Powerlifting Makes Program History at Collegiate Nationals
New Orleans, La., (April 14, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College powerlifting team competed at the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals in New Orleans, La. A total of 22 Vikings competed and program-history was made with an individual National runner-up finish, to go with two All-Americans, one gold medalist and three total medalists.
Finishing as National runner-up was Senior Gabriel Pineda (Marshall, Mo.). Pineda placed second overall in the men's 110kg Equipped weight class, and earned All-American status. Pineda had a 317.5kg/700lb squat, 232.5kg/512.6lb bench and a 256kg/584.2lb deadlift for a total of 815kg/1,796.7lb total. Pineda is the program's first-ever National runner-up since the program was established in 2019 and becomes an All-American for the first time.
Senior Sarah Khamis (Vienna, Austria) earned All-American stats, placing third in the women's Raw 60kg weight class. Khamis had a squat of 160kg/352.7lb, bench of 80kg/176.3lb, and a 117.5kg/391.3lb deadlift for a total of 417.5kg/920.4lb. Khamis earned All-American honors for the first time in her career.
Freshman Dakota Todd (Warsaw, Mo.) was a gold medalist in the men's Adaptive Equipped 82.5kb weight class, placing first with a squat of 247.5kg/545.6lb, bench of 87.5kb/192.9lb and a deadlift of 220kg/485lb for a total of 555kg/1,223.6lb total.
Sophomore Hannah Miller (Marshall, Mo.) was a medalist in the women's Equipped 75kg weight class, placing fifth. Miller had a squat of 187.5kg/413.4lb, bench of 95kg/209lb, deadlift of 170kg/374.8lb for a total of 452.5kg/997.6lb.
Sophomore Caiden Sanford (Jefferson City, Mo.) was a medalist in the men's Equipped 82.5kg weight class. Sanford finished with a squat of 255kg/562.2lb, bench of 177.5kg/391.3lb, deadlift of 285kg/628.3lb for a total of 717.5kg/1,581.8lb. Sanford is now a two-time medalist at the National competition.
A total of 17 other Vikings competed at the National championship:
Day One:
Freshman Karianna Sanchez (Devine, Texas) placed 12th in the 52kg women's Equipped weight class with a 107.5kg/236.9lb squat, a 47.5kg/104.7lb bench, a 130kg/286.6lb deadlift, and a 285kg/628.3lb total.
Freshman Noberto Garza (Mission, Texas) placed 27th in the 60 kg men's Raw weight class with a 165kg/363.8lb squat, a 82.5kg/181.8lb bench, a 177.5kg/391.3lb deadlift, and a 425kg/936.9lb total.
Freshman Desiree Alaniz (Lolita, Texas) placed 9th in the 70 kg Equipped weight class with a 165kg/363.8lb squat, a 70kg/154.3lb bench, a 177.5kg/391.3lb deadlift, and a 412.5kg/909.4lb total.
Day Two:
Freshman Ria Gardner (Ann Arbor, Mich.) placed 23rd in the 70kg women's Raw weight class with a 142.5kg/314.1lb squat, a 75kg/165.3lb bench, a 170kg/374.8lb deadlift, and a 387.5kg/854.3lb total.
Senior Alexis Duenas (Winter Park, Calif.) placed 47th in the 70kg women's Raw weight class with a 135kg/297.6lb squat, a 65kg/143.3lb bench, a 142.5kg/314.2lb deadlift, and a 342.5kg/755lb total.
Freshman Logan Horton (Chaffee, Mo.) placed 12th in the 67.5kg men's Equipped weight class with a 217.5kg/479.7lb squat, a 117.5kg/259lb bench, a 215kg/473.9lb deadlift, and a 547.5kg/1,207lb total.
Sophomore Nick Moore (Rome, Ga.) placed 8th in the men's Equipped 75 kg weight class with a 235kg/518lb squat, a 155kg/341.7lb bench, a 227.5kg/501.5lb deadlift, and a 617.5kg/1,361.4lb total.
Sophomore Delaney Welker (Mascoutah, Ill.) competed in the 75 kg women's Equipped weight class with a 147.5kg/325.2lb squat and a 157.5kg/347.2lb deadlift.
Sophomore Sydnee Jackson (Independence, Kan.) placed 44th in the women's Raw 75 kg weight class with a 137.5kg/303.1lb squat, a 65kg/143.3lb bench, a 150kg/330.7lb deadlift, and a 352.5kg/777.1lb total.
Day Three:
Freshman Matthew Nong (Warwick, R.I.) placed 78th in the Raw 82.5kg weight class with a 197.5kg/435.4lb squat, a 145kg/319.6lb bench, a 225kg/496.4lb deadlift, and a 567.5kg/1,251.1lb total.
Sophomore Abdelrahman Shehata Larbi (Barcelona, Spain) placed 27th in the 90kg men's Equipped weight class with a 207.5kg/457.5lb squat, a 125kg/275.6lb bench, a 237.5kg/523.6lb deadlift, and a 570kg/1,256.6lb total.
Graduate Student Audrey Schoch (San Antonio, Texas) competed in the 90kg women's Raw weight class with a 77.5kg/170.9lb bench and a 190kg/418.9lb deadlift.
Freshman Emily Andujo (Lovington, N.M.) placed 8th in the 90kg women's Raw weight class with a 170kg/374.7lb squat, a 75kg/165.3lb bench, a 192.5kg/424.4lb deadlift, and a 437.5kg/986.6lb total.
Freshman Malakai Meyer (McKinney, Texas) placed 15th in the 100kg men's Equipped weight class with a 240kg/529.1lb squat, a 145kg/319.7lb bench, a 215kg/474lb deadlift, and a 600kg/1,322.7lb total.
Day Four:
Freshman Presleigh Watson (Tulia, Texas) placed 8th in the 90kg women's Equipped weight class with a 135kg/297.6lb squat, a 75kg/165.3lb bench, a 142.5kg/314.2lb deadlift, and a 352.5kg/777.1lb total.
Junior Nicholas Ballard (Demopolis, Ala.) placed 13th in the 110kg men's Equipped weight class with a 235kg/518lb squat, a 175kg/385.8lb bench, a 250kg/551.2lb deadlift and a 660kg/1,455lb total.
Sophomore Myles Mobley (Ballwin, Mo.) placed 15th in the 140kg men's Raw weight class with a 260kg/573.2lb squat, a 142.5kg/314.2lb bench, a 270kg/595.5lb deadlift, and a 672.5kg/1,482.6lb 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.