2026 National University Championships Info
Live Coverage: Video Stream
Location: Salt Palace Convention Center (Salt Lake City, Utah)
SEWARD, Neb. – For the second year in a row, Concordia University, Nebraska Weightlifting will be represented by 13 athletes at the national championships. The 2026 National University Championships are slated to unfold inside the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Paril 9-12. The championship event is sponsored by USA Weightlifting. This year’s event will run parallel to the USA Powerlifting Collegiate National Championships in Kenner, La.
Head Coach Freddie Myles’ nationals competition roster features 10 individuals who also competed at the 2025 national championships in Columbus, Ohio. The returning qualifiers include Michael Davidge, Evan Fukuhara, Nolan Graupmann, Adrian Hernandez, Enzo Mancini and Kaiden Mima on the men’s side and Harley Jane Carter, Chloe Gaspar, Taylor Hedke and Gracy Johnson on the women’s side. At the 2025 national championships, the Bulldogs earned national place finishes of fourth for men, sixth for women and fifth in the co-ed breakdown. Four Concordia athletes placed inside the top five of their respective weight classes, including national champion Kaiden Mima and runner up Evan Fukuhara.
2026 Concordia National Competitors
*Returning National Qualifier
Men
· Davontai Bell (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
· *Michael Davidge (Grapevine, Texas)
· *Evan Fukuhara (Sacramento, Calif.)
· *Nolan Graupmann (Goddard, Kan.)
· *Adrian Hernandez (Grand Island, Neb.)
· *Enzo Mancini (Roseville, Calif.)
· *Kaiden Mima (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
· Marcus Sweet (Navarre, Fla.)
Women
· *Harley Jane Carter (Pueblo West, Colo.)
· *Chloe Gaspar (Grand Island, Neb.)
· *Taylor Hedke (Marysville, Kan.)
· *Gracy Johnson (Coon Rapids, Iowa)
· Abby Nelson (Castle Rock, Colo.)
At the time the 2025 national championships were held, the Colorado Springs native Mima had just joined the team as a semester transfer. Mima won the national championship by totaling 212 kg in the 61 kg weight class. As the runner up at 73 kg, Fukuhara totaled 260 kg. Fukuhara was the 2024 collegiate national champion at 67 kg. Other top place finishers a year ago were Hedke (fifth at 59 kg), Mancini (fifth at 96 kg) and Johnson (sixth at 71 kg). Three Bulldogs will appear on the weightlifting national stage for a third time: Davidge, Fukuhara and Johnson. Hedke will be pulling double duty in competing at national championships for both powerlifting and weightlifting.
The 2025-26 weightlifting season has included the Nebraska State Championships (Oct. 18), the Virus Weightlifting Finals (Dec. 4-7) and the CUNE Weightlifting Open (Feb. 28). At the home meet back in February, Hedke and Mancini emerged with Best Lifter awards. As a highlight from the fall semester, Mima won the 60 kg open national championship at the Virus Weightlifting Finals. In October, five Bulldogs broke school records at the Nebraska State Championships. Myles was recognized as the 2025 Iowa-Nebraska Weightlifting State Organization Coach of the Year.
The national championships will mark the end of the 2025-26 season. For more information on Concordia Weightlifting, check out the program’s online homepage HERE.