KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Friends University Falcon Powerlifting team attended the USAPL Kansas State Championships this past weekend at Strong Barbell Club in Kansas City. Strong performances equated to 2 more athletes Nationally Qualified, bringing the team roster to 18 athletes for Collegiate Nationals, slated for April 8-12 in New Orleans.

Notable performances were Caden Beard (Freshman) and Reece Erickson (Freshman) who both went 9/9 on attempts and secured platform PRs in all disciplines. Senior Gennie Vitt also secured the Junior State Record for squat at 474lbs and attempted the Junior American Record at 488lbs, coming up just short. She also claimed the overall best female lifter. Senior Thomas Noonan had a monster day punching his ticket to Nationals with a 573lb deadlift pull and then completing his National Level Referee exam during session 2. Gage Bowker qualified in his second weight class of the year by securing a 23lb squat PR and a 38lb deadlift PR.

On the team's performance, Coach Kate Jones said, "It is so fun and rewarding to watch our younger athletes gain confidence and learn how to execute on the platform. Their teammates and upperclassmen really help with this process – we truly are an "iron sharpens iron" team and I love how unselfish our kids are. We had several athletes make the drive from Wichita of their own volition just to help out and cheer their teammates on. I will always be most proud of how my kids show up as humans first, then athletes second."

With all qualifying meets done for the year, the Falcons look forward to hosting many young competitors at this year's Friends University Open this Saturday, February 7 where they will also hold Senior Day recognizing our four seniors: Gennie Vitt, Thomas Noonan, Jocelyn Cardona, and Zoe Mello.
 
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Jess Rosario (82.5kg/181lbs)
4/9 on attempts
Squat = 105kg/231lbs
Bench = 67.5kg/148lbs
Deadlift = 127.5kg/281lbs (Platform PR)
 
Gennie Vitt (82.5/181lbs)
7/9 on attempts
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 215kg/474lbs (Platform PR – Attempted Junior American Record at 221.5kg/488lbs)
Bench = 110kg/242lbs
Deadlift = 190kg/418lbs (Platform PR & State Record)
 
Reece Erickson
9/9 on attempts
Squat = 117.5kg/259lbs (Platform PR)
Bench = 77.5kg/170lbs (Platform PR)
Deadlift = 122.5kg/270lbs (Platform PR)
 
Thomas Noonan (75kg/165lbs)
5/9 on attempts
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 205kg/452lbs (Platform PR)
Bench = 110kg/242lbs
Deadlift = 260kg/573lbs (Platform PR)
 
Gage Bowker (90kg/198lbs)
6/9 on attempts
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 242.5kg/534lbs (Platform PR)
Bench = 150kg/330lbs
Deadlift = 247.5kg/545lbs (Platform PR)
 
Hayden McCarthy (90kg/198lbs)
5/9 on attempts
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 227.5kg/501lbs (Platform PR)
Bench = 142.5kg/314lbs
Deadlift = 270kg/595lbs (Platform PR)
 
Ayden Slieter (125kg/275lbs)
6/9 on attempts
Squat = 250kg/551lbs
Bench = 117.5kg/259lbs
Deadlift = 282.5kg/622lbs (Platform PR & State Record)
 
Michael Robey (140kg/308lbs)
6/9 on attempts
Squat = 270kg/595lbs
Bench = 152.5kg/336lbs
Deadlift = 222.5kg/490lbs
 
Caden Beard (140kg/308lbs)
9/9 on attempts
Squat = 227.5kg/501lbs (Platform PR)
Bench = 142.5kg/314lbs (Platform PR)
Deadlift = 230kg/507lbs (Platform PR)
 
Patrick Davis (140+kg/308+lbs)
4/9 on attempts
NATIONALLY QUALIFIED
Squat = 267.5kg/589lbs
Bench = 197.5kg/435lbs
Deadlift = 220kg/485lbs