By Brandon LaChance, Reporter
MENDOTA – The Mendota Area YMCA has seen a lot of Cheryl Stewart and Mariah Ambler over the last few years.
Especially in 2023 and the beginning of 2024 while they were training for the 2024 World Raw Powerlifting Federation Heartbreakers competition on February 10 in Carol Stream.
“We were going to the same meet. We both train at the YMCA. I helped Mariah get hooked up with a coach, so we’re both on some programming. I’ve been competing for a little while,” Sewart said. “Carol Stream is about the closest to local you’re going to get. We don’t have any events any closer. It was a fun thing. It was an all-women meet, so I thought it would be unique and cool to compete against a bunch of women.
“For me, it’s cool because a lot of women my age don’t do this. It’s special that I can increase my strength in my mid-40s. I think that’s pretty darn cool. The connection with the weightlifting community is supportive. That’s one of the most fun things. Everyone is at a different level, but everyone is in it for each other.”
Stewart, 45, originally from Marseilles but has lived in Mendota for the last 20 years, finished ninth after the Heartbreaker’s three lifts, squat, bench press and deadlift.
Her squat was 27.5 pounds, bench was 143.3, and her deadlift was 319.6.
Ambler has been weightlifting for a year and this competition was only her second compared to Stewart who has been competing since 2018.
The 25-year-old novice finished 35th with a 181.8-pound squat, 99.2 bench press, and a 242.5 deadlift.
“It’s really fun. I like all of the help and support I’ve received so far. I’ve been really going to the gym for the last seven years,” Ambler said. “I had a baby (Jamison) two years ago and wanted to do something different. I wanted to be strong.
“Cheryl got me into the competitions. I watched her train at the gym and wanted to do it also. This was my second competition and I plan to do another one in the summer. I’m more determined than I thought I was. I would like to try to set a record or two.”
Ambler took as many pointers from Stewart as possible.
Before 2018, the now-seasoned lifter was running 5Ks and participating in more cardiovascular activities.
After watching friends weightlift train and them reaping the benefits, she decided to make the switch.
Now, she holds state records in three different federations and is training for the USA Power Lifting Nationals in September at Salt Lake City, Utah, which she qualified for in November 2023.
“It’s great to train for a meet and go to a meet with someone else. It’s great for bonding and being able to share things,” said Stewart, who has also recruited her daughter Allison Stewart and Isabella Weber into weightlifting training and competitions. “It’s fun to watch them reach their goals while I try to reach mine. My next goal is to squat 300.”
Mendota Area YMCA Branch Manager Stephen Donnell is excited for Stewart and Ambler and the training they have endured.
He is also excited about Stewarts recruiting and hopes to see the YMCA packed with future weightlifting champions and record holders.
“I would love to see more people training at the YMCA. We’re always excited when we have people from Mendota who are interested in entering these kinds of competitions,” Donnell said. “Particularly, for Mariah and Cheryl, doing it in a very healthy, diligent, and disciplined way. I hope that will be encouraging to anyone who has just a little bit of a desire to give it a try. It is one of those individual things that it’s about you versus you.
“I think that’s what fitness is about. It’s you challenging yourself.”
Source: Stewart, Ambler represent Mendota in weightlifting competition – The Mendota Reporter
