RESULTS: Concordia Only | Lifting Cast Full Results | Team Standings
All-Americans: Taylor Hedke (second); Will Peterson (second); Teya Badger (third); Wyatt Hosick (third).
KENNER, La. – The 2026 USA Powerlifting Collegiate National Championships saw the Bulldogs make another step forward as a program. Concordia University, Nebraska Powerlifting emerged with team national placements of fifth on the women’s side (26 points) and sixth on the men’s side (29 points). The performance for the women resulted in a team banner (for a second year in a row) that will make its way to Seward. The men made a significant leap after placing 18th in 2025. The national championships took place over four days (April 9-12) at the Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center in Kenner, La.
Head Coach Freddie Myles’ powerlifting program came away with four All-America medals and five podium finishes. Based on top-three placements within their weight classes, the following Bulldogs earned All-America distinction: Teya Badger (third), Taylor Hedke (second), Wyatt Hosick (third) and Will Peterson (second). Dax Davis also put himself on the podium with a fourth-place claim. Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Chase Benton accompanied the team to Louisiana and provided live coverage from the event.
Said Myles, “I’m proud of the work that the team put in this year. That effort is showcased by the increase in number of All Americans, podium finishes and athletes earning team points.”
It was a whirlwind of a couple of days for the Marysville, Kan., native Hedke. She took the national stage on day one of the powerlifting national championships and achieved national runner-up status at 60 kg. Hedke recorded lifts of 175 kg in squat, 92.5 kg in bench and 170 kg in deadlift for a total of 437.5 kg. The performance allowed her to move up from third place in 2025. After finishing the competition on April 9, Hedke then flew to Salt Lake City, Utah, and placed fourth at the 2026 University Weightlifting National Championships on April 10. Hedke achieved a goal of claiming All-America awards in back-to-back days in different sports in different regions of the country.
On the final day of powerlifting nationals, junior Will Peterson made a run at a national title. He was leading the competition at 140 kg until the final lift. Peterson finished with a total of 820 kg, just behind Texas Tech’s Ebed Aguilar (827.5 kg). Peterson put up lifts of 325 kg in squat, 182.5 kg in bench and 312.5 kg in deadlift. Peterson (Yutan, Neb.) moved up from fifth place as a freshman at the 2024 national championships. He is a two-time All-American.
Like Hedke, Badger and Hosick have medaled in back-to-back years. The Brandon, S.D., native Badger moved up one spot (from 2025) to third place at 100 kg. She made lifts of 197.5 kg in squat, 102.5 kg in bench and 185 kg in deadlift for a total of 485 kg. Meanwhile, Hosick (Cozad, Neb.) also moved from fourth last season to third in 2026 at 60 kg. His lifts weighed in at 190 kg in squat, 120 kg in bench and 225 kg in deadlift for a total of 535 kg.
In his fourth appearance at nationals, senior Dax Davis came through with a total of 477.5 kg in the 56 kg weight class. A year ago, Davis placed 13th nationally at 60 kg. Other top 10 placing individuals were Leo Guiza (seventh at 110 kg) and Katie Wilson (sixth at 48 kg). At 65 kg, Rylee Bentz placed just outside the top 10 in 11th. Complete Concordia results are included below. The team traveled 19 athletes to the New Orleans area.
Thoughts from the Bulldogs
Said Badger, “Overall, I’m satisfied with the results of the competition. Our team really needed some critical points on the third day. I was kind of under a lot of pressure throughout the competition to do well. I’m happy I was able to help pull through for my team and get us a team placement that we had been working towards defending from last year … It means a lot. We’ve had a couple things go on this weekend as a team. It’s been a little chaotic. Maybe not everyone got the positions that they hoped, but we really rallied behind each other.”
Said Hedke, “It’s exciting to do better than last year. I got third last year. It’s very exciting for my third year ever doing powerlifting – getting second place at nationals is a pretty big deal … We were really focused on getting second. That means more to me than getting a PR today.”
Said Peterson, “Squat started off well. Bench – had some things happen and just didn’t peak well altogether. I knew it wasn’t going to be too great coming into today. Deadlift was okay. Overall, it wasn’t my worst day ever but definitely far from my best and farther from where I need to be at … I believe this is the most medals we’ve ever had as a guys’ team. We had a second, a third and a fourth this year.”
Concordia National Championship Results
MEN – 6th place (29 points)
· Luis Alarcon (90 kg): 28th place; 250 kg squat | 150 kg bench | 282.5 kg deadlift | 682.5 kg total.
· Dax Davis (56 kg): fourth place; 187.5 kg squat | 110 kg bench | 180 kg deadlift | 477.5 kg total.
· Leo Guiza (110 kg): seventh place; 285 kg squat | 185 kg bench | 310 kg deadlift | 780 kg total.
· Wyatt Hosick (60 kg): third place; 190 kg squat | 120 kg bench | 225 kg deadlift | 535 kg total.
· Nolan Hyde (125 kg): 21st place; 295 kg squat | 165 kg bench | 245 kg deadlift | 705 kg total.
· Quentin Nelson (100 kg): 26th place; 282.5 kg squat | 140 kg bench | 282.5 kg deadlift | 705 kg total.
· Will Peterson (140 kg): second place; 325 kg squat | 182.5 kg bench | 312.5 kg deadlift | 820 kg total.
· Hunter Powers (75 kg): 66th place; 205 kg squat | 117.5 kg bench | 240 kg deadlift | 562.5 kg total.
· Garrett Reimche (75 kg): 71st place; 175 kg squat | 127.5 kg bench | 205 kg deadlift | 507.5 kg total.
WOMEN – 5th place (26 points)
· Teya Badger (100 kg): third place; 197.5 kg squat | 102.5 kg bench | 185 kg deadlift | 485 kg total.
· Talisa Buhr (70 kg): 20th place; 152.5 kg squat | 92.5 kg bench | 150 kg deadlift | 395 kg total.
· Rylee Bentz (65 kg): 11th place; 147.5 kg squat | 105 kg bench | 160 kg deadlift | 412.5 kg total.
· Evyn Carpenter (90 kg): 13th place; 157.5 kg squat | 82.5 kg bench | 177.5 kg deadlift | 417.5 kg total.
· Taylor Gniot (100 kg): 14th place; 140 kg squat | 72.5 kg bench | 147.5 kg deadlift | 360 kg total.
· Taylor Hedke (60 kg): second place; 175 kg squat | 92.5 kg bench | 170 kg deadlift | 437.5 kg total.
· Abigail Lockingen (90 kg): 20th place; 140 kg squat | 62.5 kg bench | 137.5 kg deadlift | 355 kg total.
· Navaeh Noonan (70 kg): 46th place; 117.5 kg squat | 60 kg bench | 172.5 kg deadlift | 350 kg total.
· Katie Wilson (48 kg): sixth place; 105 kg squat | 67.5 kg bench | 135 kg deadlift | 307.5 kg total.