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The Cincinnati Weight Lifting Club has been developed to help local athletes develop physically, and with the crowning of a national champion it is evident they are doing just that.

Adam Wacek, a 15-year-old sophomore at Lakota West High School, won the gold medal in the 69 kilogram (152 pound) weight class at the AAU Junior Olympic Games that were held in Knoxville, TN on Aug. 2.

"This was a big step in him climbing the national ranks," president of the CWLC Chris Cleary said. "If he can keep working at it who knows where it can take him."

The club has been around for the past 10 months following the Cincinnati Lifting

Festival.

There were about 50 youths involved and Cleary came up with the idea to have the kids train together, so the CWLC was born.

"We have about half a dozen kids that train on a regular basis," Cleary said. "We meet at Gametime Training Center several times a week to workout."

Cleary said all it took was a phone call to Gametime owner Craig Rhodis to convince him to adopt the program.

"The club has been great for building strength," Wacek said. "It helps me maintain a lot of core strength for my other athletics."

Wacek's winning lift included a 63 kg (132 pound) snatch and a 77 kg (169) clean and jerk.

"When my father and Chris wanted to get the lifting club started they needed some lifters and it was a pretty obvious direction for me," Wacek said. "It's helped me perform a lot better in all my other sports."

Wacek, a Liberty Township native, plays lacrosse for his high school and is also part of a select league hockey team.

"It really didn't make sense to have these kids training in their basements when they could be spending this time with their peers," Cleary said. "It's a great developmental opportunity and I'm happy to be part of it."

Next up for the CWLC are the Ohio State Weight Lifting Championships that will be held Aug. 11 at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus.