Powerlifting Team Captures Multiple Titles at Missouri State Championships
Liberty, Mo. (Feb. 22, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College powerlifting team competed Saturday at the 2026 USA Powerlifting Missouri State Championship held at William Jewell (Mo.) in Liberty, Mo. The Vikings took home several individual awards including an invitation only, top pound for pound lifters in the state Primetime top 3 banner, USAPL Missouri's first Men's Equipped Adaptive Athlete State Champion, built upon its program record number of Collegiate National qualifiers this year, and won the Missouri's Best Overall Team award for 2026.
Karianna Sanchez, Freshman (Devine, TX) 1st in Women's Equipped 52 kg, Squat 100 kg/ 220 lbs, Bench Press 50 kg/ 110 lbs, Deadlift 127.5 kg/ 280.5 lbs = 277.5 kg/ 610.5 lbs Total
Presleigh Watson, Freshman (Tulia, TX) 1st in Women's Equipped 90 kg, Squat 142.5 kg/ 313.5 lbs, Bench Press 80 kg/ 176 lbs, Deadlift 150 kg/ 330 lbs = 372.5 kg/ 819.5 lbs Total
Ria Gardner, Freshman (Ann Arbor, MI) 1st in Women's Raw Guest, Squat 142.5 kg/ 313.5 lbs, Bench Press 75 kg/ 165 lbs, Deadlift 180 kg/ 396 lbs = 397.5 kg/ 874.5 lbs Total
Emily Andujo, Freshman (Lovington, NM) 2nd in Women's Raw Guest, Squat 172.5/ 379.5 lbs, Bench Press 80 kg/ 176 lbs, Deadlift 190 kg/ 418 lbs = 442.5 kg/ 973.5 lbs Total
Sydnee Jackson, Sophomore (Independence, KS) 4th in Women's Raw Guest, Squat 132.5 kg/ 291.5 lbs, Bench Press 65 kg/ 143 lbs, Deadlift 142.5 kg/ 313.5 lbs = 340 kg/ 748 lbs Total. This total qualifies Sydnee for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Grace Justus, Senior (Troy, MO) 2nd in Women's Raw Junior 60 kg, Squat 90 kg/ 198 lbs, Bench Press 45 kg/ 99 lbs, Deadlift 100 kg/ 220 lbs = 235 kg/ 517 lbs Total
Natulie Galvan-Vera, Sophomore (McAllen, TX) 2nd in Women's Raw Junior 65 kg, Squat 117.5 kg/ 258.5 lbs, Bench Press 52.5 kg/ 115.5 lbs, Deadlift 135 kg/ 297 lbs = 305 kg/ 671 lbs Total. This total qualifies Natulie for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Sydni Brandon, Senior (Parker, CO) Bench Press 72.5 kg/ 159.5 lbs, Deadlift 145 kg/ 319 lbs
Alexis Duenas, Senior (Winter Park, CA) 1st in Women's Raw Junior 75 kg, Squat 130 kg/ 286 lbs, Bench Press 67.5 kg/ 148.5 lbs, Deadlift 132.5 kg/ 291.5 lbs = 330 kg/ 726 lbs Total
Lauren Bates, Graduate Student (Kearney, MO) 3rd Overall Women's Primetime, 2nd in Women's Raw Open 100+ kg, Squat 195 kg/ 429 lbs, Bench Press 87.5 kg/ 192.5 lbs, Deadlift 200 kg/ 440 lbs = 482.5 kg/ 1,061 lbs Total
Bailey Miller, Freshman (Marshall, MO) 1st in Women's Raw Teen III, Squat 65 kg/ 143 lbs, Bench Press 27.5 kg/ 60.5 lbs, Deadlift 90 kg/ 198 lbs = 182.5 kg/ 401.5 lbs Total
Dakota Todd, Freshman (Warsaw, MO) 1st in Men's Equipped Adaptive Athlete, Squat 230 kg/ 506 lbs, Bench Press 90 kg/ 198 lbs, Deadlift 210 kg/ 462 lbs = 530 kg/ 1,166 lbs Total
Nicholas Moore, Sophomore (Rome, GA) 2nd in Men's Equipped Guest, Squat 220 kg/ 484 lbs, Bench Press 140 kg/ 308 lbs, Deadlift 182.5 kg/ 401.5 lbs = 542.5 kg/ 1,193.5 lbs Total. This total requalifies Nicholas for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026 in a different weight class
Timothy Barrientes, Freshman (Floresville, TX) 3rd in Men's Equipped Guest, Squat 230 kg/ 506 lbs, Bench Press 137.5 kg/ 302.5 lbs, Deadlift 220 kg/ 484 lbs = 587.5 kg/ 1,292.5 lbs Total
Nicholas Ballard, Junior (Demopolis, AL) 1st in Men's Equipped Junior 110 kg, Squat 220 kg/ 484 lbs, Bench Press 157.5 kg/ 346.5 lbs, Deadlift 240 kg/ 528 lbs = 617.5 kg/ 1,358.5 lbs Total
Logan Horton, Freshman (Chaffee, MO) 1st in Men's Equipped Teen III 67.5 kg, Squat 207.5 kg/ 456.6 lbs, Bench Press 97.5 kg/ 214.5 lbs, Deadlift 210 kg/ 462 lbs = 515 kg/ 1,133 lbs Total. This total qualifies Logan for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Bishop Morrison, Freshman (Monett, MO) Bench Press 87.5 kg/ 192.5 lbs, Deadlift 182.5 kg/ 401.5 lbs
Matthew Nong, Freshman (Warwick, RI) 2nd in Men's Raw Guest, Squat 222.5 kg/ 489.5 lbs, Bench Press 150 kg/ 330 lbs, Deadlift 240 kg/ 528 lbs = 612.6 kg/ 1,347.5 lbs Total. This total requalifies Matthew for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026 in both Equipped and Raw Divisions
Jaden Lambert, Sophomore (Belton, MO) 2nd in Men's Raw Junior 75 kg, Squat 215 kg/ 473 lbs, Bench Press 130 kg/ 286 lbs, Deadlift 200 kg/ 440 lbs = 545 kg/ 1,199 lbs Total. Jaden went 9 for 9 on attempts, and this total qualifies him for the USA Powerlifting Military, Police and Firefighters Nationals being held in Killeen, TX on March 21, 2026
Myles Mobley, Sophomore (Ballwin, MO) 1st in Men's Raw Junior 140 kg, Squat 235 kg/ 517 lbs, Bench Press 145 kg/ 319 lbs, Deadlift 272.5 kg/ 600 lbs = 652.5 kg = 1,435.5 lbs Total
Joseph Pollard, Senior (Marshall, MO), 2nd in Men's Raw Open 110 kg, Squat 130 kg/ 286 lbs, Bench Press 122.5 kg/ 270 lbs, Deadlift 187.5 kg/ 412.5 lbs = 440 kg/ 968 lbs Total
Aydan Ranzie, Freshman (West Palm Beach, FL) 1st in Men's Raw Teen III 90 kg, Squat 192.5 kg/ 423.5 lbs, Bench Press 137.5 kg/ 302.5 lbs, Deadlift 212.5 kg/ 467.5 lbs = 542.5 kg/ 1,193.5 lbs Total
Missouri Valley College powerlifters that have now qualified and registered for Nationals include Audrey Schoch, Sarah Khamis, Karianna Sanchez, Desiree Alaniz, Delaney Welker, Presleigh Watson, Ria Gardner, Emily Andujo, Nicholas Ballard, Gabriel Pineda, Hannah Miller, Alexis Duenas, Caiden Sanford, Nicholas Moore, Matthew Nong, Myles Mobley, Dakota Todd, Natulie Galvan-Vera, Sydnee Jackson and Logan Horton. The USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals, being held on April 9-12 in New Orleans, La.
Missouri Valley College Weightlifters that have now qualified for Nationals include Jaden Lambert, Nick Martinez, Jedidiah Kracl, Madison Woodworth, Corey Morabito, Thomas Gearllach and Ontarriyus Reid. The USA Weightlifting University Nationals, held on April 9-12, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Up next for MVC lifting sports is the 2026 USA Weightlifting Viking Invitational, being held on February 28, inside the Burns Athletic Complex.