Topic: News: New Facility Lets Team Arizona Scale New Heights

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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New Facility Lets Team Arizona Scale New Heights
By Jason P. Skoda

Joe Micela and his band of power lifters have a new home to store all of their trophies and plaques.

It also means Team Arizona Weightlifting has the opportunity to grow now that it is not meeting at Gold's Gym in Gilbert anymore.

The team has its own facility at Performance One Advance Sports Training, 1555 S. Gilbert, Suite 107, Mesa.

"It's been nice, and it will allow the growth of the program, and we can get to a higher level with the athletes we already have," said Micela, Team Arizona's head coach and facility manager. "We can separate ourselves from the body-building community and general fitness groups. We're not fighting for the use of machines and can have practice without worrying about anyone else."

The facility has been open since Nov. 1 and has three weightlifting platforms, but it has programs designed to help all types of athletes.

"Team Arizona works out here, but we also have sports performance programs to develop high school athletes in a variety of sports," Micela said. "We open the doors to athletes of all ages and different sports."

Micela's main focus is Team Arizona, which travels across the country for competition, including a recent trip to Alabama.

"It's been a great place to train," said Amanda Hubbard, 24, of Chandler. "I moved here from Georgia in July, and I was looking for a place to train. I'm looking to maintain, and Joe has a good eye for technique."

Hubbard is a star among stars with Team Arizona after winning two national titles at Kennesaw State. She finished second in the 58-kilogram (128 pounds) division at the USA National Weightlifting Championships in July.

Also in the group are Gilbert High senior Alex Lee, who finished second at the Junior Nationals when he snatched 93 kilograms (205 pounds) and clean and jerked 115 kilograms (253) to win the silver medal; Gold Canyon resident Paul Bailey, 18, a three-time Junior Olympic champion who moved here from Kansas; Lianne De La Cruz, 24, of Mesa, an Arizona state champion, and Jen Buckner, 27, of Scottsdale, a three-time New Mexico state champion.

These are the top athletes, with Hubbard a 2008 Olympic hopeful and Lee possibly making a bid for the 2012 Games, but plenty of others are involved.

"We have kids from rival high schools, Highland and Gilbert, training and competing together," Micela said. "We have many up-and-coming young lifters."

Competing in weightlifting is not for every athlete, but Micela won't turn anyone away, especially when it comes to females looking to get involved.