Lebanon, Ill. - The Friends University men's and women's powerlifting teams competed in the Bearcat Classic at McKendree University this past Saturday, October 19 and came away with two more banners to hang in the multipurpose room.

The women came away with a first place team finish with only five competing members: 
Makayla Gonzales (Jr), Jocelyn Cardona (Jr), Macey Kress (So), Gennie Vitt (So), & Jess Rosario (So). 

The men came up just three points shy of first place and secured a second place finish with members:
Jacob Castellanos (Sr), Paul Herrera (Sr), Izaak Garza (So), Michael Robey (So), Chase Phelps (So), Bradan Balman (So), & Christian Landeros (So).

Sophomore Gennie Vitt also finished as the best female lifter, scoring her best ever DOTS of 446. Macey Kress also blew the crowd away with a 501lb squat. 

Notable performances for the men included a 705lb dead by Senior Jacob Castellanos who improved his total from Collegiate Nationals in April by over 80lbs. Sophomore Bradan Balman had an amazing comeback meet and scored a 455 DOTS while going 8/9 on all attempts. Sophomore Michael Robey narrowly missed a nationally qualifying total with a gutsy third attempt on deadlift.

This consisted mostly of returning athletes while the freshman class will compete at the William Jewell Collegiate Invitational in two weeks. 

Individual Results:
Jocelyn Cardona (NATIONALLY QUALIFIED)
Squat 3/3 85kg/187lbs (11lb Personal Record)
Bench 1/3 57.5kg/126lbs (11lb Personal Record)
Deadlift 110kg/242lbs (22lb Personal Record)
Total  252.5kg/556lbs (44lb Personal Record)

Makayla Gonzales (NATIONALLY QUALIFIED)
Squat 3/3 87.5kg/192lbs (5lb Personal Record)
Bench 1/3 42.5kg/93lbs
Deadlift 117.5kg/259lbs
Total  247.5kg/545lbs (Matched Personal Record)

Jess Rosario 
Squat 3/3 100kg/220lbs (33lb Personal Record)
Bench 1/3 70kg/154lbs (28lb Personal Record)
Deadlift 112.5kg/248lbs (6lb Personal Record)
Total  282.5kg/622lbs (71lb Personal Record)

Gennie Vitt (NATIONALLY QUALIFIED)
Squat 2/3 185kg/407lbs (16lb Personal Record)
Bench 3/3 100kg/220lbs (11lb Personal Record)
Deadlift 170kg/374lbs (5lb Personal Record)
Total  455kg/1003lbs (39lb Personal Record)

Macey Kress (NATIONALLY QUALIFIED)
Squat 3/3 227.5kg/501lbs (71lb Personal Record)
Bench 2/3 85kg/187lbs (6lb Personal Record)
Deadlift 155kg/341lbs
Total 467.5kg/1030lbs (55lb Personal Record)

Paul Herrera (NATIONALLY QUALIFIED)
Squat 3/3 170kg/374lbs (5lb Personal Record)
Bench 3/3 90kg/198lbs
Deadlift 2/3 207.5kg/457lbs (22lb Personal Record)
Total 467.5kg/1030lbs (11lb Personal Record)

Izaak Garza
Squat 2/3 167.5kg/369lbs (Matched Personal Record)
Bench 1/3 95kg/209lbs (Matched Personal Record)
Deadlift 2/3 182.5g/402lbs (Matched Personal Record)
Total 445kg/981lbs (Matched Personal Record)

Bradan Balman (NATIONALLY QUALIFIED)
Squat 3/3 250kg/551lbs (28lb Personal Record)
Bench 3/3 160kg/352lbs (22lb Personal Record)
Deadlift 2/3 240kg/529lbs (22lb Personal Record)
Total 650kg/1433lbs (72lb Personal Record)

Chase Phelps
Squat 1/3 207.5kg/457lbs (28lb Personal Record)
Bench 3/3 177.5kg/391lbs (39lb Personal Record)
Deadlift 2/3 227.5kg/501lbs (33lb Personal Record)
Total 612.5kg/1350lbs (99lb Personal Record)

Jacob Castellanos (NATIONALLY QUALIFIED)
Squat 2/3 272.5.5kg/600lbs (Matched Personal Record)
Bench 2/3 180kg/396lbs (16lb Personal Record)
Deadlift 2/3 320kg/705lbs (50lb Personal Record)
Total 772.5kg/1703lbs (83lb Personal Record)

Michael Robey
Squat 2/3 265kg/584lbs (44lb Personal Record)
Bench 2/3 147.5kg/325lbs (17lb Personal Record)
Deadlift 2/3 237.5kg/523lbs (22lb Personal Record)
Total 650kg/1433lbs (89lb Personal Record)

Christian Landeros (NATIONALLY QUALIFIED)
Squat 2/3 287.5kg/633lbs (33lb Personal Record)
Bench 2/3 182.5kg/402lbs (28lb Personal Record)
Deadlift 3/3 285kg/628lbs (39lb Personal Record)
Total 755kg/1664lbs (96lb Personal Record)

Brennan Fairall
Bench 2/3 120kg/264lbs (27lb Personal Record)