Weightlifting Report
At the beginning of the year I fell in love with Olympic style weightlifting. At MGC you have to be in Year 10 to start weightlifting as a co-curricular activity. I’m only in Year 7 so I started training at the Hawthorn Weightlifting Club but I still represent MGC at competitions. On Friday September 13, MGC competed in the Victorian School Championships and two other competitions all on the same day.
Everyone in the competition lifted well. Lots of the girls won medals and the school won two awards for the Best Victorian Female School in weightlifting. We’re all proud of our achievements. We took home eleven medals and five major awards.
Victorian School Championship Medals:
Gold
- Thicia Acquisto
- Phoenix Goodwin
- Jamie Balassopoulos
- Stephanie Drew
- Sage Fenton
Silver
- Mary Carajias
- Jessica Kang
- Hayley Turnbull
Bronze
- Ophelia Murray
- Billie Hoban
- Eirene Carajias
Phoenix Goodwin won the Victorian School Championships Best Female Weightlifter and the Sport and Recreation Victoria Cup Martin Leach Trophy for Best Female Weightlifter.
I was very happy with my performance. I set four Victorian records and won a Gold Medal in my weight division. Phoenix and I are the top ranked lifters in Australia in our weight and age categories.
It’s only been the second year since MGC started weightlifting and already we’re the best girls’ school in Victoria. MGC has achieved so much in such a short time. We are lucky to have weightlifting as a co-curricular activity. Mr. Andrew Beck is the main weightlifting and powerlifting coach and is a great encouragement to all of the girls.
Olympic style weightlifting has two different kinds of lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk. You get three attempts for each lift. Then the maximum lift for each movement are added to make your total. If you drop the weight or use an incorrect technique then the lift doesn’t count. It is a very technical sport that requires good flexibility, power, discipline and a strong mental attitude.
Weightlifting and powerlifting help girls to improve strength, fitness levels and mobility. It’s a good way to make more friends. It’s also great to be part of a sporting community that is breaking down the stereotypes of what girls can do. The MGC weightlifting program runs in Terms 2 and 3 and is open to girls in Years 10, 11 and 12. If you’re interested in this exciting sport and in competing for MGC contact Mr. Beck.
Thicia Acquisto, 7C2