Team Wesley Weightlifting
Team Wesley Weightlifting
Big dreams are often born in simple beginnings. So it is with the Wesley Weightlifters of InterServ in St. Joseph, MO. Beginning a weightlifting program in the corner of the Wesley gym, Jon Carr, a volunteer coach, started paved the road to the Olympics for local youth in 1978.
The club hit hard times in 1983 when Jon Carr’s work schedule forced him to
withdraw as coach. Only one team member remained when Dennis Snethen took over
and began rebuilding Team Wesley. The days with only a handful of lifters
working out in the corner of the gym are now shadowed by a program that trains
over 130 boys and girls ages 10 and up. In fact, there are so many successful
lifters, both male and female, on Team Wesley that St. Joseph is known as the
Weightlifting Capital of the United States.
While success is sweet, it is won through long hours of disciplined training.
Wes Barnett, a scrawny 13-year-old boy, became a champion for the first time in
1984. At age 21, he made the 1992 Olympic team. However, Barnett was just one of
two Team Wesley lifters to achieve Olympic glory. In 1996, Pete Kelley placed in
his first Olympic championship. This year, in front of family, friends, and
hometown fans at the St. Joseph Civic Arena, Kelley will complete for a slot on
the 2004 Olympic Team. His immediate goals are simple—qualify for the 2004
Olympics and break Wes’ (Barnett) American Records. As for his long range plans,
Kelley, who graduated from the University of Colorado with a major in Geography,
wants to become a coach and help to develop future Olympians.
While Barnett and Kelley are the first Olympians from St. Joseph, they
undoubtedly won’t be the last. Younger athletes have seen living proof of what
hard work can do and many of them have champion-sized dreams for the future. Heather Snethen has been around the weight room since she was
little, but she began her formal training when she reached 5th grade. “I’m
addicted to weightlifting,” she says. “Weightlifting has already given me a lot
of rewards and opportunities, but my big dream is to make an Olympic Team.”
Snethen has her sights set on the 2012 Olympics and she’s well on her way.
Although you might not guess it until you see her in action, Snethen who lifts
in the 48-kilo weight class is a powerhouse.
Unlike most other sports, weightlifting is not seasonal. It requires training
year round and a whole lot more. Youth who decide to travel with Team Wesley and
“go for the gold” must maintain a 2.5 grade point average, not miss more than
two days of school per semester, and avoid drugs and alcohol. These demands
nurture self-discipline and a work ethic that will sustain them for a lifetime.
The rewards go beyond ribbons and trophies to self-confidence and self-esteem
and the dedication and love of the sport can last a lifetime.
“Weightlifting is my life, I couldn’t function without it,” explains Kane
Glidewell. “It lets me get out my stress, keeps me focused on my goals, and
keeps me out of trouble.” Glidewell has been a part of Team Wesley for over 8 years
and the sport has had a tremendous impact on his life. Like many lifters, he has
dreams of going to the Olympics, but that’s not his only goal. “I hope to keep
lifting through college,” he said. “And, later I would like to coach and maybe
coach other lifters to the Olympics. Whatever happens, it’s all been worthwhile.
I have been able to travel all over, met great people, and make great memories.”
And, he’s not even close to being finished. Right now, Glidewell is training with enthusiasm to follow in the
footsteps of two of his heroes, Pete Kelley and Wes Barnett.
Each day after school you can hear the clang of weights echoing the Wesley
Center gym. It is the sound of hard work, dedication, and dreams. You can also
hear the sound of Dennis Snethen, urging, coaching, teaching; and yes, sometimes
yelling to be heard over the clanging weights. If you visit the Wesley gym, what
you will see first are the trophies, plaques, and posters from across the United
States and around the world where Team Wesley has competed and won. What you may
not see is the real success of this program—the youth that have been able to
become successful not only at lifting weights, but at life.
Striving for the Olympics is admirable, winning trophies is great, traveling to
meets is fun; but developing a strong character—learning how to be dedicated and
achieve goals—is a far greater skill to pass on to generations of youth. At
InterServ, and in life, that is the true measure of a champion.
Team Wesley and Southside Youth - Innovations for Youth
Visit the official USA Weightlifting (USAW) website.
