SEWARD, Neb. – The first official home meet in the history of Concordia University, Nebraska Weightlifting is on tap for Saturday, Feb. 28. The CUNE Weightlifting Open is scheduled to get underway at 11 a.m. CT from the Walz Fieldhouse. Twenty-three athletes are expected to compete in what will be a dual meet featuring the Bulldogs and MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.). The sport of weightlifting tests athletes in the disciplines of snatch and clean & jerk.
2026 CUNE Weightlifting Open
• Saturday, Feb. 28 | 11 a.m. CT
• Walz Fieldhouse (Seward, Neb.)
• Live Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
As part of the meet, Head Coach Freddie Myles’ program will honor a class of five seniors (listed below). The senior class helped get Concordia Weightlifting started with the program’s inaugural season occurring in 2022-23. The group also aided in the Bulldogs coming away from the 2025 University Weightlifting National Championships with team placements of fourth for men, sixth for women and fifth in the co-ed breakdown. Senior Evan Fukuhara won the 67 kg national championship in 2024.
Concordia Weightlifting Seniors
• Harley Jane Carter (Pueblo West, Colo.)
• Evan Fukuhara (Sacramento, Calif.)
• Adrian Hernandez (Grand Island, Neb.)
• Leighton Limback (Seward, Neb.)
• Jacob Wagoner (Columbus, Neb.)
The 2025-26 competition season to date has included the Nebraska State Weightlifting Championships (Oct. 18) and the Virus Weightlifting Finals (Dec. 4-7). At the Virus Finals, Kaiden Mima emerged as a national champion and was one of four Concordia athletes to earn top three place finishes within the under 20 division. In another major highlight, the Bulldog men placed fifth as a team in open division competition. Other top-three place finishers for Concordia (in the junior division) were Enzo Mancini (second at 94 kg), Abigail Nelson (third at 53 kg) and Marcus Sweet (third at 79 kg).
The CUNE Weightlifting Open will represent the final competition prior to the 2026 University Weightlifting National Championships, which will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 9-12.