ReportWire

Tag: Alex Wilkinson

  • Natural bodybuilding competition comes to Wilmington

    Natural bodybuilding competition comes to Wilmington

    [ad_1]

    WILMINGTON, N.C. —  Andrea Cannistraci is a single mother to Giovanna. Every day after school, Andrea motivates Giovanna on her spelling words, and in return, Giovanna motivates her mom in sports. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Organization of Competition Bodies is a natural bodybuilding organization that promotes drug-free competition
    • The OCB’s Gains and Glory Natural Bodybuilding Competition is today in downtown Wilmington
    • Andrea Cannistraci, a bodybuilder, has been promoting the competition 


    “So my daughter has been my biggest cheerleader since day one,” Cannistraci said. “She was about to turn 3 when I first stepped on stage, and she’s been at every show since then. And when I earned my pro card last April, it was actually her birthday weekend.”

    Right before Giovanna turned 3, Cannistraci began bodybuilding. 

    “I had my daughter when I was almost 41 years old and losing the baby weight,” she said. “When you’re in your 40s, it’s really hard… it was supposed to be a one and done to drop the baby weight.”

    “I lost 20 pounds and 10% body fat, and I was addicted,” she said. “I trained for nearly five months to go on stage for two minutes, and I wanted to do it again.”

    Cannistraci says when she started, she was competing against many athletes who used enhancers. 

    “I was never one to take any enhancers or drugs, and I found myself on stage next to some very developed muscles of ladies, and it just wasn’t a level playing field for me,” she said. 

    After moving from California to North Carolina, she found the all-natural committee of the Organization of Competition Bodies, which has its Gains and Glory Natural Bodybuilding Competition today in Wilmington. 

    The OCB describes itself as a natural bodybuilding organization that aims to provide athletes with a safe, fair, drug-free and family-friendly platform. Participants in competitions must be drug-free and pass polygraph and urine screenings.

    Cannistraci is part of the local bodybuilding community promoting the event, which opens at 10 a.m. at the North Front Theatre downtown. 

    Cannistraci says her biggest motivation in bodybuilding is health and setting an example for her daughter. 

    “I like to look good…. I live at the beach,” she said. “I have a daughter who’s 8 years old, and I want her to understand that it’s important to take care of your body and to eat healthy.” 

    [ad_2]

    Alex Wilkinson

    Source link

  • Police in Wilmington train on how to use their guns and when

    Police in Wilmington train on how to use their guns and when

    [ad_1]

    WILMINGTON, N.C. — Wilmington Police Department officers go through extensive dry fire training to prepare for firearm use on the job. 

    Everyday police officers have to be prepared to draw their firearms, and that’s where training, like simulators, come into play.

    What You Need To Know

    • There were 60 shootings by law enforcement officers in North Carolina in 2023
    • There have been 12 shootings by law enforcement officers in North Carolina so far this year
    • Lt. Matt Fox trains officers on avoiding use of force when possible, but also how to make firing their guns intuitive and near muscle memory  
    • Spectrum News 1 documented each police shooting and built a new map and database

    Originally from Charlotte, Lt. Matt Fox has been with the Wilmington Police Department for the last 24 years. 

    “Prevention avoidance of force if possible. We don’t want to actually have to use force or hurt anybody,” Fox said.

    From being a detective to being a member of the SWAT team, and now as an instructor, he said he’s dreamt of serving his community since he was a boy. 

    He added, though, he’s also accepted the challenges of the job.

    “There are going to be times where we have to use force and it’s unavoidable. But prevention and decision making and then the final component is performance,” Fox said.

    On a virtual simulator and at the range, he explained most of the firearms training is actually done without live fire. This dry fire practice is crucial in the development of firearm proficiency, according to Fox. 

    By the end of the training, the process should be almost involuntary, he said.

    “We’re building neural pathways so that the officer can understand and learn all of these complex skills that most people don’t typically think about and own it at an intuitive level,” Lt. Fox said. 

    During the range session, trainees work on drawing their firearms. 

    “We want to make sure we’re doing this absolutely safely. No ammo anywhere in sight, but find a place to train and do it from the holster,” Fox said. 

    Trainees like Travis Shumate know the importance of practice and understanding their firearm since it is so new to many of them. 

    “Getting the repetitions and being able to kind of have that muscle memory and be able to do it without even thinking,” Shumate said.

    Fox hopes the public better understands the difficult situations officers face to protect and serve their communities through proper policies from the department.

    There were 60 shootings by law enforcement officers in North Carolina in 2023. There have been 12 shootings by law enforcement officers in North Carolina so far this year.

    Spectrum News 1 documented each police shooting and built a new map and database.

    SPECTRUM NEWS 1 SPECIAL REPORT: POLICE SHOOTINGS IN NORTH CAROLINA

     

    [ad_2]

    Alex Wilkinson

    Source link