LHS WEIGHTLIFTING CLUB

Representing: FIT BBC and Livingston High School
Where: Livingston, CA and wherever their competitive nature takes them!
Coach: Luciana Naldi (yes, Analisa’s older sister)
Athletes: A group of energetic, dedicated, kids that have sacrificed their weekends, weeknights, and early mornings to learn the art of Olympic Weightlifting.

This month we’ve decided that instead of featuring one kid with outstanding growth, progress, and achievements, we’d take the newest part of our FIT community and feature ALL of them! We could say that this is a special group of student-athletes because two of them qualified and competed at the National School-Age Championships in Florida on June 21-22, 2008. We could say that they are special because there is a future division I football player among them that is working out diligently in order to be prepared for camp in August 2008. We could say that they are special because their coach has dipped into her own personal finances to pay for their transportation, equipment, and meals for each competition. But, this isn’t what makes this group special.

This group is special because they have proven that with the proper instruction, execution, and a faith in your coach, you can achieve what nobody believes is possible. Olympic-style weightlifting was brought to Livingston High School last August, when FIT coaches Rob Earwicker, Scott Kolasinski, and Analisa Naldi traveled to the Central Valley to teach a three-day clinic on the fundamentals of the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk. Interest and efforts escalated with each visit that Coach Rob and Analisa made, leading from a group of just two girls to a group of 5, and is presently greater than 10.

Instead of listing each athlete, their totals, their accomplishments, and their statistics, I leave you with this. All 15 high school athletes, just finishing a rigorous 2 hour training session, often begged their coach to stay with them for an extra 20 minutes so that they can play a game of La Crosse, using school physical education equipment.

Click here to see previous winners