Topic: Please Introduce Yourself

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Welcome to The Weightlifting Exchange

As part of our effort to build community in the sport of weightlifting, we would like to give all of our members an opportunity to introduce themselves here. Our membership includes athletes, coaches, researchers, and people from all walks of life who have a special appreciation for this fantastic sport.

Here is a suggested format for your introduction. Please feel free to use it (copy and paste), or not. Please post your introduction as a response to this announcement:

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Occupation:
Location:
Team:
How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?:
Years involved in weightlifting:
Athletic achievements:
Role in weightlifting:
Coaching/educational credentials:
Favorite weightlifter:
Interests other than weightlifting:
Other information you would like to share:

[mikeburgener]

Name: mike burgener
Age: 58
Gender: male
Occupation: teacher/strength coach
Location: bonsall, ca
Team: team so calif.
How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?: while a student at notre dame
Years involved in weightlifting: since 1964
Athletic achievements: football at  notre dame, def. back
Role in weightlifting: coach
Coaching/educational credentials: cscs, sr international caoch
Favorite weightlifter: casey burgener
Interests other than weightlifting: riding my harley
Other information you would like to share: married with 4 great kids

[Carissa Gump]

Name: Carissa Gordon

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Occupation: Full time student, full time resident weighter at the US Olympic Training Center, part time employee at 24-Hour Fitness

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado (from Essex, Vermont)

Team: East Coast Gold (1996-2003 Team Vermont)

How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?
In 6th grade I was approached by my Phys. Ed. teacher 'Mr. Pol' a.k.a. 'Coach Pol' about starting weightlifting. I went into the weight room twice and never went back because I was the only girl at the time. In 8th grade my mom started working at the same school and Mr. Pol told my mom that I should be a weightlifter, well his persistence paid off, I went back into the weight room and haven't left since. You may better know 'Mr. Pol' as Chris Polaskowski as head coach of Team Vermont. He coached me for 4 1/2 years and then I moved to the olympic training center February 17, 2001 where I still reside. I still make it back to Vermont every summer to visit my 'old' coach :)

Years involved in weightlifting: Eight or Nine ? It's all kinda flown by

Athletic achievements:
2002 & 2003 Junior World Bronze Medalist 58kg.
1999-2003 Junior National Champion
Member of the 2002 & 2003 World Team
Member of the 2003 Pan American Team
School-Age and Junior American Record Holder

Role in weightlifting:
Athlete

Coaching/educational credentials:
Club Coach Certified
NASM Foundations Certified
Local Referee Certification (studying for my national cert.!)

Favorite weightlifter: Jason Gump :)  (he's my fiance)

Interests other than weightlifting:

Four-wheeling
Watching movies
Cooking
Yoga
eBay !!!

[Mike Wittmer]

Name: Mike Wittmer
Age: 50
Gender: male
Occupation: Doctor of  Chiropractic
Location: Hazelwood (St. Louis), Missouri
Team: Wesley
How  did you get started/involved in weightlifting?: wanted something to do after football
Years involved in weightlifting: 15 as a lifter, 10 as a  coach
Athletic achievements: just a local lifter, 150/185 as a 110
Role in  weightlifting: current coach of son Jeff
Coaching/educational credentials:  club coach (Dennis made me do it)
Favorite weightlifter: I'll let you guess.
Interests other than weightlifting: chiropractic
Other information you would like to share: married and we also have a great daughter (almost 23),  married and a first grade teacher.

[Paul LaDuke]

Name: Paul LaDuke

Age: 38

Gender: Male

Occupation: Athletic Trainer/Strength Coach

Location: Hummelstown, PA

How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?: Lifting for football in high school

Years involved in weightlifting: 23

Athletic achievements: football 12 years (capt. 2 years 1- HS, 1 college), HS basketball, Keystone State Games Weightlifting Gold - 2005 94k class

Role in weightlifting: HS Strength Coach

Coaching/educational credentials: Master's degree in Sports Medicine, BS in Education with a minor in coaching.

Favorite weightlifter: Paul Anderson

Interests other than weightlifting: woodworking, digital photography

Other information you would like to share: Married, 3 great kids!

[steve zeigman]

Name: Steven R. Zeigman
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Occupation: Self Employed Semi Retired
Location: Pompano Beach FL
Team: York Barbell
How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?: Mike Cady from Silver Springs Barbell Club came to me when they heard I was pressing and curling 135 lb. bodyweight for 8 sets of 8 three times per week with 4 months training, York Barbell send Bednarski to invite me into York when I went from official 165 lb Press to 245 lb. Press and from 190 C & J to 265 C & J at 135 lb. in under 12 months.
Years involved in weightlifting: 39 on and off
Athletic achievements: Many National Championships and Meet Records
Role in weightlifting: Athlete
Coaching/educational credentials: None mostly Self Coached
Favorite weightlifter: Who's on top with World Records
Interests other than weightlifting: Recovery Pointing out that the Kings new cloths are invisible
Other information you would like to share: point and counterpoint debate, educated discourse, how to produce consistant and dependable progress in training.

[Jerry Lee Morales]

Name: Jerry L. Morales
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Occupation: Police Officer/Detective
Location: Western Maryland
Team: East Coast Gold/Central Maryland Gold
How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?:  I had sustained a near career ending injury on the job and needed something that would rehab my legs. There was a demonstration announcement in the paper and the rest is history.
Years involved in weightlifting: Since 1998
Athletic achievements:  Most notable was qualifing for the American Open on two occasions at age 33 and 35.  Also picked up a few medals at the National Masters, American Masters and the Pan American Masters.
Role in weightlifting: Lifter/Coach
Coaching/educational credentials: Club Coach
Favorite weightlifter: My daughter Sarah (a heart of gold)
Interests other than weightlifting: Coaching my other daughter Rebekah
at soccer (most competitive kid I've ever seen)
Other information you would like to share:  I'm part of the best little team in America.  Central Maryland Gold is located about 70 miles West of Baltimore, MD. and comprised of roughly a dozen or so members.  We are headed up by the one and only Jamie Willette-Brown and Monterio "Tiger" Woodson who's tireless efforts enable us to enjoy the sport so much.  If your ever in the neighborhood, stop in and grab a session.  
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[Dean Redzic]

Name: Dean Redzic
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Occupation: Student
Location: Canberra. Australia
Team: Capital weightlifting
How did you get started/involved in weightlifting?: Fell in love with the sport after seeing it on TV. Found a club and started training
Years involved in weightlifting: 1.5
Athletic achievements: None as of yet (except 105/75 at first comp)
Coaching/educational credentials: Level 1 strength and conditioning (in australia), Studying Coaching science at University
Favorite weightlifter: Stefan Botev
Interests other than weightlifting: Loud music