Pan-American Trials: Men's 62-kg to 85-kg recap

Mar 7, 2015 by Ramon Machuca

Hundreds cheered Muscle Driver USA and Pan-American hopeful James Tatum as he approached the platform for his third snatch. Tatum, competing in the 77-kg weight class, failed his first attempt at nearly twice his bodyweight - 150 kilograms. He'd failed his second attempt, repeating the weight. For his third attempt, he increased weight by 4 kgs, to 154-kgs, desperate to stay in the competition. He gripped the bar, hoisted it above his head, and lost it. He withdrew from the competition.

Nine other male athletes in the 56-, 62-, 69-, 77- and 85-kg weight classes kept their dreams of making the Pan-American team, and Team USA, alive in the snatch portion of the competition.

Nerves may have gripped 16-year-old Michael White on his first lift, but the teenager from Diesel Weightlifting quickly recovered in his second two attempts, successfully snatching 101 kilos. White made his first two lifts on the clean and jerk, but failed his third attempt of 124-kgs. He ended the competition with a 222-kg total.

Identical twins Darren Barnes and Darrel Barnes attempted American and national records, but failed to clench the titles on their third attempts. Darren Barnes, competing in the 56-kg class, snatched 110-kgs and cleaned and jerked 128-kgs successfully, for a total of 238-kgs. Darrel Barnes, competing in the 62-kg class, snatched 115 kilos and cleaned and jerked 148 kilos for a total of 263-kg total.

Olympic hopeful Alex Lee failed his first two attempts at 129 kilos. He increased weight to 130 kilos for his third attempt and, with some support from the crowd, was able to stabilize in the squat and nab a successful third lift. Lee made quick work of his first attempt at the clean and jerk at 165-kgs. He increased to 176-kgs, which would earn him a new American Record and put him in the No. 1 slot to make the Pan-Am team. After failing his second attempt, Lee cleaned the weight easily, but failed to lock out for the jerk, losing the weight behind him.

Lifters Brian DeGennaro, Mason Groehler and Paul Woelmer, competing in the 69-kg, 77-kg, and 85-kg weight classes, each made their first lifts, but failed in their second attempts.

DeGennaro also failed his third attempt, finishing with a 118-kg snatch, but he withdrew from the competition after failing his first two attempts at the clean and jerk. Groehler made his third attempt at the snatch with 128-kgs and a new PR clean and jerk of 160-kgs for a total of 288-kgs. Woelmer failed his third attempts on both snatch and clean and jerk and was credited with a 125-kg snatch and a 161-kg clean and jerk for a total of 286 kgs.

Dark horse Angelo Bianco from Average Broz Gym had an impressive performance in the snatch, but failed all three of his attempts at the clean and jerk. The former wrestler began lifting 18 months ago and competes in the 77-kg weight class. He started off with an easy 135-kg snatch for his first attempt, but failed his second attempt at 140-kgs. He increased the load to 142-kgs, almost twice his bodyweight, for his third attempt and after a fight to stand up, he successfully completed the attempt.

Crowd favorite Travis Cooper easily snatched 142-kgs on his first attempt, but failed his second and third attempts. He recovered in the clean and jerk, lifting 182-kgs for a total of 324-kgs.