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Jim | Summit Barbell & Performance

@summit.barbell

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-MSc, BKIN/BEd, CSCS, USAW National Coach
-20+ years in the strength and conditioning field
-S&C, Weightlifting, Powerlifting, General Fitness, etc.

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Two days on the mic at the 2026 Mid American Weightlifting Championship, the longest continually running weightlifting meet in America. That was another GOOOOOD Event!!
Huge thanks to @forzaweightlifting and @summit.barbell for hosting, and to @crossfitfreedom for the venue. Special thanks to @mgattone64 and @gschamberlin for being such great coaches and teachers. Thanks for having me back for year ✌️.
Booking 2027 events: weightlifting, CrossFit, boxing, MMA, and baseball. DM or email in bio.
#weightlifting #olympicweightlifting #usaweightlifting #snatch #cleanandjerk taken in CrossFit Freedom by @summit.barbell

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3 days ago

And just like that, the 2026 Mid American Championships are in the books.

First, thank you to every lifter and coach who trusted Forza and Summit to host this meet. We never take for granted the responsibility of providing the platform for all the work you’ve put in.

To our volunteers — especially our loaders — thank you. Session after session, you kept things moving and made sure every base was covered.

Thank you to everyone who stayed after the last barbell dropped to help tear everything down. And a special thank you to Jon and Emma @stsweightlifting , who followed us back to storage and helped Gwen and me unload the WSO competition platform and equipment after a very long weekend. You saved us.

To every friend, family member, teammate and spectator who showed up, made noise and supported our lifters — thank you.

More than anything, this weekend reminded me just how special the Chicagoland weightlifting community is.

Different clubs. Different coaches. Different athletes. We compete against each other, but when something needs to get done, everyone pitches in. Someone loads a bar. Someone moves a table. Someone stays late to tear down. Someone cheers just as loudly for an athlete from another club as they do for their own.

That’s a community.

Getting to collaborate with @mgattone64 on this championship was second to none. And I can’t say enough about @gschamberlin, who does an incredible amount behind the scenes to make a weekend like this possible.

You finish a meet like this absolutely exhausted. Then you see the smiles on the faces of the athletes walking off the platform — after a PR, a medal, a 6-for-6 day, or simply having the courage to compete — and you’re reminded why you do it.

It’s worth it.

I’m incredibly grateful to be part of this community.

Thank you, Chicagoland weightlifting. 🏋️❤️ by @summit.barbell

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14 days ago

Mid Ams weekend is here! 🏔️🏋️‍♂️

Eight Summit lifters. Two days. Let’s go make some lifts.

Good luck to the crew hitting the platform this weekend! 💪 taken in CrossFit Freedom by @summit.barbell

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15 days ago

Ready for 51st annual Mid American Weightlifting Championships @illinois_weightlifting @summit.barbell @gschamberlin @forzaweightlifting taken in CrossFit Freedom by @summit.barbell

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15 days ago

🚨 MID AMS NEEDS YOU! 🚨

We’re just ONE WEEK AWAY from the 51st Annual Mid American Championships, and we still need volunteers to help us put on a great weekend for our athletes!

📅 October 3–4
📍 Libertyville, IL

We need help with athlete check-in, loading, scorekeeping, staging/warm-up room support, setup, breakdown, and more.

No experience? No problem. We’ll get you where you need to be. And you don’t have to give us your entire weekend—even a few hours makes a HUGE difference.

If you can help, send us a DM! 🙌
If you can’t, please share this post and help us spread the word.

See everyone at Mid Ams!

#MidAms2026 #MidAmericanChampionships #Weightlifting #USAW #OlympicWeightlifting #WeightliftingCommunity #Volunteer #ChicagoWeightlifting taken in Forza Weightlifting Club by @summit.barbell

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23 days ago

Be part of the longest continually running Weightlfting Competition in the country. 51 meets and counting …

Don’t forget to register for 2026 MidAms before registration closes Sunday 9/20.

Can’t compete ? All local sporting events cannot happen without volunteers. Sign up for a session ( or 2) and get the best seat in the house to watch the action. Some positions require a valiD USAW Refferee certifications but other positions simpy require a willingness to learn.

Links to register or volunteer in bio. taken in CrossFit Freedom by @summit.barbell

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a month ago

THE FINAL DAYS ARE HERE! 🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♀️

Registration for the 2026 Mid American Weightlifting Championship closes THIS SUNDAY, September 20!

If you’ve been thinking about competing, now is the time to get registered. Join us October 3–4 in Libertyville, Illinois for the longest continually running weightlifting meet in America.

There will be medals to be awarded and thansk to @onyx_straps the best overall male and female lifters will win a leather lifting belt.

We’re also looking for VOLUNTEERS to help make the weekend a success! Judges, loaders, weigh-in officials, speakers, marshals and more are needed throughout both days.

📋 The tentative schedule + volunteer sign-up sheet is now live.
Check your session, see where help is needed, and sign up to volunteer.

🔗 Registration + Volunteer Sign-Up: LINK IN BIO

📅 October 3–4, 2026
📍 Libertyville, Illinois
🏋️ Hosted by Summit Barbell & Forza Weightlifting Club

Don’t wait — registration closes Sunday night!

#MidAmericanChampionships #MidAms2026 #Weightlifting #OlympicWeightlifting #USAW #USAWeightlifting #ChicagoWeightlifting #IllinoisWeightlifting #WeightliftingCompetition #SummitBarbell #ForzaWeightlifting taken in CrossFit Freedom by @summit.barbell

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a month ago

Records for the new weight classes are out and there are many that are zero or a standard. Want to see what you can do?

Mid American Championships are 4weeks away. Register now before it fills up and participate in the longest continuously running meet in the country !

Registration link in bio. taken in CrossFit Freedom by @summit.barbell

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a month ago

🚨 REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY! 🚨

The wait is almost over.

Registration for the 2026 Mid-American Weightlifting Championships opens Monday, July 13 at 12:01 AM (CDT).

We’re incredibly excited to continue the tradition of hosting the longest continually running weightlifting meet in America and welcome athletes from across the Midwest and beyond to Libertyville this October.

📍 Libertyville, Illinois
🗓 October 3–4, 2026

Registration Pricing

Early Bird (July 13 – August 9)
• Senior & Masters: $100
• Youth: $10

Regular Registration (August 10 – September 20)
• Senior & Masters: $115
• Youth: $15

👕 Every registration includes an official 2026 Mid-American Championships T-shirt. T-shirt designs and size selection will be emailed to all registered athletes by the end of July.

🥇 Medals will be awarded in all USAW age groups and weight classes. Youth and Junior medal ceremonies will take place immediately following each competition session, while Senior and Masters awards will be presented after final results are confirmed on Sunday.

Whether you’re chasing a qualifying total, stepping onto the platform for the first time, or returning to one of the most historic competitions in American weightlifting, we can’t wait to see you in October.

Set your alarm. Register early. Secure your spot. taken in CrossFit Freedom by @summit.barbell

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3 months ago

IL WSO State Meet: Not my best meet (and maybe the ugliest grittiest snatch make of my life) but sometimes it's like that. Lifetime clean and jerk PR at 82kg. Ready to get strong as hell this summer and come back for more in the fall.

#mastersweightlifting #momswholift #olylifting #strongmom taken in Evanston Township High School (ETHS) by @summit.barbell

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5 months ago

I finally achieved my longstanding goal of snatching 70kg at the 2026 Illinois WSO Championship. I’m extremely proud of that PR, but this one was different. It was my small way to honor the memory of a special person who was taken from us on Saturday. Life truly is fragile and short, so do something every day that brings you joy and makes you proud because you can.

Rest easy John 💙

4/6
Snatch: 64/67/70 (154#) 1kg lifetime PR
Clean & Jerk: 86/90x/93x (205#) 1kg lifetime clean PR
Total: 156kg
BW: 59.8kg/131.6#
🥇 Masters 40-44, 63kg
🥈Open 63kg

@summit.barbell @crossfitfactorial @illinois_weightlifting @the.wellness.revolution @pltfrm_nutrition taken in Evanston Township High School (ETHS) by @summit.barbell

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6 months ago

Helaneh Nighoghosian competes this Sunday at the Illinois WSO Championships.

Only 1.5 years into weightlifting, she’s already doing what many never do—signing up, stepping on the platform, and testing herself under pressure.

Before weightlifting, Helaneh spent years teaching yoga. That discipline, body awareness, and consistency have carried over well to the barbell.

Competition gives athletes a standard to measure progress against—and another chance to improve. Looking forward to seeing her represent Summit this weekend.

Let’s go, Helaneh.

#usaweightlifting
#weightlifting
#olympicweightlifting
#illinoisweightlifting
#chicagoweightlifting taken in Evanston Township High School (ETHS) by @summit.barbell

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6 months ago