Topic: News: Team Beaufort wins AAU Jr Olympics seventh year in a row

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Team Beaufort wins AAU Jr Olympics seventh year in a row
by Buddy Hughes

The dynasty continues.

The Team Beaufort weightlifting squad continued its impressive reign atop the Amateur Athletic Union, winning the AAU Junior Olympic games national overall boys weightlifting title for the seventh year in a row.

Team Beaufort coach Ray Jones said the secret to the team's success has been the kids.

"It's just special kids," Jones said. "It's just not every kid that's going to work hard, make the sacrifices."

Two of the squads most experienced members, Stefan Moser and Alex Silon, walked away with best lifter in their age group. Moser won in the 14-and-15 year-old group and took home gold in the 85-kilogram weight class.

Moser has a growing list of credentials that could merit him lifting at prestigious international competitions like the Junior Pan Am Games in the near future.

"That is not a surprise," Jones said of Moser's performance. "Stefan is reaching a point where I believe in a year or so, when you get to be 15 and 16 years old, where he can represent the U.S. in (international competitions). He's knocking on the door as it is right now. The talent and dedication he has is just neat to see."

Silon grabbed best lifter for the 12-and-13 year old division while winning gold in the 62-kilogram class.

Jones sees a lot of Moser in Silon's progression.

"He's coming up like that too," Jones said.

Andrew Jezewski set a new Junior Olympics' record with a snatch of 30 kilograms in the 11-and-under, 47-kilogram class on his way to a gold medal.

Jezewski came close to having the clean-and-jerk record too, but just missed getting the weight over his head.

"I think he got too excited about having two records," Jones said. "This was his third AAU, so he's almost like a veteran. He doesn't get intimidated."

Team Beaufort brought 15 medals back, including nine golds, five silvers and a bronze.

One of the team's unique aspects and a big part of its success is the level of camaraderie among teammates.

Whenever a Team Beaufort lifter is preparing to lift, Jones said the teammates in the stands always make sure to give the lifter an enthusiastic show of support.

"The thing with this group is they believe in strength in numbers," Jones said. "There's something to that. It breeds success.

"The weightlifting part is a small part. The life lessons they learn. These kids are going to be very successful leaders."

Team Beaufort medalists from the 2007 AAU Junior Olympics Games

Gold -- Abby Silon, 11 and under, 35 kg class; Mitchell Brussel, 11-u, 43 kg; Andrew Jezewski 11-u, 47 kg; Israel Fleming, 11-u, 62 kg; Alex Silon, 12-13, 62 kg; Christian Flores, 12-13, 69 kg; Dalton Wetherington, 12-13, 69+ kg; Kyle South, 12-13, 56 kg; Stefan Moser, 14-15, 85 kg.

Silver -- Tony Catterson, 11-u, 35 kg; Kade Poole, 12-13, 50 kg; Jay Abbess, 12-13, 69+ kg; Jacob Hull, 14-15, 62 kg; Michael Mattis, 14-15, 50 kg.

Bronze -- T.J. Larkins, 12-13, 56 kg.