Topic: News & Video: Jeff Wittmer Shines At USAW Collegiates

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Missouri State's Jeff Wittmer Llifts Himself To The Top
By Bill Paige

WEIGHTLIFTING: 2006 National Collegiate Championships

MERRILLVILLE   On the final day of the National Collegiate Weightlifting Championships, Jeff Wittmer (94-kilo class) lifted himself to All-American status, three gold medals and the top spot on the World University Team that will be competing in Turkey in late June.

His lift total for the competition was 335 kilos, and his effort earned him best male lifter of the entire championships. Amanda Hubbard (58-kilo) of Kennesaw State was the women's top lifter.

"I am pretty happy the way things went because I haven't been training real well lately," Wittmer said.

"My goal coming in was to make the world team again. Last year I was edged out of a medal and finished fourth in the world championships. I want to go back for a little redemption."

Buddy Storia (Olivet Nazarene), who trains under Frank Eksten at the Midwest Wrestling Club in Dyer, finished fifth overall in the 105-kilo division despite competing in his first national event and third overall in only nine months.

He lifted a grand total of 251 -- 110 in the snatch and 141 in the clean and jerk.

"This was my first national meet, I was a little nervous. I only completed half of my lifts, which is not real good. It is all technique stuff that I will work on," Storia said. "Although 251 is my personal best in competition, I am a little disappointed, but it was a good experience that I will build on."

Homewood's Vance Newgard (Governors State and Midwest Weightlifting Club) finished seventh out of 15 lifters in the 105-plus division with a total of 304.

In late action finishing out Saturday's competition, Crown Point's Chris Spurlock of Purdue Calumet and the Midwest Weightlifting Club captured third place in the snatch portion of the 85-kilo class with a lift of 127.

He finished fourth in the clean and jerk with a 162-kilo hoist and tied for third with a total lift of 289. Paul Roberts from Northern Michigan took gold in both stages and the overall class with a combined total of 313 kilos.

"I didn't have my best today. I cut some weight over the past two weeks coming down from a higher weight class and it left me hollow in the legs," Spurlock said. "I am disappointed, I expected a little more of myself. All I can do at this point is to keep training and do better next time."

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