Today's Article

"It's hard."

There's some heavy lifting going on. 

"It doesn't come easy at first."

For 13-year-old Chassity Del Balso, this is 1light work. 

"I 2got involved with my dad. He was in 3weightlifting4 meets and everything and I just got 5influenced by it." 

Chassity not only lifts, she 6competes in the USA Weightlifting Championship. The banners hanging on the wall inside Conqueror Weightlifting are proof of her 7abilities. 

"I 8participated in the Youth National Championship. I was 64 plus and 13 under and I 9won first place." 

It's the second time Chassity has competed on a National Stage taking the 10top honor. Dad and Coach CJ Del Balso says it's an 11accomplishment he's been preparing her for since she was 4. 

"It's good to see those efforts 12pay off and then her applying it on big stages, winning National Championships. And performing 13under pressure and performing well when she needs to do it most so it's very exciting and 14rewarding as a coach."

He says it's a lot of fun watching his child enjoy a sport he loves. 

"I definitely have to push her at times just like any young kids. Sometimes they don't feel like training, but she liked the results of the competition, so that was kind of the 15motivator. If you want to do these meets, you have to do the preparation." 

That preparation has Chassity lifting 132 pounds in her 16snatch. 

"A snatch is where you go like this, and you're like this, and you go all the way down." 

When it comes to her 17clean and jerk, she can lift 172 pounds. 

"There's a lot of people 18crowding you and all of that and there's a lot of pressure on you. Also, when you win it feels really great, but if you lose you'll know next time what to do."