LINCOLN, Neb. – Twenty Bulldog athletes opened the 2024-25 Concordia University, Nebraska Powerlifting season at the Strong Husker Powerlifting Meet held at the University of Nebraska’s Campus Recreation Center in Lincoln on Oct. 12. Three Concordia athletes emerged with championships within their weight classes and another nine Bulldogs placed either second or third in a meet that also included athletes from Nebraska and Midland. Additionally, school record totals were posted by Rylee Bentz, Taylor Gniot and Rylee Ladd.
The outing marked the beginning of year three for Head Coach Freddie Myles’ powerlifting program. The Strong Husker was the first official collegiate competition since Concordia came away from the 2024 national championships with place finishes of ninth on the women’s side and 19th on the men’s side.
“The meet was a great success with many athletes setting personal records and making a high percentage of their lifts,” Myles said. “Notable performances include Rylee Bentz improving her total by 40kg and securing second place, Katie Wilson increasing her total by 25kg for a third-place finish, Quentin Nelson hitting the national qualifying mark with his second-place finish and Rylee Ladd winning Best Overall Female Lifter while increasing her total by 15kg. We’re off to a strong start this season, and I’m excited for the Central Collegiate Regionals in November when the entire team will be competing.”
A summary of Concordia’s top three place finishers is included below. A junior from Chetek, Wis., Ladd placed as a national runner up last season and is the American collegiate women’s bench press record holder for the 52kg weight class. Ladd competed at 56kg at the Strong Husker competition and totaled 385kg (140 kg squad / 95 kg bench / 150 kg deadlift) for a new school record, meet championship and title of Best Overall Female Lifter. Other first-place claims came courtesy of sophomore Teya Badger with a 377.5kg total at 100kg and freshman Savion Ralph with 382.5kg at 140+kg.
Summary – top three place finishers:
· Teya Badger, 100kg (Brandon, S.D.) – totaled 377.5kg (first place).
· Rylee Bentz, 67.5kg (Kearney, Neb.) – totaled 387.5kg (second place) for a 40kg improvement and broke the school record for her weight class.
· Taylor Gniot, 90kg (Milwaukee, Wis.) – totaled 317.5kg (second place) and broke the school record for her weight class.
· Wyatt Hosick, 67.5kg (Cozad, Neb.) – totaled 485kg (third place).
· Wyatt Krohn, 75kg (Omaha, Neb.) – totaled 387.5kg (third place).
· Rylee Ladd, 56kg (Chetek, Wis.) – totaled 385kg (first place) and broke her own school record in the 56kg weight class by a margin of 25kg.
· Abby Lockingen, 100kg (West Jordan, Utah) – totaled 362.5kg (third place).
· Quentin Nelson, 100kg (Omaha, Neb.) – totaled 650kg (second place).
· Rayle Ostermeier, 75kg (Grand Island, Neb.) – totaled 307.5 kg (third place).
· Savion Ralph, 140+kg (Norfolk, Neb.) – totaled 382.5kg (first place).
· Abby Velten, 75kg (Whitesboro, Texas) – totaled 310kg (second place).
· Katie Wilson, 56kg (Cozad, Neb.) – totaled 315kg (third place) for a 25kg improvement.
In the two additional school record efforts, Bentz totaled 387.5kg (145kg squat / 95 kg bench / 147.5kg deadlift) at 67.5kg and Gniot totaled 317.5kg (112.5kg squat / 65kg bench / 140kg deadlift) at 90kg. Bentz and Gniot were both runners up in their respective weight classes. Two others placed second – Quentin Nelson at 100kg and Abby Velten at 310kg. Eight Bulldog competitors were freshmen who competed in a collegiate meet for the first time. It was also the first powerlifting experience for Leighton Limback, formerly a member of the men’s basketball program.
Assistant Coach Chevy Stout provided the following thoughts, “I was very pleased with the confidence our athletes demonstrated. Some faced challenges and had to push through, which provided valuable experience, and they finished strong. This confidence and experience will contribute to their growth in future meets and in training. Overall, it was a rewarding and enjoyable meet to coach.”
As mentioned by Myles, the next competition for Concordia Powerlifting will take place later this fall in Fremont, Neb., site of the Central Collegiate Cup Series (Nov. 23-24). The 2024-25 slate also includes the Nebraska State Powerlifting Meet on Jan. 25, 2025, and the Collegiate Powerlifting National Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., April 3-6, 2025.