THE HD Weightlifting Academy CNMI, spearheaded by Angel San Nicolas, has launched a grassroots program alongside Hopwood Middle School.
“I want to expand and share the sport of weightlifting,” San Nicolas said. “With my grassroots program with HD Weightlifting Academy CNMI, I need to introduce the sport,” said San Nicolas, a weightlifting gold medalist.
He said a lot of students at Hopwood are exposed to other sports but not weightlifting.
“I’m the only one that is willing to make time and put effort into introducing weightlifting to our youth,” San Nicolas said.
His goal is to make the sport a “regular thing.” “I want kids to see it as an option and something they want to try out if other sports don’t work out for them,” he added.
So far, 30 students have signed up for the program, but only 15 have received permission slips.
San Nicolas, a Social Studies teacher, said the program is under Hopwood and no organization or federation is involved.
However, members of the HD Weightlifting Academy CNMI are assisting the program.
As of now, the program teaches students the basic skills and fundamentals of the sport, including various exercises and movements, as they progress toward the more complex techniques of Olympic weightlifting.
The program started a month ago, with students training every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
“It’s nice that other kids are seeing their peers lift weights,” San Nicolas said.
Janelle Tibong works on her Clean & Jerk during a training session of the HD Weightlifting Academy CNMI’s grassroots program under Hopwood Middle School.
Izaiah Tenorio and Kaizaeah Remoket synchronize the Split Jerk during a training session of the HD Weightlifting Academy CNMI’s grassroots program under Hopwood Middle School.
