UHS Staff Help Coach Broome-Tioga Special Olympics Powerlifting Team

Twice a week from October to June, members of the Broome-Tioga Special Olympics powerlifting team train at UHS’ Vestal Sports Performance Gym. The athletes work with UHS’ experienced lifting coaches, some of whom have been lifting since they were teens themselves. The Gym’s Strength and Conditioning Coach Peter D’Aleo (also the head strength coach at UHS’ Newark Valley location) assists the team’s Head Coach Adrienne Mason and Assistant Coach David Laszewski in coaching the athletes, men and women ranging in age from their teens to their fifties.

At the end of April, the team participated in the Regional Special Olympics Powerlifting Competition for New York State at UHS’ Owego Physical Therapy Clinic. All Southern Tier Special Olympics lifting teams were invited, and 30 athletes participated. UHS Strength and Conditioning Coach Hunter Beck served as one of the judges. Participants received extra support from local therapy dog organization Paws for Friendship’s dogs and their handlers, helping athletes loosen up and stay relaxed throughout the event. Staff members from Planet Fitness helped to load and spot competitors.

“Watching the athletes prepare has been amazing,” said UHS Sports Medicine Field Manager Andrew Long, MS, SCCC, CSCS, RSCC*D. “We’d like to thank everyone who came out to watch, help, and support the team, especially UHS for letting us use facilities and for supporting the team throughout the year.”

On June 14 and 15, six Broome-Tioga team members qualified to compete at the New York State Special Olympic Summer Games (the organization’s state championship) at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. In addition to lifting, the competition included track and field and other familiar summer Olympic events.

Congratulations to Broome-Tioga Special Olympian lifters:

• David Conti
• Jared Lamb (silver medal in the 93 kg weight class and a new competition personal record for squat at 347.2 pounds)
• Troy Lobdell (silver medal in the 74 kg weight class)
• Ryan Ruvola (silver medal in the 83 kg weight class and two new competition personal records for squat at 358.2 pounds and deadlift at 402.3 pounds)
• Jeanette Savage (gold medal in the 43 kg weight class and a new competition personal record for squat at 93.7 pounds)
• Derik Stetson (bronze medal in the 93 kg weight class).

“We’re really pleased that a few athletes broke state and world records – we’ll be able to release world record stats at the end of July,” said Long. 

For more information about strength and conditioning at UHS Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, visit www.nyuhs.org.