COLUMBIA, Mo. – The McKendree University men's powerlifting team opened its 2022-23 campaign here this past weekend by competing at the USAPL Missouri State Championships that were here at the Missouri Athletics Center.
McKendree sent its six freshmen lifters to compete at the one-day event and the Bearcats finished in second place overall as a team at the event.
Two of the Bearcats six lifters performed well enough to qualify for the USAPL Collegiate Nationals in Arlington, Texas, on April 13-16, 2023.
"I was pleased with our six freshmen men's lifters performed in the first meet of the season," McKendree head powerlifting coach
Brad Bechel said.
Freshman 140kg
Devin Pedescleaux (Gonzales, La./Ascension Catholic) produced the biggest numbers for the Bearcats at the Missouri State Championships. He led all Bearcat lifters with a combined total of 657.5 kilograms as he recorded a max of 260 kg squat, 132.5 kg bench and 265 kg deadlift to earn a spot in the USAPL Collegiate Nationals.
The other qualifier for USAPL Collegiate Nationals was freshman 60kg
Daniel Hughston (Victoria, Texas/Cuero). Hughston posted a combined total of 410 kilograms at Sunday's event as he posted a 157.5 kg squat, 82.5 kg bench and 170 kg deadlift.
McKendree's second highest lifter in terms of total weight was freshman 140kg
Charles Haddad (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg), who recorded a three-lift total of 627.5 kilograms. He posted a 242.5 kg squat, 160 kg bench and 225 kg deadlift.
Haddad, Hughston and Pedscleaux were competing in their first ever USAPL Meet.
Freshman 100 kg
Dillan Hempel (Salado, Texas/Salado) posted a three-lift total of 600 kilograms as he had a 227.5 kg squat, 142.5 kg bench and a 230 kg deadlift.
Freshman 110kg
Brogan Black (Brookeville, Md./Sherwood) posted a three-lift total of 597.5 kilograms as he collected a 230 kg squat, 120 kg bench and 247.5 deadlift.
The final competitor for the Bearcats was freshman 100kg
Donny Schmidt (Selah, Wash./Selah) as he had a three-lift total of 547.5 kilograms. Schmidt had a 197.5 kg squat, 135 kg bench and a 215 kg deadlift.
The complete men's and women's powerlifting teams will return to action on Nov. 19-20 as they compete at the USAPL Midwest Regionals in Liberty, Mo., on the campus of William Jewell College. McKendree is slated to the host the USAPL Midwest Regionals next year.
