12 week cycle our weightlifters came out and crushed personal records on meet day at Rubber City Weightlifting. Hilton and Coulter got things rolling early in the day. Homan, lifting in her soon-to-be to be college town, snatched 56 kilos and clean and jerked 75 kilos for a massive personal record 1 kilo away from qualifying for junior nationals.”

The lifters next compete May 4 in PFP Barwars in Pittsburgh.

“May the 4th be with you,” joked Coach Griesser.