EDITOR’S NOTE: The following originally appeared in Brenda Barger’s Dec. 3, 2009, Around Davidson column.
Shelley Witkin earned a first place medal in weightlifting competition last month.
By BRENDA BARGER
DavidsonNews.net
Most of us can “pinch an inch” – especially after all the turkey feasting last week. Not Shelley Witkin. No extra inches on this 61-year-old Davidson resident who traveled to York, Pa., last month to compete in the USA American Masters Weightlifting Competition. For her age group (60-65) and weight class (53 kg), Shelley broke the record in the Clean and Jerk class and tied the record in the Snatch. Returning home to the St. Alban’s neighborhood with her medal prompted a visit by DavidsonNews.net.
Shelley and her husband, Mike, moved to Davidson in 2005 just six weeks before to Hurricane Katrina. Mike retired after 34 years of work as a endocrinologist in New Orleans and Shelley retired from her job as science coordinator at a private scho0l there.
They chose Davidson because their daughter, Debbie Witkin, and her husband, Joseph Nunn, live here. (Debbie is a Nurse Practitioner with Davidson Family Medicine. Their other daughter, Karen, and her husband, Sean Swidler, live in Chicago.) Not willing to be “couch potatoes,” Mike put his medical knowledge to work once more with Mecklenburg Medical Group although he promises to retire f0r a second time at the end of this month).
Matt Perry and Shelley Witkin, both Davidson residents, are health and fitness professionals at In Motion Fitness.
Shelley signed on with In Motion Fitness, Inc. in Cornelius well qualified as a certified personal trainer (with distinction) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Shelley works primarily with women in their 40’s and older encouraging nutrition and exercise as a means to build good bone density. She had studied dance for years, ran regularly and did some weight training but four months ago decided to train for weightlifting in earnest under the direction of Matt Perry, athletic trainer and vice president of In Fitness Inc. (Matt also lives in Davidson in Little Gate, near the Harris Teeter. In addition to his work at In Motion Fitness, he also is a triathlon coach and a trainer at River Run’s tennis facility.)
The results speak for themselves. Shelley made history in last month’s competition. Can she and Matt help you? They would love to. Their business is on North Cove Road in Jetton Village, in Cornelius. Call Shelley at 704-895-8000 or email her at shelley@inmotionfitnessinc.com. Hours are weekdays, 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
When Shelley is not walking or training with weights, she is looking after and showing her Brittany spaniels. She has an AKC champion three-year-old male, Charlie, and a new 9 week old puppy, Kadie.
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