WICHITA, Kan. -- On Saturday, November 8, Friends University freshmen and transfer athletes competed in their first official USAPL meet. Head coach Kate Jones was very pleased with the poise and maturity of her lifters. The only goal for this meet was to secure qualifying totals for USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals in April. Eight of the 11 Friends lifters achieved that goal.

Notable performances came from freshmen Breanna Palmer, who won best overall female lifter and set a new Kansas State record with a squat of 418lbs. Transfer junior Mikah Scott won best overall male lifter despite completing just four out of nine attempts. His opening deadlift was 688lbs.

"I am pleased with the way we competed," said Jones. "We went pretty aggressive on several attempts after the qualifying totals were secured – I wanted to reward the kids for doing the job they came to do. I think the best part of my day was watching out upperclassmen help handle and coach the younger athletes. We also received several compliments for our platform management since the team was also charged with spotting and loading for the meet. It just shows you how selfless they are and that's a quality I hope to continue to build our program on."

Next the upperclassmen will head to Midland University on November 22 & 23 to compete in Friends' first Collegiate Cup event.

Individual Results
Falicity Favela (44kg/97lbs)
6/9 on attempts                            
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 60kg/132lbs    
Bench = 37.5kg               /82lbs
Deadlift = 95kg/209lbs
Alexis Blankenship (90kg/198lbs)
8/9 on attempts                            
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 145kg/319lbs
Bench = 67.5kg               /148lbs
Deadlift = 170kg/374lbs
Reece Erickson (100kg+/220lbs+)
8/9 on attempts                            
Squat = 105kg/231lbs 
Bench = 75kg/165lbs
Deadlift = 120kg/264lbs
Breanna Palmer (75kg/165lbs)
5/9 on attempts                            
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 190kg/418lbs 
Bench = 87.5kg               /192lbs
Deadlift = 110kg/242lbs
Aleah Ortiz (90kg/198lbs)
7/9 on attempts                            
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 147.5kg/325lbs            
Bench = 60kg/132lbs
Deadlift = 150kg/330lbs
Fabian Saenz (110kg/242lbs)
8/9 on attempts                            
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 272.5kg/600lbs            
Bench = 135kg/297lbs
Deadlift = 257.5kg/567lbs
Hayden McCarthy (90kg/198lbs)
6/9 on attempts                            
Squat = 220kg/485lbs 
Bench = 142.5kg/314lbs
Deadlift = 257.5kg/567lbs
Patrick Davis (140kg+/308lbs+)
5/9 on attempts                            
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 292.5kg/644lbs            
Bench = 197.5kg/435lbs
Deadlift = 217.5kg/479lbs
Pablo Martinez (140kg/308lbs)
6/9 on attempts                            
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 282.5kg/622lbs            
Bench = 162.5kg/358lbs
Deadlift = 237.5kg/523lbs
Caden Beard (140kg/308lbs)
5/9 on attempts                            
Squat = 215kg/474lbs 
Bench = 127.5kg/281lbs
Deadlift = 220kg/485lbs
Mikah Scott (110kg/242lbs)
4/9 on attempts                            
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 232.5kg/512lbs            
Bench = 180kg/396lbs
Deadlift = 312.5kg/688lbs