The team competition has become a much bigger element of USA Weightlifting national events over the past several years. With athletes identifying themselves with teams, the team competition has been much more interesting to watch.
This year, both the men’s and women’s team competition was expected to be a battle at this year’s American Open. Neither side disappointed as both were competitive and decided by one or two placements.
On the women’s side, Team Juggernaut won the Women’s team competition. Juggernaut edged out Catalyst Athletics by four points. Mash Mafia Weightlifting took third only 15 points behind Juggernaut. With six scored lifters, only Juggernaut and California Strength, 5th overall, had six athletes to earn a point for the team. Most of the women’s teams only had five scored lifters.
Team Juggernaut had two 1st place finishes thanks to Cortney Batchelor (58kg) and Quiana Welch (90kg). Alyssa Ritchey (48kg) took 2nd place and Kristin Pope (63kg) took 4th.
Catalyst Athletics had a 1st place with Amy Hay (75kg), two 2nd place finishes with Jessica Lucero (58kg) and Samantha Kleinschmidt (90kg) and a 3rd place finish by Snow Carpentier (53kg).
Mash Mafia’s Mathlynn Robert-Sasser (58kg) took 1st place and Adrianne Acosta (63kg) took 3rd.
Final Women’s Team Standings
1. Team Juggernaut – 118
2. Catalyst Athletics – 114
3. Mash Mafia Weightlifting – 103
4. East Coast Gold – 99
T5. California Strength – 91
T5. Team O.C. – 91
7. Power and Grace Performance – 82
8. Iron Athlete – 51
9. Kim Barbell – 0
