RESULTS: Individual / Team (PDF)
All-Americans: Kaiden Mima (first); Evan Fukuhara (second); Taylor Hedke (fourth); Enzo Mancini (fourth)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Thirteen Bulldogs made the journey to the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, home to the 2026 National University Weightlifting Championships. Junior Kaiden Mima repeated as a national champion and Concordia University, Nebraska Weightlifting achieved team placements of third in the co-ed breakdown (168 points), fifth for men (135 points) and eighth for women (71 points). The USA Weightlifting National Championships played out over four days (April 9-12) in Utah.
Head Coach Freddie Myles traveled with the weightlifting team while the powerlifters competed at their own national championships simultaneously in Louisiana. In addition to Mima taking home a championship, three other Bulldogs medaled with top four placements within their weight classes: Evan Fukuhara (second), Taylor Hedke (fourth) and Enzo Mancini (fourth).
Said Myles, “The coed team’s third-place finish marks a major step forward for the program. Paired with the jump from one to four All-Americans, it’s a clear reflection of the work this team put in all year.”
A native of Colorado Springs, Colo., Mima had just enrolled in classes at Concordia when he rose to the top of the podium at the 2025 national championships. Mima reset the American University record book (across all categories) in the 60 kg class this time around as he muscled up lifts of 107 kg in snatch and 137 kg in clean & jerk for a total of 244 kg. He far outlifted the runner up (198 kg) in the competition.
Fukuhara has now placed in the top two at the national championships for a third consecutive year (making him a three-time All-American). He was the 67 kg national champion in 2024 before placing second in both 2025 (73 kg) and 2026 (71 kg). In his third collegiate nationals appearance, the Sacramento, Calif., native registered lifts of 117 kg in snatch and 147 kg in clean & jerk for a total of 264 kg.
Incredibly, Hedke arrived in Salt Lake City in time to compete in the 63 kg class one day after she earned second place (60 kg) at the powerlifting national championships in the New Orleans area. The Marysville, Kan., native Hedke placed fourth in weightlifting as she lifted 76 kg in snatch and 100 kg in clean & jerk for a total of 176 kg. Hedke picked up All-America awards in back-to-back days.
Mancini moved up a spot from fifth last season for a fourth-place claim at the ’26 championships. Mancini competed at 94 kg and registered lifts of 137 kg in snatch and 166 kg in clean & jerk for a total of 303 kg. Mancini was coming off earning the men’s Best Lifter award at Concordia’s home meet in February.
Four additional Bulldogs earned top 10 finishes on the national stage: Davontai Bell (10th at 71 kg), Michael Davidge (sixth at 110 kg), Abigail Nelson (sixth at 53 kg) and Marcus Sweet (eighth at 79 kg). Full Concordia results are included below.
Concordia National Championship Results
MEN
· Davontai Bell (71 kg): 10th place; 95 kg snatch | 115 kg clean & jerk | 210 kg total.
· Michael Davidge (110 kg): sixth place; 129 kg snatch | 160 kg clean & jerk | 289 kg total.
· Evan Fukuhara (71 kg): second place; 117 kg snatch | 147 kg clean & jerk | 264 kg total.
· Adrian Hernandez (110 kg): 20th place; 100 kg snatch | 118 kg clean & jerk | 218 kg total.
· Enzo Mancini (94 kg): fourth place; 137 kg snatch | 166 kg clean & jerk | 303 kg total.
· Kaiden Mima (60 kg): first place; 107 kg snatch | 137 kg clean & jerk | 244 kg total.
· Marcus Sweet (79 kg): eighth place; 115 kg snatch | 145 kg clean & jerk | 260 kg total.
WOMEN
· Harley Jane Carter (63 kg): 14th place; 64 kg snatch | 81 kg clean & jerk | 145 kg total.
· Chloe Gaspar (63 kg): 22nd place; 61 kg snatch | 77 kg clean & jerk | 138 kg total.
· Taylor Hedke (63 kg): fourth place; 76 kg snatch | 100 kg clean & jerk | 176 kg total.
· Gracy Johnson (69 kg): 13th place; 78 kg snatch | 94 kg clean & jerk | 172 kg total.
· Abigail Nelson (53 kg): sixth place; 61 kg snatch | 71 kg clean & jerk | 132 kg total.