WSU to Host and Compete in Weightlifting National Championships

OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University will get a chance to show off its muscle and world-class facilities from September 25-27, when it hosts the 2015 USA Weightlifting National University Championships at the Wildcat Center for Health Education and Wellness.

The three-day competition will be the largest in its history, hosting nearly 500 competitors and 150 coaches to determine the Strongest College in America. The competition doubles as the last qualification event for the World Championships. Nine Wildcats will compete in the championships, including seven men and two women.

Partnering with the Utah Local Weightlifting Committee, WSU earned the right to host the championships after its weightlifting club – the only collegiate weightlifting club in Utah – volunteered to help run the Senior National Weightlifting Championships in June 2014.

“After starting the club two years ago, we were working out how to establish a club, because it’s not a common thing nationwide,” said WSU weightlifting coach Matt Barker. “We got some exposure from volunteering at the Senior Nationals, and USA Weightlifting came out, talked with us and loved the facility when they walked through. We put in a bid for the event and got a unanimous decision from the board.”

WSU is partnering with the Utah Sports Commission and Visit Ogden to provide transportation for athletes from local airports to Ogden. Much of Weber State’s 30-member weightlifting club, WSU staff and other volunteers will run the event.

“Weber State and our community partners are thrilled,” said Norm Tarbox, WSU Vice President for Administrative Services. “Athletes and fans will find our facilities to be top notch, our community of Ogden to be spectacular and our hospitality to be unmatched.”

Admission to the championships is free with a valid Wildcard, $10 for a single-day pass, or $25 for a weekend pass. National University Championships t-shirts will also be available for purchase. For more information about the event, including a full schedule and live stream visit https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Weightlifting/Events/2015/September/24/National-University-Championships

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

For YouTube videos of the WSU weightlifting club, please visit the following links:

https://youtu.be/GRZje4pAQPA (without music)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pg7914aNdE (with music)

Author:

Matt Gerrish, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7581 • matthewgerrish@weber.edu

Contact:

Debbie Millett, Meet Director
deborah.millet@gmail.com

Matt Barker, WSU Coach
matthewbarker2@mail.weber.edu