NEW ORLEANS -- The Friends University Falcon Powerlifting Teams competed at the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals meet on April 9-12 in New Orleans, LA.

Both teams once again posted top 10 finishes with the women placing seventh out of 108 teams and the men placing 10th out of 119 teams. All-American honors included Falicity Favela (3rd place), Christian Landeros (2nd place), and Gennie Vitt (1st place).  Vitt also secured an American Record in the Raw Collegiate Women's 82.5kg division with a 485lb squat. Other Top 10 placings included Brenndon Rivera and Patrick Davis, both with eight place finishes.

Head coach Kate Jones was unable to attend due to a death in the family but had this to say about their performance:

"I am always so proud of how our team represents Friends University," said Jones. "They take care of one another and treat all fellow athletes, coaches, and officials with respect. We had some execution errors on the day which gives me some great coaching points to work on as we move the program forward, but I am confident my athletes left it all on the platform. With only two points separating the women from a fifth place finish and the men from a seventh place finish, we know at Nationals every point matters. But to be as small a school as we are, competing against large state schools with 40-50,000+ students, we hold our own! I also want to thank recent Friends powerlifting athlete Bailee Passmore for stepping in and taking my place. I could not have done this without her. While it broke my heart to not attend, I knew my kids were well-prepared and I never have to worry about their conduct off the platform – not all coaches can say that! We have big things coming for this program, including adding equipped teams and almost doubling our roster size for next year. The program's growth has everything to do with the current athletes and their drive, discipline, and desire for success."

This concludes the 2025-2026 powerlifting season.
 
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Falicity Favela (44kg/97lbs)
3rd /3 lifters (8 team points)
4/9 on attempts
Squat = 57.5kg/126.8lbs
Bench = 37.5kg/82.7lbs
Deadlift = 95kg/209lbs
 
Jocelyn Cardona (52kg/114lbs)
14th /17 lifters (1 team point)
6/9 on attempts
Squat = 85kg/187lbs
Bench = 57.5kg/126lbs
Deadlift = 122.5kg/270lbs
 
Gilbert Perez (67.5kg/148lbs)
36th /53 lifters
5/9 on attempts
Squat = 187.5kg/413lbs
Bench = 127.5kg/281lbs
Deadlift = 220kg/485lbs
 
Brenndon Rivera (67.5kg/148lbs)
8th / 53 lifters (3 team points)
6/9 on attempts
Squat = 232.5kg/512lbs (NEW STATE RECORD)
Bench = 110kg/242lbs
Deadlift = 255kg/562lbs
 
Breanna Palmer (75kg/165lbs)
12th /59 lifters (1 team point)
6/9 on attempts
Squat = 180kg/396lbs
Bench = 100kg/220lbs
Deadlift = 155kg/341lbs
 
Gennie Vitt (82.5kg/181lbs)
1st /29 lifters (12 team points)
7/9 on attempts
Squat = 220kg/485lbs (AMERICAN RECORD – WOMEN'S RAW COLLEGIATE) (STATE RECORD)
Bench = 115kg/253lbs (STATE RECORD)
Deadlift = 195kg/429lbs (STATE RECORD)
 
Thomas Noonan (75kg/165lbs)
55th /71 lifters
6/9 on attempts
Squat = 205kg/451lbs
Bench = 120kg/264lbs
Deadlift = 260kg/573lbs
 
Micah Barron (75kg/165lbs)
39th /71lifters
5/9 on attempts
Squat = 220kg/485lbs
Bench = 127.5kg/281lbs
Deadlift = 257.5kg/567lbs
 
Chase Martindale (82.5kg/181lbs)
29th /79 lifters
8/9 on attempts
Squat = 245kg/540lbs
Bench = 135kg/297lbs
Deadlift = 277.5kg/611lbs
 
Bradan Balman (82.5kg/181lbs)
11th /79 lifters (1 team point)
6/9 on attempts
Squat = 272.5kg/600lbs
Bench = 165kg/363lbs
Deadlift = 267.5kg/589lbs
 
Gage Bowker (90kg/198lbs)
67th /76 lifters
7/9 on attempts
Squat = 240kg/529lbs
Bench = 155kg/341lbs
Deadlift = 240kg/529lbs

Aleah Ortiz (90kg/198lbs)
19th /23 lifters (1 team point)
7/9 on attempts
Squat = 147.5kg/325lbs
Bench = 65kg/143lbs
Deadlift = 155kg/341lbs
 
Alexis Blankenship (100kg/220lbs)
13th /14 lifters (1 team point)
8/9 on attempts
Squat = 145kg/319lbs
Bench = 72.5kg/159lbs
Deadlift = 167.5kg/369lbs (STATE RECORD)
 
Mikah Scott (110kg/242lbs)
26th /58 lifters
5/9 on attempts
Squat = 240kg/529lbs
Bench = 165kg/363lbs
Deadlift = 305kg/672lbs
 
Chase Phelps (110kg/242lbs)
43rd /58 lifters
7/9 on attempts
Squat = 230kg/507lbs
Bench = 190kg/418lbs
Deadlift = 252.5kg/556lbs
 
Michael Robey (140kg/308lbs)
16th /17 lifters
7/9 on attempts
Squat = 280kg/617lbs
Bench = 152.5kg/336lbs
Deadlift = 240kg/529lbs
 
Patrick Davis (140kg+/308lbs+)
8th /11 lifters (3 team points)
5/9 on attempts
Squat = 292.5kg/644lbs
Bench = 200kg/440lbs
Deadlift = 210kg/463lbs
 
Christian Landeros (140kg+/308lbs+)
2nd /11 lifters (3 team points)
8/9 on attempts
Squat = 325kg/716lbs
Bench = 207.5kg/457lbs
Deadlift = 282.5kg/622lbs