"The community that has come together and grown around GCU Powerlifting is truly something special."

Lopes' Head Coach Dawson Aaron was nothing but grateful when recapping what has been a busy month for GCU Powerlifting, who played host to their third "mock meet" as well as the Powerlifting America AZ State Championships, where all six of their competing lifters broke personal records.

Powerlifting America AZ State Championships

While much of the team is preparing for Powerlifting America University Nationals on April 6, six Lopes lifters - Layla Grove, Wyatt Hardtke, Caitlin Le, Molly Theys, Jaden Vogt, and Carter Wuest - competed in the AZ State Championships in the Canyon Activity Center - the first official meet held on campus in three years.

"It's always nice to give back to the sport by hosting something at our 'home gym'," said Aaron. "For our lifters to be able to walk from their training weightroom to the lifting platforms is a blessing."

Every Lopes lifter hit a personal record in at least two of their three lifts at the event, with many of them setting records in all three. Vogt, a freshman lifter in the 105-kg weight division, completed his first-ever 400-lb squat.



"All of our lifters at this meet were freshmen or sophomores, and for a handful of them, it was their first-ever powerlifting meet," said Aaron. "It was awesome to see them compete and give themselves something to build on going into this offseason."

GCU Powerlifting "Mock Meet"

What started as a last-minute fundraising idea for GCU Powerlifting a year ago has quickly turned into an event that the team has to cap signups due to space limitations.

"To see the growth from the first mock meet to now has been tremendous," said Aaron. "At first, it felt like just an opportunity for students to come in and max out their lifts, but now they get the entire powerlifting meet experience."

That growth, from a mere handful of lifters the first time around to 30 students this spring (all of whom signed up weeks prior to the event), has aligned with the growth of the program as a whole.

Run like an official meet, competitors had opportunities to show off their heaviest squat, bench, and deadlift over the course of the day, competing for prize baskets.

Next up for the rest of the team is the Powerlifting America University National Championships on April 3-6 in Atlanta, Georgia. 25 Lopes lifters will travel for that meet, compared to 12 that traveled last year.