The 2018 FISU World University Weightlifting Championships will be held this September, and USA Weightlifting has released the names of their squad.
The World University Games, also called the Universiade (a combination of the words “university” and “olympiad”) is the largest multi-sport event in the world apart from the Olympic Games and it focuses on student athletes between the ages of 17 and 28.
Note that the following athletes were technically just named to the squad, and the final list of who will compete will be available closer to competition.
Female Athletes
-48kg
Veronica Restrepo (Philadelphia Barbell/ Montgomery Community College)
-53kg
Megan Grantom (Team L.A.B./ Missouri Southern State University)
Ellen Kercher (Stoneage Weightlifting Club/ Eastern Tennessee State University)
-58kg
Taylor Turner (Vero Beach Weightlifting/ Northern Michigan University)
Kaija Bramwell (Power and Grace Performance/ Brigham Young University)
-63kg
Allison Flemming (Florida Elite/ University of Central Florida)
-69kg
Aria Bremner (Harrisburg Weightlifting Club/ Florida State University)
-75kg
Lenore Namou (4 Star Strength/ Michigan State University)
-90kg
Kaitlyn Cooper (4 Star Strength/ Oakland University)
Maci Winn (Team Praxis/ Southern Utah University)
Male Athletes
-56kg
Joseph Garcia (Crossfit Musclefarm/ Miami Dade Community College) UnattachedMuscle Force Weightlifting
-69kg
Kenny Wilkins ( Vero Beach Weightlifting/ Northern Michigan University)
-77kg
Dominic Stolle (California Strength/ Texas Tech University)
Mohammad Omar (East Coast Gold/ Brookdale Community College)
-85kg
Christian Rodriguez Ocasio (Stoneage Weightlifting Club/ Eastern Tennessee State University)
David Lamb (Iron Beaver Weightlifting/ Oregon State University)
-94kg
Trevor Cuicchi (Iron Athlete Weightlifting Club/ Arizona State University)
Gregory Pulliam (Unattached/ University of West Georgia)
-105kg
Matthew McCarty (West Michigan Muscle/ University of Michigan)
Nathan Lewis (Force Weightlifting/ Northern Michigan University)
USA Weightlifting’s Senior Director of Sports Performance and Coaching Education Mike Gattone said,
We’re proud to put such a strong team up on the International stage. This will be a great opportunity for these athletes to experience a world class event. We look forward to watching them win medals in Poland.
The FISU World University Weightlifting Championships will take place over September 20 to 23 in the town of Biala Podlaska, Poland.
Featured image via @chevynsville and @ronirestreps on Instagram.