CVCS Weightlifters Carry Home Two Gold Medals

Phillip Wilhelm and Tim Aney each earned gold medals and their Iron Man Weightlifting Team from Capistrano Valley Christian School was the only boys team to have two national champions at the U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Junior Nationals, the premier event for athletes ages 20 and younger, Feb. 18-20 in Houston, Tex.

Wilhelm, a senior who has earned a weightlifting scholarship to Louisiana State University of Shreveport, had personal-best lifts in the snatch at 116 kilograms (256 pounds) and the clean and jerk at 148 kg (326) for a total of 264 kg (582), beating out 15 lifters in the 77 kg (170) class.

Aney, a junior, hit 92 kilograms (203) on his clean and jerk and had a personal-best 78 kg (172) on his snatch for a total weight of 170 kg (375) , beating out nine other competitors in the 56 kg (123).

Sophomore Kean Coleman was the third member of the school's team to make the trip, and he placed seventh with a total weight of 132 kg (291) in the 56 kg (123) weight class.

Wilhelm is expected to compete in the collegiate nationals at LSU-Shreveport in April.

The Iron Man program at CVCS is California's second-largest youth lifting programs and its members have won more than 30 medals in local and national compeition. Those interested can contact its coach, Chris Wilhelm, Phillip's brother, at cwilhelm44@gmail.com or (949) 493-5683, Ext. 123.