PNW Championships

What an amazing day yesterday. The Pacific NW Championships had 47 lifters competing; 17 being first time competitors. During the competition Calpian WLC hosted a successful BBQ Fundraiser. The proceeds will be used to pay for John’s travels expenses to Guatemala City for the Pan American Championship. Due to everyone’s generosity and support, we raised enough funds to pay for approximately 90% of this trip. Amazing. I cannot thank you all enough.

Session 1: Robbie Walden had an amazing performance. This Calpian newcomer qualified for Nationals with only 6 weeks of training. Robbie, determined to qualify for nationals, took care of business with a 100kg snatch and 117 clean and jerk. Imagine the possibilities with another year of training under John!
Calpian’s Trique Meininger and Chris Heinig always put on a great performance. Trique snatching a PR 121 and 151 clean and jerk ending the day with a 8kg PR total of 272. Great job! This former collegiate wrestler will competing at nationals in June. Chris, a technician in the snatch, finished the the day with a 136 snatch and 146 clean and jerk; Winning the Best Male Open Lifter.
Fulcrum Barbell Club’s, Yesh Wang Nadkarni had a great first time meet with a 47 and 61.

Session 2: The women's session had 15 lifters; 7 were first time competitors. First time competitor, Breanne Odden put on a great show. This Highland Game competitor won Best Female Open lifter with a 56 snatch and 70 clean and jerk. She is an impressive athlete and you can expect to see her name as a level national competitor. Hmmm, I wonder if John could recruit her to the Calpian women’s team???

Speaking of female Calpians, Ashley Perkovich, who just found out she made the Junior World Team had an amazing day. This former gymnast is a force to reckon with. Her amazing performance of 76 snatch and 92 clean and jerk ended the day with a 10 kg PR total of 168 and Best Female Jr Lifter. I see her visiting Brazil in 2016...

Gymnast and TSP athlete, Sara Skinner, finished the day with a PR snatch 60, PR clean and jerk 70 and PR total 130.

Fulcrum Barbell Club’s Melissa Reimer had an amazing first meet; snatch 51 and 60 clean and jerk. Rosanna began her lifting debut with a 44 snatch and 57 clean and jerk. Pretty impressive for someone who was first introduced to the bar three weeks ago! Keep it up!

Session 3:
We save the big lifts for last...

First timers Paul Zavaglia and Dean Kruze ended the day with PRs. Dean and Paul have been training with the Calpians on Saturdays and have been impressive to watch and fun to train with. Paul snatched 95 and told me he hoped to do a 125 clean and jerk, but Coach Thrush had other plans. Paul ended the day with a PR 127. Dean snatched 90 and ended his day with a PR 128 clean and jerk. Hmmm....maybe we can convince them to skip the CrossFit and come to the dark side full time! Great job guys!

Fulcrum Bar Bell Club’s Billy Roger snatched 96 and clean and jerked 128.

Calpian lifter David Rief ended the day with some pretty impressive lifts. Dave, 2009 Jr. World Team member, is our 2016 Olympic hopeful (but I know he will make it!). Dave snatched 136 and clean and jerked 161. Grunts and all...expect to see him in 2016.

Great job to Sean Summers, Matty Wiitanen, Daniel Wiitanen, Jayde Wiitanen, Sarah Skinner, Kalista Pappas, Megan McBarron, Dylan Matau and LeRoux Matau for qualifying for Junior Nationals or School Age Nationals. These kids did some pretty impressive lifting and are keeping the sport alive. Great job and best of luck to all! We will be watching and supporting you along the way!

Fulcrum Barbell Club, what can you say about this dynamic Eastside duo? Mike and Carrie are recruiting machines! Many thanks and keep up the great work! We look forward to watching many of their lifters work their way onto the National platform.

Also fielding a team was Crossfit Fort Vancouver, this high energy team competed for the first time at Thrush Sports and were were fun to watch. I met Laurine and Adam last summer (thanks Bridget). They were kind enough to open their gym to me while I was on the road for work. If you are in the Vancouver, WA area and need a place to lift, I suggest looking them up at.

To the many unattached lifters, you are always welcome to stop by and train with the Calpians, but keep it up and hope to see you at the next meet!

Many thanks to all the volunteers. To our cooks, Sue and John Rief (the proud parent’s of 2009 Jr. World Team Member, Top Calpian lifter and 2016 Olympic hopeful, David Rief). The Wiitanen’s, Michelle who spent the entire day working the front desk selling tickets and Eric, her husband for bringing the grill..the BBQ could not have been without them! Leanne Summers, for volunteering through the first 2 sessions. Dr. Greg Summers, Summers Chiropractic and Massage, for his constant support and donations. Howard Heyer, Dillano’s Coffee, for the great coffee and gift basket. So to all of those who need an adjustment, massage or coffee, look these guys up!

Of course we can’t say enough to those who worked the meet. Lincoln, who loaded and judged, Boyd for announcing two sessions, Tony who announced the women’s. All the loaders and judges. Many, many great thanks!