There’s a pretty crazy coincidence in this issue of Performance Menu. In addition to this interview, I have an article in here about making a comeback. I wrote the article from some general ideas I had about the subject of comebacks, and it honestly never occurred to me that I was also interviewing Erin Wallace Andica this same month.
 
At this point in her career, Erin is in the middle of a comeback, and those of us who have been in US weightlifting for the last ten years are thrilled to see it happening. I knew about Erin back around the 2010ish time period. It was hard to miss her. In just a few short years after she started seriously training Olympic weightlifting, she was a National Champion and World Team member. Coached by my old friend Kyle Pierce in Shreveport, LA, Erin’s talent quickly propelled her to the top of our national rankings. She was strong, explosive, and a tough competitor. And then…she was gone. I heard through the grapevine that she had moved overseas to work as a teacher. Obviously, it sounded like a thrilling life opportunity for her, but it was a bit of a downer for weightlifting in this country because she was such a rising star.
 
Fortunately, she’s back in the game now. It remains to be seen what the weightlifting future holds for Erin, but it’s a certainty that she’s a tremendous asset to Catalyst Athletics and the sport in general. We’re excited to give you a look at the life of a former National Champion who’s on the road back to the platform.
 
Tell us about your background. Where are you from, where do you currently live, what’s your occupation (if you work in addition to training), family life, what kind of sports background do you have outside of lifting, etc.
 
Hi! My name is Erin Wallace Andica. I was born in Manila, Philippines in the middle of the People Power Revolution in February of 1986. My parents weren’t military. Actually, my dad was for four years when he was younger, but when they moved to the Philippines, they were missionaries. I lived there about six years, but for most of my life I lived in Shreveport/Bossier, Louisiana.
 
I currently live in Armenia, Colombia in the department of Quindio (coffee region) with my husband, Carlos Andica. I moved here two years ago. I’ve been an English/Social Studies teacher for eight years and am currently working to open my own office/academy for ESL here in Armenia (since we plan on staying here).
 
Family is super important to me. Although I live in another country, I am usually able to go home twice a year. Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook, and all those other social media apps have made it easy to stay connected to family. I have three smart and beautiful sisters, and after my dad’s passing several years ago, my angel of a mom just recently got remarried…and now I have a wonderful addition to my already awesome family. Carlos’s family here in Armenia has taken me in with loving arms. He is tightly connected to his family, and having them near has been a blessing, because when you are building and trying to navigate your life in a different culture, that kind of support and stability is invaluable.
 
As a kid, I did gymnastics for about five years. I also did a year of ballet, but I wasn’t very graceful. Friends and family can attest to my lack of dancing skills, ha! I threw javelin and shotput in high school after soccer season, but soccer was my main focus. I was a goalie and loved the thrill of one-on-one situations. I thrived on the pressure, and I enjoyed the physical aggression and intensity required. Also, I hated running, so that position fit me well.
 
Describe your weightlifting history. When/how did you start? Who have your coaches been? What championships and international teams do you have on your record? What are your best lifts?
 
Well, I played soccer at LSUS, and in the off-season, the coach told us we needed to get in the gym for strength training. Dr. Kyle Pierce and Josh Redden (at the time grad assistant) worked with the soccer players at the university in what was also the Weightlifting Development Center. I am forever thankful for entering that gym. What luck! Seriously, Kyle is one of the best coaches!
 
Kyle coached me from when I started in 2006 to when I left Louisiana in 2013 to teach overseas. A few years later, after getting settled into life in Colombia, I was able to train more seriously again, and Kyle was coaching me. Then after Nationals, I had the opportunity to work with Aimee Everett as my coach, and everything just kind of came together during this time of transition in my life for me to work with her. I am grateful to have these two wonderful people/coaches on my support team.
 
I won Nationals as a 75 in 2010 and as a 69 in 2013. I qualified for the 2010, 2011, and 2013 Senior World Teams, but due to injuries, I only competed in Turkey in 2010. I also competed in the Pan Ams in 2010 in Guatemala where I went 6/6. I qualified for the Pan Am Games in 2011 in Mexico, but again due to injuries, I could not compete. My best competition lifts as a 75 were 100 snatch and 119 clean and jerk and as a 69 are 93 snatch and 115 clean and jerk. I won American Open in 2009 and 2010 and Collegiates in 2007, 2009, and 2013 (for a short time I held the total record for Collegiates).
 
You’re making a comeback after a few years off the weightlifting scene. Describe what that’s like.
 
What’s it like? Well, it’s hard, but gratifying. My body hurts and doesn’t recover as quickly as when I was 24, but my nutrition, maturity, and knowing my body better are all positive things that have come with experience/age.
 
When I left for Nigeria, I wasn’t sure what was in store for my future in lifting, meaning that I didn’t know if I would train to be competitive again some years down the road. I did know that I always planned on pursuing my dreams of living/working/serving overseas, and I wouldn’t trade those two years for anything. Life works its way out though, and I am happy with the path I have chosen. With that being said, I am currently in a position to train and work here in Colombia, and I am grateful to have the chance to compete again.
 
(Side note: I left the weightlifting scene winning Nationals on the floor of a skating rink in 2013 and came back to the scene 8 months ago with hundreds of competitors on two platforms and the social media craze taking over. That was a huge change and adjustment. I do love to see the growth of the sport and the direction it is taking though.)
 
Please give a basic description of your training. Just tell us as much as you can about your program, weekly/yearly planning, etc.
 
Right now, I am training Monday-Thursday and Saturday, and Aimee and I are in constant contact to work through the sessions together. I usually train in the mornings and work in the afternoons. I am beginning a cycle to build towards the American Open in December. I am snatching more frequently during the week than I was before and working on fighting through tired legs to be aggressive on cleans. Pause squats and pulls from risers are some exercises we are implementing to work my legs. Upper body strength has come more naturally for me than lower body strength, so legs are the focus, although I still do lots of push presses and jerks. I have some pretty specific goals for AO, and we are working to achieve those goals.
 
Describe some of the obstacles you face, or maybe some things that frustrate you in your weightlifting life. What kinds of changes would you like to see, either personally or with the sport in general?
 
Some of the obstacles that I have faced in lifting are that sometimes I overanalyze my lifts, and it’s a fight to keep/grow leg strength.
 
Since I have gotten to know my body better, I know now that on days when I feel that my CNS is fatigued and/or my legs are beat, that sometimes the movement will feel off. I need to recognize that training day for what it is: it is one day of training, not the culmination of all things ending in the world where I am a terrible lifter/person. Of course I need to do my best on that day and be aware of the proper positions I need to hit, but I don’t need to overanalyze every single movement to the point of defeat. Mentally, I try to overcome this by breathing deeply, closing my eyes, visualizing proper patterns, and thinking about something that makes me happy/thankful.
 
Regarding leg strength, it’s just something I have to continually work on to keep my hips healthy and legs powerful. I am doing my best to get stronger, more specifically in the positions I need for the clean. It doesn’t come easily because honestly, squatting has always felt a bit forced and unnatural. I am great with deadlifts/pulls and jerks, but squatting is just something that I know I will always need to focus on. It is an obstacle that doesn’t go away. And that is okay. Weightlifting is an obstacle in itself. It will always be a battle, and the desire to overcome obstacles is what fuels the fire to keep coming back.
 
What are your plans and goals for your weightlifting career? How do you see your future in the sport? Do you plan to stay involved in weightlifting after your top competitive years are over?
 
I would like to push my body the next couple of years to see what I can do at 69kg, more specifically with the snatch. Of course I am working my clean and jerks as well, but snatches have a special place in my heart. Representing the U.S. internationally again would be a great honor, and I am working towards that goal.
 
I definitely see myself staying involved in weightlifting in later years. I’m not sure in what capacity exactly, but I know that between Carlos and me, we will continue to be involved in the sport that we both love and that brought us together. He is the head coach for the department of Quindio and runs the local club here in Armenia, and I support him in all he does to help further the sport for the upcoming generation of lifters.
 
Who are some of your major influences, people you look up to, etc.? Who are the people you want to thank for your success?
 
I guess this might seem like a typical answer, but honestly my parents have been the biggest influences in my life. I was just talking to my mom about this the other day. I am so thankful for the godly parents I have had who have lived out and taught me what it means to be a person of strong character. Also, I have to say that Kyle, who has been a mentor and father-like figure in my life, has impacted me beyond the gym walls, supporting me in my education and life goals. In terms of lifting influences, my dear friends and previous training partners Cara Heads-Slaughter and Kendrick Farris taught me about overcoming obstacles and the power of focus/positivity. I also hold a great deal of respect for my husband as a person and athlete. He is a talented leader and hard worker with the mental fortitude that rivals any top Olympic athlete. In my time working with Aimee, I am overwhelmed by her faith in me and grateful for her dedication and guidance. Thank you all!!
 
Best of luck to you, Erin. Congratulations on the exciting moves you’ve been able to make in your life, and we hope weightlifting continues to be a big part of it!