Iowa-Nebraska WSO Instagram Posts: Team Champions | Best Lifters
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – In the kickoff to the fifth season in program history, Concordia University, Nebraska Weightlifting came away with team and individual hardware. The Bulldogs hoisted the team championship trophy after action concluded on Oct. 24 at the 2026 Iowa-Nebraska Weightlifting State Organization (WSO) Championships held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Eight Concordia lifters emerged as champions within their weight classes and Kaiden Mima earned distinction as Best Overall Male Lifter while Taylor Hedke was named Best Senior Female Lifter.
Head Coach Freddie Myles’ squad was represented by 11 athletes at the Iowa-Nebraska WSO Championships. Concordia went up against a field that included Heartland Strength (Neb.), North Highland Weightlifting Club (Iowa), Jake Pudenz Strength and Power (Iowa), Myles Ahead (Neb.) and Conqueror Weightlifting (Neb.).
In addition to individual championships won by Hedke (69 kg) and Mima (70 kg), the following Bulldogs also took home first place medals: Alex Hibbs (53 kg) and Gracy Johnson (77 kg) on the women’s side and Nolan Graupmann (110+ kg), Wyatt Hosick (65 kg), Enzo Mancini (95 kg) and Marcus Sweet (85 kg) on the men’s side. A performance summary for all Concordia participants is included below.
A two-time national champion, the Colorado Springs native Mima moved up a weight class and achieved personal bests with lifts of 110 kg in snatch and 145 kg in clean & jerk for a total of 255 kg. A 2026 All-American in both weightlifting and powerlifting, Hedke (Marysville, Kan.) also went up a weight class. She was victorious at the Iowa-Nebraska Championships while lifting 74 kg in snatch and 100 kg in clean & jerk. Notably, Hosick tried his hand in weightlifting. The two-time powerlifting All-American posted lifts of 70 kg in snatch and 102 kg in clean and jerk.
As noted by Myles, many athletes achieved new personal bests at the competition. Of the 11 Bulldogs who competed at the event, eight are returning weightlifting national qualifiers from this past April. Mancini joined Hedke, Mima and Evan Fukuhara on the All-America podium this past season. Fukuhara graduated after collecting three career All-America awards, including a 2024 national championship.
Iowa-Nebraska WSO Championships Performance Summary
WOMEN
· Chloe Gaspar (69 kg) – 60 kg snatch; 77 kg clean & jerk
· Taylor Hedke (69 kg) – 74 kg snatch; 100 kg clean & jerk; placed 1st
· Alex Hibbs (53 kg) – 69 kg snatch; 77 kg clean & jerk; placed 1st
· Gracy Johnson (77 kg) – 79 kg snatch; 95 kg clean & jerk; placed 1st
· Abby Nelson (57 kg) – 55 kg snatch; 68 kg clean & jerk
MEN
· Michael Davidge (110+ kg) – 125 kg snatch; 155 kg clean & jerk
· Nolan Graupmann (110+ kg) – 110 kg snatch; 143 kg clean & jerk; placed 1st
· Wyatt Hosick (65 kg) – 70 kg snatch; 102 kg clean & jerk; placed 1st
· Enzo Mancini (95 kg) – 136 kg snatch; 170 kg clean & jerk; placed 1st
· Kaiden Mima (70 kg) – 110 kg snatch; 145 kg clean & jerk; placed 1st
· Marcus Sweet (85 kg) – 115 kg snatch; 150 kg clean & jerk; placed 1st
During the summer, Mima competed at the Pan American Games in Mexico and earned three gold medals. The Iowa-Nebraska WSO highlighted his efforts in an Instagram post linked HERE.
The fall semester includes one additional competition. Select Bulldogs will be headed to the Virus Weightlifting Finals sponsored by USA Weightlifting on Dec. 3-6. That event will take place at Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasonton, Calif.