2025 University Weightlifting National Championships Results (PDF)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kaiden Mima wasted little time making his presence known as a member of the Concordia University, Nebraska Weightlifting program. A second semester addition, Mima rose to the top of the podium at the 2025 University Weightlifting National Championships (Feb. 27 – March 2) sponsored by USA Weightlifting. From a team perspective, the Bulldogs earned national place finishes of fourth for men, sixth for women and fifth in the co-ed breakdown. Four Concordia athletes placed inside the top five of their respective weight classes, including runner up Evan Fukuhara.
Head Coach Freddie Myles’ program qualified 13 athletes for the national championships, an increase from the six the Bulldogs took to nationals in 2024. Weightlifting competitions include the disciplines of snatch and clean & jerk.
Said Myles, “The team had a good showing this weekend. Kaiden performed well against strong competition, becoming the school’s second ever national champion. We are showing good progress as a program.”
Mima began his collegiate career as a wrestler at NJCAA Trenidad State College but possesses extensive experience as a competitive lifter. At the national championships, the Colorado Springs, Colo., native posted lifts of 96kg in snatch and 116kg in clean & jerk for a total of 212kg (1kg better than the second-place finisher). The total represented a school record for the 61kg weight class.
A national champion a year ago at 67kg, Fukuhara bumped up to 73kg in 2025 and was the runner up. Fukuhara produced lifts of 115kg in snatch and 145kg in clean & jerk for a total of 260kg. The other top-five place finishers from Concordia were Taylor Hedke and Enzo Mancini. Hedke placed fifth in the 59kg weight class and Mancini placed fifth in the 96kg weight class. Hedke and Manci also broke school records at their weights. So too did Kenzie Houser (55kg), Gracy Johnson (71kg), Nolan Graupmann (109kg) and Adrian Hernandez (109+kg).
A summary of Concordia performances at the University Weightlifting National Championships is included below. The event took place at Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, as part of the Arnold Sports Festival. More than 400 athletes competed at the national championship event.
Performance Summary
Women
· Harley Jane Carter (Pueblo West, Colo.) – Placed 14th in the 64kg weight class with a personal best total (137kg).
· Chloe Gaspar (Grand Island, Neb.) – Placed 22nd in the 59kg weight class (116kg total).
· Taylor Hedke (Marysville, Kan.) – Placed fifth in the 59kg weight class with a school record and personal best total (159kg).
· Kenzie Houser (Riverton, Kan.) – Placed ninth in the 55kg weight class with a school record and personal best total (121kg).
· Gracy Johnson (Coon Rapids, Iowa) – Placed sixth in the 71kg weight class with a school record and personal best total (180kg).
· Nina Pollack (Monument, Colo.) – Placed 14th in the 71kg weight class with a personal best total (157kg).
Men
· Michael Davidge (Grapevine, Texas) – Placed eighth in the 89kg weight class (269kg total).
· Jack Freeman (Palm Coast, Fla.) – Placed 13th in the 109+kg weight class with a personal best total (205kg).
· Evan Fukuhara (Sacramento, Calif.) – Placed second in the 73kg weight class (260kg total).
· Nolan Graupmann (Goddard, Kan.) – Placed 12th in the 109kg weight class with a school record and personal best total (238kg).
· Adrian Hernandez (Grand Island, Neb.) – Placed 11th in the 109+kg weight class with a school record and personal best total (228kg).
· Enzo Mancini (Roseville, Calif.) – Placed fifth in the 96kg weight class with a school record and personal best total (287kg).
· Kaiden Mima (Colorado Springs, Colo.) – National champion in the 61kg weight class with a school record and personal best total (212kg).
One competition remains on the 2024-25 schedule for Concordia Weightlifting. The Bulldogs will host the Concordia Weightlifting Open on April 26.