Photo Courtesy of Will Johnson.
Outstanding Athletes
Athlete Nomination
The NY WSO recognizes outstanding achievements in the following categories for male and female athletes: Senior, Junior, Master and Most Improved. To be considered for an award the athlete must be a member of the NY WSO. Participation in two NY WSO meets held at two different venues within the same year would make a lifter eligible for an award.
The nomination period for 2022 will start on January 1st, 2023 and conclude on March 31st, 2023.
Click here to submit a nomination.
Award Recipients
The New York WSO finds great pleasure in awarding the following athletes for their outstanding achievements in the sport of weightlifting during the years listed below.
2020/2021
(Combined Years)
Outstanding Junior Athlete: D. Irizarry
Outstanding Junior Male: Alec Paganuzzi
Most Improved Female: Jessica Rodriguez
Most Improved Male: Shaaf Syed
Outstanding Senior Female: Juliana Riotto
Outstanding Senior Male: Nicholas Bader
Outstanding Master Female: Libby Elias
Outstanding Master Male: Brett Andrus
2019
Outstanding Junior Female: Alexis Jones
Outstanding Junior Male: Larry Mintz, Jacob Senate, and Andrew Smith (three-way tie)
Most Improved Female: Lyn Kajihara
Most Improved Male: Andrew Smith
Outstanding Senior Female: Jessica Jean-Augustine
Outstanding Senior Male: Brian DeGennaro
Outstanding Master Female: Stella Ladao
Outstanding Master Male: Sigfredo Rivera
2018
Outstanding Junior Female: Sophia Fasone
Outstanding Junior Male: Larry Mintz
Most Improved Female: No Award (There were no nominees)
Most Improved Male: Jacob Senate
Outstanding Senior Female: Claire Weche and Melissa Manzer*
*With the vote on outstanding senior female deadlocked, the board voted on presenting two senior female awards with 9 in favor and 1 opposed.
Outstanding Senior Male: James Corsitto
Outstanding Master Female: Stella Ladao
Outstanding Master Male: Mark Ongyberg
2017
Outstanding Junior Female: Ursula Posesenin
Outstanding Junior Male: Adam Bakatsias
Most Improved Female: Taylor Payne
Most Improved Male: Larry Mintz
Outstanding Senior Female: Rhiannon Reynolds
Outstanding Senior Male: John Aguinaldo
Outstanding Master Female: Stella Ladao
Outstanding Master Male: Mark Ongyberg
2016
Outstanding Junior Female: Sosara Ma
Outstanding Junior Male: John Aguinaldo
Most Improved Female: Katie McDevitt
Most Improved Male: David Urovish
Outstanding Senior Female: Heather Farmer
Outstanding Senior Male: Dean Otsuka
Outstanding Master Female: Stella Ladao
Outstanding Master Male: Dan Boland