FREMONT, Neb. – In the second competition of the 2023-24 season for Concordia University Powerlifting, 15 Bulldogs claimed top-three individual placements at the 2023 Central Collegiate Regional Championships (Nov. 18-19) hosted by Midland. A total of 19 Concordia athletes represented the program in Fremont, Neb., where competitors from eight different institutions convened. Out of the three full teams that participated, the Bulldogs placed as the runner up to Midland. Blue Mountain Christian College wound up in third place.
Head Coach Freddie Myles’ squad also competed at the UNL Husker Strong Collegiate Meet back in October. In that outing, sophomore Rylee Ladd emerged with the Best Female Lifter award. Said Myles of the latest competition, “I was very pleased with how hard the team worked this semester in preparation for this meet and I think it showed in their strong performances.”
Four Bulldogs rose to the top of the podium at the Central Regionals: Mackenzie Houser (56kg), Nic Kriech (90kg), Ladd (52kg) and Taylor Meyer (60kg). The team’s list of second-place finishers included Jack Hedke (110kg), Abigail Lockingen (100kg), Pryce Ostermeier (82.5kg) and Will Peterson (140kg). Each of Concordia’s top-three place winners are listed in the summary below.
Myles’ program entered the weekend with 11 national qualifiers. New qualifications were generated at the Central Regionals by Lockingen at 100kg, Teya Badger at 100kg, Abigail Velten at 67.5kg, Nevaeh Noonan at 67.5kg, Meyer at 60kg, Rylee Bentz at 60kg, Houser at 56kg and Ladd at 52kg. It should be noted that several of the athletes mentioned have now qualified for nationals in multiple weight classes.
Concordia Results Summary (top-three place finishers):
· Teya Badger – Placed third in 100kg class with 362.5kg total.
· Taylor Gniot – Placed third in 82.5kg class with 310kg total.
· Nolan Graupmann – Placed third in the 100kg class with a 630kg total.
· Jack Hedke – Placed second in 110kg class with 697.5kg total.
· Adrian Hernandez – Placed third in 110kg class with 580kg total.
· Mackenzie Houser – Won 56kg class with a 305kg total.
· Nic Kriech – Won 90kg class with a 617.5kg total.
· Rylee Ladd – Won 52kg class with a 350kg total.
· Abigail Lockingen – Placed second in 100kg class with 362.5kg total.
· Taylor Meyer – Won 60kg class with a 340kg total.
· Nevaeh Noonan – Placed third in the 67.5kg class with a 352.5kg total.
· Pryce Ostermeier – Placed second in the 82.5kg class with a 582.5kg total.
· Will Peterson – Placed second in 140kg class with 727.5kg total.
· Hunter Powers – Placed third in the 75kg class with a 542.5kg total.
· Katie Wilson – Placed third in 56kg class with a 290kg total.
Concordia Powerlifting will have plenty of time to prepare for the 2024 Collegiate Powerlifting National Championships, which are slated for April 11-14 this coming spring. The event will be held in Atlanta, Ga.