Powerlifters Produce Gold Medals, Team Titles at World Championship
Tampa, Fla., (June 1, 2026)- Missouri Valley College powerlifting student-athletes competed at the IDFPA Student and University World Championships Tampa, Fla., highlighted by all four competitors taking gold individually. Additionally, Gabriel Pineda won Men's Equipped Best Lifter, while both Women's Raw and Men's Equipped teams earned team champion awards.
Missouri Valley College competitors:
Ria Gardner, Freshman (Ann Arbor, MI) Women's Raw 70 kg Champion, Squat 150 kg/ 330 lbs, Bench Press 70 kg/ 154 lbs, Deadlift 160 kg/ 352 lbs = 380 kg/ 836 lbs Total. This total qualifies Ria for the 2027 USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals, held on April 8-11 in Sioux Falls, SD
Audrey Schoch, Graduate Student (Boerne, TX) Women's Raw 90 kg Champion, Squat 207.5 kg/ 456.5 lbs, Bench Press 80 kg/ 176 lbs, Deadlift 197.5 kg/ 434.5 lbs = 485 kg/ 1,067 lbs Total. Both the deadlift and Audrey's DOTS Points of 436.305 were PR's in her final meet as a Missouri Valley College powerlifter. Schoch is a two-time champion at the IDFPA Student and University World Championships.
Abdelrahman Shehata, Sophomore (Barcelona, Spain) Men's Equipped 100 kg Champion, Squat 212.5 kg/ 467.5 lbs, Bench Press 127.5 kg/ 280.5 lbs, Deadlift 252.5 kg/ 555.5 lbs = 592.5 kg/ 1,303.5 lbs Total
Gabriel Pineda, Senior (Marshall, MO) Men's Equipped 110 kg Champion, Squat 290 kg/ 638 lbs, Bench Press 227.5 kg/ 500.5 lbs, Deadlift 265 kg/ 583 lbs =' 782.5 kg/ 1,721.5 lbs Total
About Missouri Valley College
Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.