BRIGHT SILVER: Local weightlifter finishes 2nd in nation in Las Vegas competition

Mike Tupa, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
·2 min read
Hadley Parsons pumps iron during training in early June at Bartlesville's Pure Health Performance in preparation for the weightlifting nationals held last weekend in Las Vegas. Parsons finished second in the nation — among approximately 30 girls — in the snatch, clean and jerk and overall point total. She is a Ranch Heights student.
Hadley Parsons pumps iron during training in early June at Bartlesville's Pure Health Performance in preparation for the weightlifting nationals held last weekend in Las Vegas. Parsons finished second in the nation — among approximately 30 girls — in the snatch, clean and jerk and overall point total. She is a Ranch Heights student.

Last weekend, three Bartlesville-area youth threw some pretty serious weight around in Las Vegas.

And, quite successfully, too.

Archer Praetorius, Hadley Parsons and Hayden Brandon each participated in the 2022 USA Weightlifting National Championships held the Nevada gambling mecca.

But, the tenacious trio left nothing to chance in getting ready for their exciting experience.

They had trained hard at Bartlesville’s Pure Health Performance gym — and it showed, according to Daniel West, the co-owner of PHP and coach of the sinewy warriors.

The format was not complicated — three lifts in snatch and three lifts in clean and jerk.

Praetorious, competing in the boys 11-and-under division and in his first national tourney, had a clean lift in four of his six attempts.

Parsons, who participated in the girls 13-and-under division was Bartlesville’s big winner in the youth championships.

Competing in a field of about 30 athletes, Parsons finished second in the snatch, second in the clean and jerk and second overall, each showing earning her a silver medal-quality result.

Archer Praetorious, left, and Hadley Parsons lift weights at Bartlesville's Pure Health Performance gym. Both young iron-pumpers competed last weekend at a national competition in Las Vegas.
Archer Praetorious, left, and Hadley Parsons lift weights at Bartlesville's Pure Health Performance gym. Both young iron-pumpers competed last weekend at a national competition in Las Vegas.

Brandon, a Bartlesville High volleyball player, entered the girls 16-to-17-year-olds division. She finished fifth overall in the nation.

Each of the Bartlesville gymnasts also achieved personal milestones.

“Archer hit a personal best in the snatch,” West said. “Hadley hit a personal best in the clean and jerk and total combined in the two, Hayden hit a personal best in the snatch and total.”

This was the second time for Parsons and Brandon at nationals, West said.

The goal is always to make six clean lifts (three in the snatch and three in the clean and jerk), West said.

Hayden Brandon works hard during weightlifting training at Bartlesville's Pure Health Performance gym.
Hayden Brandon works hard during weightlifting training at Bartlesville's Pure Health Performance gym.

Parsons and Brandon both went 5-for-6.

Parsons just missed on a perfect attempt mark by not getting a clean lift on her third effort in the snatch.

Brandon didn’t get an official lift in her final round of the clean and jerk.

“Archer would have gone 6-for-6,” but he didn’t lock out his elbow on two of the lifts, which meant they didn’t count, West said.

Coaching oversight in this kind of competition is an important part of the athletes’ success as their performance, West said.

“It’s a very stressful two hours from a coaching aspect,” he explained. “The kids did really well. … All come back with great experiences. … This was a fantastic site. They got to go to some cool places and do some fun stuff.”

West’s time in Vegas isn’t done.

A fourth PHP product, Britney Feickert, is set to compete late this week in the adult division.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: BRIGHT SILVER: Local weightlifters made heavy impact in Las Vegas