Austin Barbell at Virus Series 2: PRs, Records, and Lessons from Fort Worth

ABB Coaching Team

When Austin Barbell rolls into a competition, we don’t just show up, we show out. This past weekend at the USA Weightlifting Virus Series 2 and the Texas-Oklahoma WSO Championships in Fort Worth, our athletes proved once again that the system works. From youth lifters making their first real mark on the national platform to seasoned athletes chasing national qualifications, Austin Barbell made noise, filled podiums, and most importantly, walked away with lessons that will fuel the next training cycle.

Team Highlights

Let’s get into the numbers and the stories.

  • Marcus – Snatched 137kg for a new Texas record, qualified for Nationals in a new weight class, and swept gold across both competitions.

  • Kristin – Despite a rushed snatch warm-up, she fought through, set records, and swept gold at Virus + TXOK. No excuses, just results.

  • Lukas – Missed his first two snatches but came back 3/3 in the clean & jerk, hitting a 137kg PR. That’s resilience.

  • Sasha – Went 2/6, but still managed a full silver sweep at TXOK. Proof that even when things are not going according to “The Plan” coaches can be tactical and still medal.

  • Eligio – Waved his snatches, then hit a clutch 100kg PR snatch on the third attempt and jumped 6kg to hit a 125kg C&J PR. Huge win.

  • Rafa – Meet PR at 100kg clean & jerk—brick by brick, the foundation is being laid.

  • Allie – Gold sweep in U17 63kg at TXOK and bronze sweep in Virus. That’s range.

  • Erika – 1st in clean & jerk, 3rd overall at Virus.

  • Jeanna – 1st in snatch, 2nd overall at TXOK.

  • Jess – 4th in clean & jerk, 5th in snatch, 4th overall. Consistent.

  • Jules – Did not STB, Opening in a new lighter 77kg weight class, down from her original 87+ category. Jules also PR’d her Sinclair of 140 by +4kg.

  • Eleanor – 5th overall in a stacked field of 17 lifters at TXOK, including a gritty comeback after two snatch misses.

  • Coach Manny – Snatch bronze, 4th overall in Virus M35, then swept gold in TXOK.

  • Chase – Gold sweep in U17 men’s 94+.

  • Max – 2nd in snatch, U17 men’s 79kg.

  • Coach Nate - With nearly a perfect weight-in at 87.50, Nate totaled 228, hitting that “hundo” snatch on his third attempt.

  • Jerry – 7th overall, proving depth on the roster.

  • Angela – Took home ABB’s only belt buckle.

This wasn’t just about medals, it was about lifters learning to fight when things got tough. And every athlete did.

Atmosphere & Experience

Virus Series 2 felt smaller and smoother than previous USAW meets, and that worked in our favor. The back room wasn’t as crowded, which made attempt selection and warm-ups cleaner. Organization was on point, and the energy was steady—not chaotic, but locked-in.

Behind the curtain:

  • Day 1 & early Day 2 lifters all battled opener nerves—missing snatches and forcing conservative calls on clean & jerk.

  • Eleanor redeemed herself after early misses, Albert turned up the hype chasing 91kg, and Angela snagged the only USAW 6/6 belt buckle.

  • And as always, the coaching staff worked seamlessly together. No egos, just execution.

Observations and Lessons Learned

Even with strong results, I’m not going to sugarcoat anything. There were mistakes, or rather “tactical overestimation” and every oversight is a teaching tool and a lesson learned.

1. Opener Jitters
Day 1 lifters especially struggled with some opener anxiety. First attempts should be the easiest lift of the day, not the one that buries you. A conservative opener builds momentum and sets the cadence for the rest of the session.

2. The 20kg Rule
More than one club got burned by entering totals too high and being locked out of lowering attempts. We saw athletes stuck in no-man’s-land because their coaches didn’t respect the rule. That’s preventable.

3. Too Heavy, Too Soon
Some clubs opened athletes at weights they had no business touching. This isn’t training—it’s competition. Open where you can succeed, then stack kilos.

4. Too Many Voices in the Back
Having family in the warm-up room is rarely helpful. One parent undermined their own child’s success by interfering—adding stress instead of support. The back room is for coaches. Parents, cheer from the stands.

Coach’s Corner: The Fort Worth Playbook

Open light, build momentum. Confidence comes from making your lifts, not gambling on the opener.
One coach, one voice. Too many cooks in the warm-up room spoil the broth—and the total.
Adjust, don’t panic. Missed lifts happen. Make smart adjustments and move forward.
Progress is progress. PRs, medals, or just surviving a rough session—every meet is a step forward.

Closing Thoughts

Austin Barbell left Fort Worth with medals, records, and new stories. But more importantly, we left with clarity. The competition platform reveals the truth—about preparation, mindset, and coaching. We’re proud of every ABB lifter who stepped onto that stage, whether they swept gold or clawed their way back from misses.

This is what we do.
We don’t just train lifts—we train competitors.

If you’re a youth athlete, a parent looking for the right environment for your kid, or a seasoned lifter ready for serious coaching, come train with Austin Barbell. We’ll take you from opener jitters to national podiums.


Coach Rob RonanComment