Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

Bishop Moore High School Coach Michael Geelan's vision for a Girls Weightlifting tournament among Catholic schools in Florida came to fruition on November 16, 2024. The event marked the first Iron Catholic Classic, bringing together teams from Bishop Moore (Orlando), Father Lopez (Daytona Beach), Trinity Catholic (Ocala), and Bishop Verot (Ft. Myers).

Coach Geelan expressed his aim to celebrate the sport's growth within the Catholic school system and inspire other schools to initiate their own programs. He emphasized weightlifting's transformative benefits for young women, noting its impact on physical, mental, and spiritual strength.

Father Lopez Coach Leroy Fischer, who began his program in 2014, highlighted the misconceptions surrounding girls' weightlifting as barriers to its adoption in schools. Despite initial skepticism, his team has grown significantly, illustrating the sport's positive effects on students' self-worth and dedication.

Parents Michelle and Rafael Vazquez shared personal experiences of their daughter Alejandra's journey in weightlifting. They observed increased confidence and leadership skills in her development as an athlete.

Nicole Tirado and Celena Torres, both captains at Bishop Moore alongside Alejandra Vazquez, echoed similar sentiments about their involvement in the sport. They discussed how it boosted their confidence and strengthened their spirituality.

Assistant Coach Annelise Gavillan from Bishop Moore praised the empowerment that weightlifting provides young women. Similarly, Trinity Catholic Coach Denise Trabing noted improvements in athletes' confidence levels through goal-setting and achievement.

The tournament fostered unity among participants through prayer and shared faith. Bert Trabing from Trinity Catholic underscored this aspect as vital for developing future leaders who understand God's purpose.

Coach Kyle Harding of Bishop Verot commended the event for uniting Catholic schools in competition while reinforcing faith-based values.

The competition was closely contested with minimal points separating teams. Final scores saw Bishop Verot winning in the Olympic category and Father Lopez leading in Traditional. Despite not securing a team victory, Bishop Moore excelled individually with standout performances by senior captains Celena Torres and Nicole Tirado.