Topic: News: Squyres places first in local weightlifting event

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Squyres places first in local weightlifting event
Coastal Empire Weightlifting team member hopes to qualify for Olympic Trials next spring
By Matt Haddad

The competitors at the North Point Industrial/Coastal Empire Weightlifting Open ranged from kindergarten student Katherine Jakubsen to Olympic hopeful Josh Squyres, both members of the Coastal Empire team.

Jackubsen, of the 31-kg Pee Wee Division, lifted 18 kilograms in the snatch event and 22 kilograms in the clean and jerk event for a total score of 40 for first place.

Squyres, of the 105-kg Senior Division, lifted 135 kilos in the snatch and 165 in the clean and jerk for a total of 300, also a first.

Squyres will compete in the American Open in Birmingham, Ala., in the first weekend of December. The American Open is a major stepping-stone toward the Olympics, and Squyres hopes to take part in the Olympic trials next May.

The competitors also included Alice Kohler, a senior at Savannah Arts Academy. Kohler, of the 69-kg School Age Division, entered this event hoping to qualify for the American Open, but fell short. She needed a total of 147. She lifted 75 in the clean and jerk, but missed three lifts at 67 in the snatch.

Kohler had just missed five weeks of competition because of a broken foot.

Coastal Empire coach Kerri Goodrich said, "Alice has a lot of guts. She's very dedicated."

Although open to all competitors, the contest wound up consisting of two teams: Coastal Empire Weightlifting of the greater Savannah area and the Episcopal Iron Eagles of Jacksonville, Fla.

Results

Name Age Total Place

Katherine Jakubsen 5 15 1st

Emily DiBlasio 8 22 1st

Erica Hall 12 44 1st

Sarahlyn Argrow 49 50 1st

Alice Kohler 17 75 DNP

Andrew Jakubsen 7 40 1st

Tayler Jakubsen 12 108 3rd

Mathew Hinson 13 107 1st

Andrew Jones 15 120 1st

Keith Porter 17 203 1st

Jarred Sabia 17 140 2nd

Patrick Cassiday 19 130 DNP

Kyle Crooks 19 222 1st

Chris Lynahan 16 231 1st

Josh Squyres 28 300 1st