Iowa-Nebraska Weightlifting State Organization website
OMAHA, Neb. – For the second year in a row, Concordia University, Nebraska Weightlifting came away from the Iowa-Nebraska State Championships with a team title. Fifteen Bulldogs contributed to the championship, including five athletes who broke school records as part of competition that took place at Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Ralston, Neb., on Saturday, Oct. 18. The event was staged by the Iowa-Nebraska Weightlifting State Organization (WSO).
The meet marked the beginning of the 2025-26 competition season for Head Coach Freddie Myles’ weightlifting squad. In another highlight of the weekend, Myles was honored by the WSO as the 2025 Iowa-Nebraska Coach of the Year. Said Myles of the event, “I was pleased with the team’s performance. I think this meet will be a good steppingstone for bigger performances at the Virus Weightlifting finals in December.”
New school standards were set for snatch, clean and jerk and overall total within their respective weight classes by the likes of Evan Fukuhara (79kg), Taylor Hedke (63kg), Enzo Mancini (110kg), Kaiden Mima (65kg) and Abby Nelson (53kg). Both Fukuhara and Mima entered this season looking to build upon past individual national championships. Another Concordia athlete with national championship aspirations, Hedke (Marysville, Kan.) broke the school record for Q-points, which is a statistical formula to adjust the total weight lifted for body mass. At the state weightlifting meet, Hedke (63kg class) lifted 80kg in snatch and 98kg in clean and jerk for a total of 178kg.
The major individual highlights and lifting numbers from the Iowa-Nebraska State Championships are included below. There are currently 10 Bulldogs qualified to compete at the upcoming Virus Weightlifting Nationals. More details about that particular event can be found via the USA Weightlifting website.
Highlights from Nebraska State Weightlifting Championships:
· HarleyJane Carter (69kg) – 64kg snatch; 87kg clean and jerk; 151kg total; personal best total; qualified for Virus Weightlifting Finals by making last clean and jerk attempt.
· Evan Fukuhara (79kg) – 113kg snatch; 146kg clean and jerk; 260kg total; broke school records in all categories.
· Taylor Hedke (63kg) – 80kg snatch; 98kg clean and jerk; 178kg total; broke school records in all categories; school record for highest Q-points.
· Enzo Mancini (110kg) – 136kg snatch; 170kg clean and jerk; 306kg total; broke school records in all categories.
· Kaiden Mima (65kg) – 104kg snatch; 137kg clean and jerk; 241kg total; broke school records in all categories.
· Abby Nelson (53kg) – 60kg snatch; 74kg clean and jerk; 134kg total; broke school records in all categories; qualified for Virus Weightlifting Finals.
--Qualified for Virus Weightlifting Finals: HarlyJane Carter, Michael Davidge, Evan Fukuhara, Nolan Graupmann, Taylor Hedke, Enzo Mancini, Kaiden Mima, Abby Nelson, Nina Pollack and Marcus Sweet.
For qualifying athletes, the next competition will be the Virus Weightlifting Finals in Daytona Beach, Fla., Dec. 4-7. The 2025-26 Concordia schedule can be found HERE. This year marks the fourth season of competition in the history of Bulldog Weightlifting. At the 2025 University Weightlifting National Championships, Concordia earned national place finishes of fourth for men, sixth for women and fifth in the co-ed breakdown.