[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17015]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       TRIBUTE TO ASHLEY MITCHELL

 Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I wish to celebrate and 
congratulate the recent accomplishments of Ms. Ashley Mitchell. At only 
4-foot-9-inches tall and 94 pounds, Ashley holds the title of Weight 
Lifting World Champion.
  The daughter of Anticia S. Mitchell and a native of Alexandria, LA, 
Ashley is a hard-working honor roll senior with a 3.0 GPA at Alexandria 
Senior High School, ASH. In addition to her academic triumphs, Ashley 
is also a dynamic athlete. During Ashley's freshman year of high 
school, ASH powerlifting coach Duane Urbina introduced her to the 
sport. With her mother's encouragement to take a risk and to try 
something new, Ashley embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly.
  Ashley has achieved several impressive titles as a result of her hard 
work. Ashley is a three-time first place North Regional Champion, as 
well as the North Regional Most Outstanding Lifter on the light-weight 
platform. Additionally, Ashley broke the bench and deadlift records at 
North Regionals. Moreover, Ashley is a three-time first place Louisiana 
State Champion. Ashley has earned the Billy Jack Talton Award for Best 
Lifter in the State of Louisiana and has placed second at both the 
national meet in Killeen, TX, for 2013-2014 and the national meet in 
Milwaukee, WI, for 2014-2015.
  On May 15, 2015, Ashley earned first place at the Men's and Women's 
Powerlifting National Meet in San Antonio, TX; Ashley's first place 
award qualified her to join TEAM USA and to compete at the 
International Powerlifting Federation, IPF, Championship held in 
Prague, Czech Republic, on August 28-September 6, 2015.
  Talented competitors from 28 nations competed at the IPF 
Championship. Ashley rose to the challenge, receiving the gold medal in 
the 94.5 pound weight class for the Sub-Junior and Junior USA Team. 
Ashley earned the second place silver medal for squatting 275 pounds, 
the first place gold medal for benching 159.5 pounds, and the first 
place gold medal for deadlifting 326.5 pounds. Each lift event included 
three attempts. On Ashley's second attempt for the deadlift, she broke 
the world record by lifting 309.1 pounds; Ashley immediately broke this 
record on her third attempt by lifting 326.5 pounds, now the new world 
record. Ashley also set the new world record for total weight lifted, 
by lifting a combined 761 pounds during the squat, bench, and deadlift 
events.
  Powerlifting is both physically and mentally demanding, but not 
insurmountable for Ashley, who finds support in God, her family, her 
coach, and her powerlifting team. Through blood, sweat, and tears, 
Ashley welcomes the challenges and celebrates how the sport teaches her 
about how to overcome life's obstacles.
  Ashley Mitchell makes our community, State, and country very proud. 
Today I join my colleagues in honoring this young woman's tremendous 
effort and dedication.

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