Sandusky youths compete at weightlifting nationals

SANDUSKY — Eight athletes from Sandusky Weightlifting delivered strong performances at the recent USA Weightlifting Youth National Championships, taking place recently in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's top finisher was Hailey Sprenger, who earned three silver medals in the women's 13U 48kg division. The only 12-year-old in her category, Sprenger narrowly missed gold by just 2 kilograms. She went a perfect six-for-six on her lifts, setting personal bests in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total. Her performance also earned her second place in the overall Best Lifter rankings for the 13U division, which evaluates lifters across all weight classes. In the men's 13U 40kg category, Dempsey Opfer claimed a bronze medal in the clean and jerk and finished fourth overall in one of the event's deepest fields, which featured 43 competitors. Coen Opfer earned bronze medals in all three lifts in the men's 15U 56kg class, completing all six of his attempts and setting new personal records. Amiya Drury secured a bronze medal in the snatch and placed fifth overall in the women's 15U 63kg division, also achieving personal bests in all three lifts. Kamden Opfer set personal records en route to a fifth-place finish in the women's 13U 36kg class, while Kate Yetter placed seventh in the 13U 44kg division. On the boys' side, Grayor Opfer finished sixth in the men's 15U 60kg category, and Caleb Sprenger placed tenth in the 17U 71kg class. All eight Sandusky athletes established new Ohio state records in their respective weight classes. The club's 13U girls team — Sprenger, Opfer, and Yetter — placed fifth in the team standings, competing against more than 60 teams from across the country. Sandusky Weightlifting is a youth Olympic weightlifting club based at the Icehouse on Filmore Street in Sandusky. For more information, including how to join, visit www. sanduskyweightlifting.com or find the club on Facebook and Instagram.