Grady teen picks up national honors

William Drake, 14, who will be a Grady Municipal High School freshman next fall, won a Gold in the nationals in the Snatch event at the Olympic Weightlifting Youth Division competition in Las Vegas, Nev., at the end of June.

At that competition, he also came in third place in the nation in the 14-15 age group and 49 kilos weight class, said his mother Rene Drake, who is herself a professional weightlifting coach.

"William snatched 55kg (131.25lb) and Clean and Jerked 65kg (143.3lb), for a total of 120kg (264.56),"Rene said. "William took gold in the snatch, and silver in the Clean & Jerk. He took silver overall; his 120kg total was only 1kg (2.2lb) behind the gold."

The annual competition in June is one of nine national meets, his mother said in a previous story by The News. "Athletes must qualify by competing at sanctioned events (local, national, or international) and meet specific qualifying totals (Snatch plus Clean & Jerk weights)."

"William's total of 120 qualifies him in his age group and weight class to go to the North American Finals in Atlanta, Georgia on December 1 through 4," Rene said.

In 2018, William started weightlifting when the family was in Italy," Rene said in the previous article. "I worked at a gym with an Olympic coach. William trained with that coach for two years until the family moved to New Mexico.

"About a year ago, the family found a coach for William in Amarillo, Martin Brock, who is with Panhandle Power Olympic Lifting, she said.

"In February, William attended his first in-person meet in Austin, Texas. "At this meet, William qualified by lifting 222 pounds over his head.

"The other lift at the meet is called the "Clean & Jerk, where the competitor lifts the barbells from the floor to the shoulders in one movement and then from the shoulders over the head in one (additional) fast movement," she said. "He qualified in the Clean & Jerk by lifting 132 pounds."

Asked how he feels about coming in third in the nation at the recent competition in June, William said he feels "accomplished. More than I hoped for."

William said he is surprised that he won the Gold. Asked what his friends think about this, he said: "They think it's pretty cool."

The North American Open Series in Atlanta is set up so it can include Canadians and Mexican competitors, too, Rene said.

Rene said the Olympics, if that happens, would be a long way off. "I don't know if he feels that seriously about it yet."

"His next goal is to qualify for an international meet in 2023," Rene said. "Perhaps the Pan American Youth Championships or Youth World Championships."