Phoenix, Arizona – April 6, 2026 – Grand Canyon University Powerlifting used the "home turf" to its advantage, picking up multiple 1st-place finishes at the Powerlifting America Arizona State Championships Saturday, March 28. Of the seven GCU participants, a total of six Lopes earned 1^st-place medals at the event, which was held at the Canyon Activity Center on the GCU campus. 
 
Sydnee Levandowski led the way for GCU with a 1st-place cumulative total of 335kg in the 69kg division. Trailing by 2.5kg heading into her final deadlift, she loaded the weight needed to take the lead and secured the win with a 145kg lift on her last attempt. 
 
"Going in, Sydnee was the underdog in winning her weight class, but we knew it was going to be a tight battle," said Lopes' Head Coach Dawson Aaron. "The energy around her win created hype and energy, which really set the tone for the rest of the meet."
 
Rylee Messick and Emilia Doyon also earned top scores for the women's side, with Messick scoring 237.5kg (63 kg division) and Doyon 282.5kg (76 kg division). 
 
On the men's side, multiple GCU lifters rose to the top, with freshman Aaron Sweeney lifting 412.5kg in the 66 kg division; junior Eugene Palyo moved 590kg in the 105kg category; and fellow freshman Austin Batis pressed 135kg in the 83kg bench-only division. A 2nd-place finish was also secured by yet another Lopes' frosh, Eduardo Del Toro, who totaled to 455kg (83 kg division).  
 
The CAC also served as the host site for the Arizona Special Olympic Regionals the following day, making for a full weekend of competition in Phoenix.
 
"Seeing our teammates perform well is a good indicator of the progress we've made as a team, and it suggests that we can expect similar results at nationals," said Aaron. "I'm especially encouraged by how much our team has grown together and the energy they bring in supporting one another."
 
GCU will compete next at the Powerlifting America University National Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday, April 9 at 9:00 AM.