Weightlifting: Four Tars to nationals

Barry Faulkner

Four Newport Harbor High athletes qualified Saturday for the

National Junior Weightlifting Championships, scheduled March 8-9 at the

Torrance Marriott.

Seniors Joe Foley and Jim Rothwell, junior Jimmy Sanchez and freshman

Spencer Link all met qualifying standards in a meet at Huntington Beach

High. Along with a handful of lifters from Southland high schools, they

will compete as Team Southern California in the March event, according to

Mike Bargas, Newport Harbor strength coordinator and assistant football

coach.

“We took 17 kids (to Huntington Beach) hoping two would make it,”

Bargas said. “I’m kind of shocked four guys made it. And there could have

been more, but some guys didn’t go, because the winter formal was that

night.”

Foley, a starting defensive lineman who also played fullback and tight

end for the Sailors’ football team, qualified in the 231 pounds-plus

classification. He lifted 210 pounds in the snatch, then hoisted 265

pounds in the clean and jerk. Competitors were judged on their combined

total of the two Olympic lifts. A snatch is lifting the bar from the

ground overhead in one continuous motion. The clean and jerk is lifting

the bar from the ground to one’s chest, then pressing the bar overhead.

Rothwell, a first-team All-Sea View League defensive end last fall who

is also a member of the basketball team which opens CIF Southern Section

Division II-AA playoff action Friday, qualified in the 154-pound class.

He posted a snatch of 165 pounds and a clean and jerk of 210.

Sanchez, a backup linebacker for the Sea View football champions,

qualified in the 175-pound division. He lifted 180 pounds in the snatch

and 253 in the clean and jerk.

Foley, Rothwell and Sanchez will compete in the 17-20 age group.

Link, who starred as a running back for the league champion freshman

team and was called up to varsity for the Sailors run to the CIF Division

VI semifinals, qualified in the 154-pound class of the 16-and-under

division. He lifted 123 pounds in the snatch and 154 in the clean and

jerk.

These will be the first Newport Harbor boys to compete at the junior

nationals since Peter Hogan (Class of 1998) and Steve Gonzales (Class of

‘94).