IL WSO 2025 April Newsletter

2025 IL WSO Championship is Almost here!

Don’t forget to register for the May 3-4 2025 Illinois State WSO Championship meet at West Aurora High School, 1201 West New York Street, Aurora, Illinois, 60506

It is the premier weightlifting event in Illinois.   We are moving to 2 platforms this year so there is plenty of room for more athletes. See all your friends and make some new ones.  Registration is still open via the link below. 

At 1pm Saturday May 03 the IL WSO will be hosting an in-person Town Hall meeting during the IL WSO Championship event.   We will give you updates on IL WSO activities and have a chance for open questions.   All the board members will be there and we hope to see everyone. 

With the expansion to 2 platforms,  we will need more volunteers to keep things running smoothly.  Sign up to be a Referee or loader here. 

Upcoming Illinois Competitions

May 3-4, 2025 - 2025 Illinois WSO Championships

July 12, 2025 4th Annual Steve Sakoulas Summer Open

October 25-26, Mid-American Championships 2025

Looking for more events?  Check out the Find an Event button on the IL WSO Website. 

IL WSO Programs

Our Youth Development Fund allows meet directors to allow Youth athletes to compete for free. 

The Equipment Rental Program gives meet directors all the equipment they need to run a meet.

Our Equipment Donation collects gently used shoes, etc. and offers them for free to anyone in need. 

Annually, the IL WSO Coaching Development Scholarships help coaches refine their coaching skills. 

Check out the Illinois Weightlifting Website for Illinois State records and more. 

Know the Rules

IWF rule 2.4.6   The use of chalk (magnesium carbonate) is permitted.

IWF rule 2.4.7   The use of grease, oil, water, talcum, cream or any other lubricant on the athlete’s thighs is forbidden. An athlete who uses forbidden lubricant(s) is ordered to remove it immediately. If during the removal, the clock is running for that athlete, the clock remains running.

USAW Membership Benefits

Membership includes insurance!  The program provides General Liability and Professional Liability coverage for current USA Weightlifting active member certified Level 1 Sport Performance Coaches or higher with respect to Covered Activities.

Coverages include:

Bodily Injury Liability                                       Property Damage Liability (Third Party)

Personal & Advertising Injury Liability            Products-Completed Operations Liability

Participant Legal Liability                                Sports Professional Liability

TRIA/Terrorism Coverage

Get to Know your WSO Board Members

Gwen Chamberlin, IL WSO President

Il WSO Athlete Representative

I want to take this chance to introduce myself to those who may not know me.  I live and work in the City of Chicago and have been involved as a weightlifting athlete and official since 2011. While I still consider myself a newcomer to weightlifting, I quickly came to love the sport.  Weightlifting is a sport that “gets in your blood” and has changed my life – improved my health, given me the chance to meet some amazing, talented people and have a lot of fun.  I’ve been an athlete all my life and recently realized that weightlifting is the sport I’ve competed in the longest.  As an active athlete, I continue to compete locally, nationally, and internationally. I am a certified USAW L2 Coach and an international level referee. I have officiated at multiple USAW national events and international master’s events.   In my professional life, I am a technology project manager for a large bank.  For the past 7 years I have had the honor of serving the Illinois weightlifting community as President of the IL WSO.  The board has worked hard to support and promote weightlifting in Illinois and it’s a wonderful group of people to work with.  I hope to see everyone at the upcoming 2025 Illinois WSO Championship meet!

News from the IL WSO

Congratulations to the following recipients of the BIPOC / Womens coaching scholarships:

Allie Ancona                                                      Danielle Colan                                    Anni Womack

Dawnella Bowser                                            Jaylon Smith                                    Lilly Cottingham

Alvaro Pulido                                       Anjali Shah

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If you need additional information about Weightlifting in Illinois, do not reply to this email but please contact illinoisweightlifting@gmail.com