Two Powerlifters Earn Spots at Collegiate Nationals
Lebanon, Ill., (Dec. 15, 2025)- Two Missouri Valley College powerlifters competed at the USA Powerlifting Snow Day Showdown at McKendree (Ill.). Both earned qualification into the 2026 USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals with their performances at the event.
Sophomore Abdelrahman Shehata Larbi (Barcelona, Spain): 1st in Men's Equipped Overall, Squat 215 kg/473 lbs, Bench Press 125 kg/275 lbs, Deadlift 250 kg/551 lbs = 590 kg/1,298 lbs Total. This total qualifies Abdel for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, La., on April 9-12, 2026.
Freshman Malakai Meyer (McKinney, Texas): 2nd in Men's Equipped Overall, Squat 255 kg/561 lbs, Bench Press 140 kg/308 lbs, Deadlift 220 kg/484 lbs = 615 kg/1,353 lbs Total. This total qualifies Malakai for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, La., on April 9-12, 2026.
The MVC Vikings Powerlifters have now qualified Audrey Schoch, Sarah Khamis, Karianna Sanchez, Desiree Alaniz, Delaney Welker, Presleigh Watson, Syrah Garcia, Ria Gardner, Emily Andujo, Nicholas Ballard, Corey Morabito, Xavier Ellis, Gabriel Pineda, Hannah Miller, Alexis Duenas, Kaleb Bobbitt-Dollison, Caiden Sanford, Nicholas Moore, Matthew Nong, Blake Andrews, Myles Mobley, Abdelrahman Shehata Larbi and Malakai Meyer for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, La., on April 9-12, 2026.
The MVC Vikings Weightlifters have now qualified Jaden Lambert, Ishmael Foster, Nick Martinez, Jedidiah Kracl, Madison Woodworth, Corey Morabito, Thomas Gearllach and Ontarriyus Reid for the USA Weightlifting University Nationals, held on April 9-12, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Up next for the Vikings Powerlifters will be the USA Powerlifting Missouri State Championships on February 21-22, hosted by William Jewell (Mo.) in Liberty, Mo.
About Missouri Valley College
Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.