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LSUS weightlifters reign as 2006 National Collegiate Champions

Weightlifting is considered a collegiate “club” sport because the only intercollegiate competition is conducted by USA Weightlifting at its regional meets and national championships. Those national championships were hosted in August by the LSUS USA Weightlifting Development Center, and LSUS lifters emerged as the 2006 National Collegiate Champions.

LSUS has gained widespread national and international recognition for excellence in weightlifting primarily because of Dr. Kyle Pierce, associate professor of kinesiology and health science, director of the LSUS USA Weightlifting Development Center and renowned as one of the top weightlifting coaches in the world.

In a sport where team competition is measured by the aggregate of performances in individual categories – similar to wrestling or golf – a “team leader” can be difficult to identify. Arguably, the leading candidate on the LSUS weightlifting team is a 20-year-old junior who started lifting with Pierce at age 11 and has a long, impressive list of accomplishments on his resume.

Kendrick Farris, a C. E. Byrd High School product, is the reigning National Champion in the 85 kg category, won the Best Lifter Award at the 2006 National Championships, was the 2005 American Open Champion and in early October, placed 15th in the 2006 World Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. All of that, and Farris is still eligible to compete as a “junior” lifter (until he turns 21). He has been the National Junior Champion the past three years and set the national junior record in Santo Domingo. Pierce expects him to surpass the U.S. record by the end of 2006.

Pierce has a total of 14 LSUS student lifters with an impressive list of credits. Among them are Aaron Adams, a 62 kg freshman from Vineland, N.J., the 2006 National Champion, National Junior Champion and member of the 2006 Junior World Team that competed in China; and Cody Gibbs, a 105 kg sophomore from Shreveport, the individual category 2006 National Collegiate Champion.

Accomplishments of team members
(by weight category in kilograms)

Men:

105+-Josh Redden- Graduate Assistant Coach and lifter, Boise State graduate, Air Force veteran, served in Middle East

105-Cody Gibbs – 3 Junior World Teams, 2003-5, started training here at age 12
– – On 2006 World University team but injured (not in training) two weeks before competition
– – 2006 National Collegiate Champion
– – “Joel Ferrell Award” for outstanding weightlifter at 2003 AAU Junior Olympic Games

94-Tulley Covington- Junior, started training here at age 12. He and Kendrick were among the first kids.
– – Competed on international junior team in Canada
– – Age 16 and Under National Champion

94-Tim McInnis- Volunteer Assistant Coach and lifter, LSUS graduate, masters from Appalachian State, Adjunct Faculty in K&HS Dept.

85-Kendrick Farris – age 20, third year at LSUS, starting lifting here at age 11
– – - 2006 World Team - USA Weightlifting, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Sept. 30 – Oct. 8
– – -Won USA Weightlifting’s Rudy Sablo Award for outstanding junior lifter in 2005
– – -2006 National Champion – 85 kg Category – 155 kg Snatch, 190 kg Clean and Jerk
– – -Won Best lifter Award (based on formula – most weight lifted kilogram per kilogram)
– – -2006 Junior World Team – China
– – -2006 National Junior Champion – 85 kg Category – Won Best lifter Award (based on formula – most weight lifted kilogram per kilogram)
– – -2005 American Open Champion – 85 kg Category – Won Best lifter Award (based on formula – most weight lifted kilogram per kilogram)
– – -Criollo Cup Record holder in the clean and jerk with 188 kg, Puerto Rico
– – -2005 Junior World team- Korea
– – “Joel Ferrell Award” for outstanding weightlifter at 2005 AAU Junior Olympic Games
– – -Won National Junior Championships last three years
– – -Three Junior World Teams
– – -Seven International Teams – trip to Santo Domingo will be eighth

85-Ben Fuller - He is in his fifth year and will graduate in December. He was the first person to look in to attending LSUS for the weightlifting program. He is from Houston.

77-Jason Brown- Daytona Beach, Sophomore
– – 2006 Junior Pan American Team – Colombia

69-Chris Kim – started in eight grade while at Caddo Middle Magnet when I was at the school teaching the students correct methods for lifting object and strength exercises.
– – 4.0 GPA freshman year

62-Aaron Adams- Vineland , N.J. – freshman
– – 2006 National Champion- 62 kg category
– – 2006 Junior World Team – China
– – 2006 National Junior Champion
– – On 2005 Junior Pan American Team with Michelle Sicard and Monica Davis. Competition was in Puerto Rico

56-Sean Hutchinson – Palatka, Fla., first year at LSUS
– – Applied after coming here to the National Championships, August 11-13
– – 2005 American Open – second place, 56 kg category

Joe Maher, Graduate Assistant for the 2004-5 year, is an Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach at University of Richmond

Women:

75+-Monica Davis – third year, started here at age 12
– – Competed on three international junior teams, Puerto Rico twice and Canada
– – Age 16 and Under National Champion

75-Erin Wallace – just began lifting last February while training for Soccer
– – Third place in 2006 National Collegiate Championships

53-Ty Moreno - just began lifting last February while training for Soccer
– – Competed for the first time last summer

48-Michelle Sicard - sophomore, started here at age 12
– – Competed on three international junior teams, Puerto Rico and Canada