IOWA CITY, Iowa – In the second competition of the 2023-24 season for Concordia University Weightlifting, sophomore Evan Fukuhara made a major splash. The Sacramento, Calif., native put together a performance that ranks amongst the very best in the nation while in action at the Iowa Championships held on the campus of the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, on Nov. 4. Fukuhara was one of eight Bulldogs to represent the program and one of three in the navy and white to win titles at the event.
Head Coach Freddie Myles is in his second season leading the Concordia powerlifting and weightlifting programs. Said Myles, “I was pleased with the high number of athletes who improved their competition records. Evan’s performance was particularly impressive. He’s added 22kg to his total in the 10 months since he’s been in the program.”
Fukuhara joined the program beginning with the spring semester of 2023. He took home the 73kg title at the Iowa Championships with new personal bests in snatch (120kg), clean and jerk (150kg) and for a combined total (270kg). That total currently ranks as the eighth best in the country for college-aged lifters. Already a national qualifier, Fukuhara had posted totals of 115kg in snatch and 145kg in clean and jerk at the Omaha Classic back in September.
The other first-place finishes in Iowa City were claimed by Michael Davidge at 89kg and Adrian Hernandez at 109kg. Davidge set a new overall personal best and Hernandez turned in a PR in snatch. In addition, Mary Berris placed second at 55kg and Cody Monsevais placed third at 89kg. Five of the eight Bulldogs set new personal bests in one or more categories at the Iowa Championships. Below is a complete summary of the accomplishments of Concordia lifters.
Bulldogs at the Iowa Championships
· Mary Berris – Placed second in the 55kg class; set a new personal best in snatch (53kg); lifted 66kg in clean and jerk for a total of 119kg.
· Michael Davidge – Placed first in the 89kg class; set new personal best with a total of 277kg; lifted 122kg in snatch and 155kg in clean and jerk.
· Ashlyn Felipe – Made all six lifts; snatched 60kg and clean and jerked 75kg in the 87+kg class.
· Evan Fukuhara – Placed first in the 73kg class; set new personal competition records for snatch, clean and jerk and combined total; his total is the eighth highest in the country for all college-aged lifters; lifted 120kg in snatch and 150kg in clean and jerk for a total of 270kg.
· Nolan Graupmann – made five of six lifts; snatched 80kg and clean and jerked 120kg in the 102kg class.
· Adrian Hernandez – Placed first in the 109kg class; set a new personal best in snatch with a lift of 86kg; lifted 110kg in clean and jerk for a total of 196kg.
· Gracy Johnson – Snatched 73kg and clean and jerked 85kg in the 71kg class.
· Cody Monsevais – Placed third in the 89kg class; set a new personal best total of 272kg; lifted 120kg in snatch and 152kg in clean and jerk.
Next up on the weightlifting schedule will be the North American Open Finals slated for Dec. 7-10 in Wilmington, N.C. That event will serve as a final competition prior to the University Weightlifting Nationals in March of 2024.