(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 20)—The McKendree University women's powerlifting team made a successful debut on Nov. 15 at the Missouri USA Powerlifting River's Edge Meet on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, setting 12 state records in the day-long event.
 
Freshmen Collette Grandison (Auburn Hills, MI/Our Lady of the Lakes) and Anna Gailius (Fairview Heights, IL/Belleville East) each recorded four new Missouri state marks at SIUE. Entered as a competitor at 82.5 kilograms, Grandison had a combined score of 342.5 kg for her three best lifts. She topped out at 135 kg in the dead lift while hitting a mark of 130 kg in the squat. Grandison rounded out her day with a best of 77.5 kg in the bench press.
 
At 90 kilograms, Gailius closed out her day with a combined effort of 335 kg. Gailius hit 140 kg in the dead lift, 112.5 kg in the squat and added a mark of 82.5 kg in the bench press. Freshman Teagan Schwab (Neenah, WI/Neenah) finished the day with two new marks while competing at 75 kg. Schwab's combined score of 310 kg is a new mark in her weight class, while she set a new individual best in the dead lift at 147.5 kg.
 
Freshmen Lindsey Raker (Greenwood, IN) and Sonia Beri also set new records competing in the bench press at 67.5 kilograms. Raker established a new mark of 70 kg, while Ben was right behind at 67.5 kg.
 
Four McKendree powerlifters punched their tickets to the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals in April based on their performance at SIUE. Grandison, Gailius, Schwab and Ben will all represent the Bearcats at the national meet. 

McKendree will compete next in the Kansas State Open Powerlifting Championship Dec. 6 in Topeka, Kan.