TXWSO Board Members

Our Team

Empowering Lifters, Uniting Communities

Meet Our Team

Behind every successful athlete is a supportive team that raises the bar of excellence. Get acquainted with the visionary leaders steering the Texas-Oklahoma Weightlifting community forward. Our Board of Directors combines a passion for weightlifting with a commitment to athlete success.

These are the faces forging pathways for new talent and ensuring a thriving environment for all. Connect with our Board’s stories, experiences, and ambitions – they’re the foundation of our strength and the future of our sport!

Board Members

Ray Harkness

President

Ray Harkness

Ray Harkins was introduced to Weightlifting in 2014 through CrossFit at the age of 43 and has been involved as a Masters weightlifter ever since. He has developed a passion for the sport and contributes by competing, assisting at local, national, and international meets, and hosting his own events in Oklahoma, receiving accolades for his efforts. Many people may have seen him helping Pedro at National events, and Team USA gave him the opportunity to assist the PanAmerican Federation with the 2022 Jr PanAms as an expert on electronic scoring systems. Ray started coaching after shoulder surgery in late 2019, primarily working with athletes from a CrossFit background, by design, to keep his athlete roster small. After providing feedback to USAW on their Adaptive Weightlifting program, he was invited by Matt Sicchio to work with Pedro Meloni on the Adaptive Athlete Task Force, leading to significant changes for adaptive athletes, including those with Autism, to participate equally. Professionally, Ray works in technology implementation within the corporate legal environment, specializing in helping clients get projects back on track. He has extensive experience working with diverse opinions to find and implement win/win solutions.

Jessica Dosterschill

Jessica Dosterschill, a USAW Level-2 National Coach and board member of the Texas-Oklahoma Weightlifting State Organization, began weightlifting in 2012 through CrossFit and transitioned to the sport in 2015. After earning her USAW Level-2 certification in 2020, she rose to a management role at Hunger in the Wild, where she organized competitions and developed a successful weightlifting program. Her leadership earned her part-ownership at Hunger in the Wild, where she continues to coach and manage. Jessica has guided athletes from beginners to national competitors, achieving success at the American Open Series and National Championships. She also oversees Uplift Dallas Academy, a non-profit supporting underprivileged youth and junior athletes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area through coaching and development. Her coaching and management experience, combined with her dedication to athlete development, make Jessica an invaluable member of the Texas-Oklahoma Weightlifting State Organization's board.

Cari Griffin

Cari began her athletic career as a nationally competitive gymnast, winning national gold medals in 2009. After an injury in 2010, she transitioned to diving, where she competed for San Jose State University and broke school records on all three boards. Since 2018, Cari has become a four-time Texas State Champion and a multiple national medalist in weightlifting. As a coach, Cari has guided athletes to national competitions, earning numerous state and national medals. She holds an MA in Communications and has extensive experience coaching both diving and weightlifting.

Jordan Grabinoski

Katherine Hairfield

CK Cone

Growing up, I played a variety of sports, practiced martial arts, and was deeply into bodybuilding. After the pandemic, I found my way into Olympic Weightlifting and have loved it ever since! I'm excited to be competing in my first national competition soon. As a WSO Representative for the Texas Oklahoma Weightlifting State Organization, I’m committed to collaboration and working towards the growth of our sport. While I’m still learning about coaching, I’m dedicated to making good choices and supporting our weightlifting community.

Alyssa Ballard

Christopher Boyer

Maria Austreng

Maria Austreng, known as Mia, is the WSO Representative. She played sports like track, tennis, and volleyball throughout her school years and worked in corporate catering throughout her 20s. She discovered weightlifting in her mid-30s after transitioning from roller derby and CrossFit, finding that a strength sport suited her well. Mia has achieved notable accomplishments, including winning a bronze medal at the Masters Worlds and a silver medal at the Texas State Championships. Although she can't compete as often as she'd like, she participates whenever possible. Mia began coaching weightlifting in 2016. She has coached at CrossFit Cataclysm, Cataclysm Barbell, and Silverback Performance. One of her key coaching achievements is working with high school kids, which she finds challenging but rewarding. Mia holds an AS in Kinesiology, CFL2, USAWL2, and multiple nutrition coach certifications. In her role as a state representative within the Texas Oklahoma Weightlifting State Organization, Mia contributes to the sport's growth and development by running a weekly beginners class at her gym, open to anyone interested in learning about weightlifting. She also teaches weightlifting and its benefits for baseball performance at a private baseball facility to high school and middle school players.