Topic: News: Beth Ripley Wins National Title in Weightlifting

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Beth Ripley of Cannon Falls is a National Weightlifting Champion in the 58kg. Class, 40-45 Age Division.

Competition was held at Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, TX, in April, and consisted of male and female lifters ranging in age from 35 up to 80+. The competition involved two lifts, the snatch and clean & jerk. She snatched 37kg. and clean & jerked 50kg. It wasn’t her best, but was enough to win the title.

Ripley is coached by her husband Darin, and weightlifting is a big part of the family’s life. Darin started lifting in the evening a few years ago, and that got the rest of the family involved.

Nathan, their oldest son, took 2nd place at the state high school meet held in Cannon Falls in February. Shannon, the middle daughter, took 3rd place, and Megan, the youngest daughter, was a state champion as a 6th grader. Jovonne, the youngest son, will compete for the first time in September, and oldest daughter Erin, a 2005 CFHS graduate, competed in high school.

Beth is a member of the coaching staff at Cannon Falls High School, along with Todd Ulrich.

“All the long hours and hard work paid off for our family this year,” Beth said. “I’d like to thank all the kids who supported me in the weight room and for making it such a fun sport to be part of. I truly enjoy each moment coaching and lifting. There are over 30 kids on Team Cannon and we are like family, we all support each other and want everyone to do their best.

“I still continue to lift, and probably will for a long time,” Ripley continued. “I learned by going to El Paso this year and seeing lifters in their 80s, I can’t say I’m too old!”