Story courtesy of Connor Birchmeier, Powerlifting Head Coach
ATLANTA, GA - Davenport University's powerlifting team, composed entirely of freshmen, made a memorable debut this month at the 2024 USAPL Collegiate Nationals. Despite being their first national-level competition, the team delivered commendable performances, showcasing their potential and setting the stage for future success.
Men's Team Highlights
Rey Cedeno (60kg): Rey's achievement stands out as he significantly improved his total from 467.5kg to an impressive 500kg, securing 7th place in his weight class.
Anderson Bartlett (60kg): Anderson demonstrated notable progress, increasing his total from 440kg to 447.5kg. Particularly impressive was his bench press, which saw a remarkable 5kg improvement since February.
Damien Freeman (82.5kg): Despite facing tough competition and challenging judging, Damien exhibited resilience, hinting at an even stronger performance in the seasons to come.
Jackson Jones (90kg): Jackson impressed with a substantial increase in his total from 690kg to 727.5kg. Narrowly missing 10th place by a mere 2.5kg, he showcased his future potential in a highly competitive weight class.
Yuan Cheng Li (100kg): Yuan's perseverance was evident as he navigated through challenges, gaining valuable experience along the way.
Women's Team Highlights
Haylie Haney (67.5kg): Haylie demonstrated her determination by improving her total from 335kg to 345kg. She set new personal records in both the bench press and deadlift, highlighting her dedication to progress.
Marla Aymond (75kg): Marla showed consistent progress by increasing her total from 367.5kg to 375kg. She achieved new personal records in every lift, underlining her commitment to excellence.
Rachel Wilkie (82.5kg): Rachel's exceptional skill shone brightly as she achieved a total of 400kg. Despite narrowly missing her final deadlift, which would have secured a 10kg total improvement and 14th place, her performance remained truly impressive.
Lainey Stanko (100kg): Lainey faced adversity head-on and admirably increased her total from 390kg to 395kg, securing 12th place. Her performance showcased her resilience and determination.
Liz Cleveland (100+kg): Elizabeth executed flawlessly and secured 3rd place with a total of 485kg, earning the prestigious title of All-American Powerlifter. Her remarkable strength and skill were evident throughout the competition.
Looking ahead, DU aims to build on its success by expanding its national roster to include a full raw men's and women's team of 12 members each by 2025. This ambitious goal reflects the team's unwavering commitment to growth and excellence in collegiate powerlifting. Furthermore, the team plans to recruit some of the nation's best high school powerlifters next year, further strengthening their lineup and enhancing their competitiveness on the collegiate stage. With this expansion, the team's size will increase from its current 21 athletes to an impressive 37 athletes, setting the stage for even greater achievements in future years.
DU's freshmen powerlifting team's debut at the national level was nothing short of inspiring. With standout performances from Rey and Elizabeth, the team has set a high standard for themselves. As they continue to strive for excellence, their future in collegiate powerlifting looks exceptionally bright.
