Powerlifting Teams Host Viking Invitational
Marshall, Mo., (Sept. 20, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College powerlifting programs hosted the USA Powerlifting Viking Invitational Friday inside the Burns Athletic Complex. The event included Coffeyville (Kan.), McKendree (Ill.) and William Jewell (Mo.) also bringing student athletes to compete. This was the first Friday meet Missouri USA Powerlifting has ever held in its history.
In team standings, the Vikings won championships in 3 out of the total possible 4 divisions, and in Women's Equipped, Women's Raw, and Men's Equipped specifically. The following are individual results from the Vikings:
Karianna Sanchez, Freshman (Devine, TX) 1st in Varsity Women's Equipped Lightweight, Squat 90 kg/ 198 lbs, Bench Press 50 kg/ 110 lbs, Deadlift 125 kg/ 275 lbs for a 265 kg/ 583 lb Total. Karianna went 9 for 9 on attempts and this total qualified her for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Desiree Alaniz, Freshman (Lolita, TX) won the Women's Equipped Best Lifter Award for pound for pound strongest in that division, 1st in Varsity Equipped Women's Heavyweight, Squat 160 kg/ 352 lbs, Bench Press 52.5 kg/ 115.5 lbs, Deadlift 160 kg/ 352 lbs for a 372.5 kg/ 819.5 lb Total. This total qualifies Desiree for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Delaney Welker, Sophomore (Mascoutah, IL) 2nd Place in Varsity Equipped Women's Heavyweight, Squat 145 kg/ 319 lbs, Bench Press 62.5 kg/ 137.6 lbs, Deadlift 160 kg/ 352 lbs for a 367.5 kg/ 808.5 lb Total. This total qualifies Delaney for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Presleigh Watson, Freshman (Tulia, TX) 3rd Place in Varsity Equipped Women's Heavyweight, Squat 132.5 kg/ 291.5 lbs, Bench Press 75 kg/ 165 lbs, Deadlift 165 kg/ 363 lbs for a 372.5 kg/ 819.5 lb Total. This total qualifies Presleigh for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Syrah Garcia, Sophomore (Encinal, TX) 4th Place in Varsity Equipped Women's Heavyweight, Squat 165 kg/ 363 lbs, Bench Press 67.5 kg/ 148.5 lbs, Deadlift 157.5 kg/ 346.5 lbs for a 390 kg/ 858 lb Total. This total qualifies Syrah for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Sarah Khamis, Senior (Vienna, Austria) 1st in Varsity Women's Raw Lightweight, Squat 140 kg/ 308 lbs, Bench Press 75 kg/ 165 lbs, Deadlift 145 kg/ 319 lbs for a 360 kg/ 792 lb Total. Sarah was already qualified for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026 based on her total at the IDFPA Student and University World Championships held in Waltham, MA, May 10-11, 2025
Ria Gardner, Freshman (Ann Arbor, MI) 2nd in Varsity Raw Women's Heavyweight, Squat 132.5 kg/ 291.5 lbs, Bench Press 72.5 kg/ 159.5 lbs, Deadlift 167.5 kg/ 368.5 lbs for a 372.5 kg/ 819.5 lb Total. This total qualifies Ria for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Emily Andujo, Freshman (Lovington, NM) 3rd in Varsity Raw Women's Heavyweight, Squat 152.5 kg/ 335.5 lbs, Bench Press 72.5 kg/ 159.5 lbs, Deadlift 182.5 kg/ 401.5 lbs for a 407.5 kg/ 896.5 Total. This total qualifies Emily for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Alexis Duenas, Senior (Winter Park, CA) 6th in Varsity Raw Women's Heavyweight, Squat 117.5 kg/ 258.5 lbs, Bench Press 60 kg/ 132 lbs, Deadlift 135 kg/ 297 lbs for a 312.5 kg Total
Julia Bishop, Sophomore (Hart, MI) 8th in Varsity Raw Women's Heavyweight, Squat 117.5 kg/ 258.5 lbs, Bench Press 57.5 kg/ 126.5 lbs, Deadlift 120 kg/ 264 lbs for a 295 kg/ 649 lb Total
Dakota Todd, Freshman (Warsaw, MO) 1st in Men's Equipped Adaptive Athlete, Squat 222.5 kg/ 489.5 lbs, Bench Press 87.5 kg/ 192.5 lbs, Deadlift 182.5 kg/ 401.5 lbs for a 492.5 kg/ 1,083.5 lb Total. Dakota also went 9 for 9 on attempts for the day
Norberto Garza, Freshman (Mission, TX) 1st in Varsity Equipped Men's Lightweight, Squat 165 kg/ 365 lbs, Bench Press 77.5 kg/ 170.5 lbs, Deadlift 170 kg/ 374 lbs for a 412.5 kg/ 907.5 kg Total
Nicholas Ballard, Junior (Demopolis, AL) 2nd in Varsity Equipped Men's Heavyweight, Squat 237.5 kg/ 522.5 lbs, Bench Press 137.5 kg/ 302.5 lbs, Deadlift 245 kg/ 539 lbs for a 620 kg/ 1,364 lb Total. This total qualifies Nicholas for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Abdelrahman Shehata Larbi, Sophomore (Barcelona, Spain) 3rd in Varsity Equipped Men's Heavyweight, Squat 205 kg/ 451 lbs, Bench Press 102.5 kg/ 225.5 lbs, Deadlift 255 kg/ 561 lbs for a 562.5 kg/ 1,237.5 lb Total
Malakai Meyer, Freshman (McKinney, TX) 4th in Varsity Equipped Men's Heavyweight, Squat 235 kg/ 517 lbs, Bench Press 132.5 kg/ 291.5 lbs, Deadlift 210 kg/ 462 lbs for a 577.5 kg/ 1,270.5 lb Total
Timothy Barrientes, Freshman (Floresville, TX) 5th in Varsity Equipped Men's Heavyweight, Squat 225 kg/ 495 lbs, Bench Press 120 kg/ 264 lbs, Deadlift 210 kg/ 462 lbs for a 555 kg/ 1,221 lb Total
Corey Morabito, Junior (Lansdale, PA) 2nd in Varsity Raw Men's Lightweight, Squat 180 kg/ 396 lbs, Bench Press 120 kg/ 264 lbs, Deadlift 200 kg/ 440 lbs for a 500 kg/ 1,100 lb Total. This total qualifies Corey for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Xavier Ellis, Freshman (Tulia, TX) 6th in Varsity Raw Men's Lightweight, Squat 140 kg/ 308 lbs, Bench Press 82.5 kg/ 181.5 lbs, Deadlift 200 kg/ 440 lbs for a 422.5 kg/ 929.5 lb Total. This total qualifies Xavier for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Matthew Nong, Freshman (Warwick, RI) 11th in Varsity Raw Men's Lightweight, Squat 190 kg/ 418 lbs, Bench Press 132.5 kg/ 291.5 lbs, Deadlift 205 kg/ 451 lbs for a 527.5 kg/ 1,160.5 lb Total
Kaleb Cannady, Freshman (Seward, NE) 13th in Varsity Raw Men's Lightweight, Squat 142.5 kg/ 313.5 lbs, Bench Press 87.5 kg/ 192.5 lbs, Deadlift 185 kg/ 407 lbs for a 415 kg/ 913 lb Total
Peyton Cummings, Freshman (Waynesville, MO) 16th in Varsity Raw Men's Lightweight, Squat 115 kg/ 253 lbs, Bench Press 60 kg/ 132 lbs, Deadlift 155 kg/ 341 lbs for a 330 kg/ 726 lb Total
Gabriel Pineda, Senior (Marshall, MO) 1st in Varsity Raw Men's Heavyweight, Squat 272.5 kg/ 600.8 lbs, Bench Press 160 kg/ 352 lbs, Deadlift 260 kg/ 572 lbs for a 692.5 kg/ 1,523 lb Total. This total qualifies Gabriel for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
The Vikings 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 and Gabriel Pineda for the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals being held in New Orleans, LA on April 9-12, 2026
Upcoming events for MVC Lifting Sports are Delaney Welker's appearance at the USA Powerlifting Olympia Bench Press and Deadlift Championships on Saturday, October 11 in Las Vegas, NV and the Weightlifting team opening their season at the USA Weightlifting Missouri Valley WSO Championship on Saturday, October 18 in Columbia, MO.
About Missouri Valley College
Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.