Guillan Goes for Gold!
The Gregg Schindler State Farm Female Athlete of the month for February, 2022
As an all-around athlete, Izabella Guillan succeeded at weightlifting using her athletic capabilities to perform for multiple teams.
By Sofia Chianella Just 20 short months ago, in June 2020, Izabella Guillan, a junior at J.W. Mitchell High School, was first introduced to the sport of weightlifting, leading her athletic journey to take a quick turn from soccer to a strenuous weight workout. Looking for an activity that could keep her in shape, Guillan attended a gym named Train Harder, recommended to her by her friends. Shortly after she joined the training facility, she fell in love with the atmosphere. “I like how it’s an individual sport because I played team sports all my life, and playing an individual sport gives me control of my work ethic and basically everything else,” Guillan said. In order to keep up with her high performance levels, Guillan joined the girls weightlifting team at J.W. Mitchell High School, beginning a rigorous practice schedule. “We train in the morning, four days a week depending on when our meets are. Before we trained after school every day. There was a rule about being there
26 FEBRUARY 2022
On Nov. 3, 2021, Izabella Guillan warmed up before snatching at a home meet against Gulf High School. Photo by Breanna Mahan
three days a week, but we would train after school and in the morning sometimes,” Guillan said. Multiple components are needed in order to succeed at proper lifting. Guillan vouches for the importance of positivity to those who want to participate in weightlifting. “I think a good mentality [is necessary] because if you don’t have a good mentality playing into your lifts and your actions, you’re going to do bad at your lifts,” Guillan said. With videos of failed attempts at lifting circulating popular social media platforms, opponents of the sport have argued about the dangers of this activity. Despite these situations, Guillan considered herself lucky, as she has never faced a threatening situa-
tion when lifting. “If you have good technique and you’re not ego lifting, then it’s okay, but of course there are dangers with every sport. But good technique and good form is the main thing,” Guillan said. Attempting to pursue a triumphant future, Guillan engages in Olympic weightlifting, a club where she is able to compete at national events. Along with traveling during the summer, fall, and spring to competitions, Guillan still wants to further her athletic career. “I’m trying to make the youth world champion team, but I mean, if I could go to the Olympics that would be super cool,” Guillan said. Head coach Cobie Lee complimented Guillan on her statues of team captain,
top weight lifter in her class, district champion, regional champ, record breaker of school clean and jerk, and her dedication to becoming state champion. “Izzy is an amazing athlete and captain on our varsity girls weightlifting team. Her perseverance and determination in weightlifting has helped her achieve incredible numbers in the snatch and clean and jerk lifts. Her hard work and dedication to weightlifting has proven to be paying off,” Lee said. As the 2021-’22 season of girls weightlifting comes to a close with victories in regionals as well as districts, Guillan will continue to practice with a mindset toward upcoming achievements. Congratulations to this deserving athlete.
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