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Success Story Youth and experience
headline powerlifting team The 2008 U.S. Paralympic Powerlifting Team will be made up of two athletes – one is a familiar face at the Paralympic Games and one is a newcomer. Two-time Paralympian Mary Stack (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and first time Paralympian Anderson Wise (Needham, Mass.) both will be gunning for hardware under the tutelage of head coach Mary Hodge (Farmington, N.Y.). Stack has proven that she’s still improving as she continues her ascent into the top five of the women’s 82.5kg class. At the 2006 U.S. Paralympics Powerlifting National Championships, Stack set a personal best with a lift of 117.5 kg, matching her Elite Team standard. At the 2007 Parapan American Games, she took fourth place in her weight class. Stack is looking to build on that performance by landing a top-three finish in Beijing. Making his Paralympic debut in Beijing is Anderson Wise. Wise, who competes in the 67.5kg class, set a personal best at the 2006 Nationals with a lift of 170 kg. He then finished sixth at the IPC Powerlifting World Championships. Last year Wise had his best showing -- a first place finish -- at the American Powerlifting Championships and will be looking for a repeat performance in Beijing. The powerlifting competition begins on Tuesday, Sept. 9 and takes place
at the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium.
More about Andy... Anderson Wise Day |
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Monday, October 23rd, was proclaimed Anderson Wise Day by Mass Bay President Carole Berotte Joseph, in recognition of his inspirational accomplishments, overcoming being paralyzed from the waist down to become one of the top Paralympic weightlifters in the world. Featured on Wednesday's Child when Andy was only 18-months old, he was adopted by Sally and Dale Wise, who have loved him as their own and helped him achieve a high level of self confidence. In Andy's words: "I was never coddled, but was expected to behave like any other member of the family. My father told me that I could do anything, but I'd have to do it in a different way." Anderson is graduating from Mass Bay in December and is going on to a four year college, with the goal of becoming a personal trainer. In a speech before the standing-room-only crowd, Wednesday's Child
founder Jack Williams predicted Andy would go on to inspire people nationwide.
"One day we'll look back and remember when we honored Andy, and
realize then how much more he would go on and accomplish."
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