Warriors Claim Sixth-Straight Raw Title and Third-Straight Equipped at Collegiate Nationals

ARLINGTON, Texas – Midland University joined lifters from around the nation down in Texas over the weekend for the 2023 USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals. The Warriors, who have become the premiere powerlifting school in the nation, claimed their eighth and ninth team titles since 2017. Midland ran away with the raw title and edged out the University of Texas-San Antonio by way of a tie-breaker for the equipped championship. Individually, five men won their weight classes.

CJ Shuford had the best overall showing for MU, winning the 75kg equipped division as well as being named the top male equipped lifter for the meet. Joining him with individual titles were Felipe Garza (52k equipped), Vincent Huerta (140kg equipped), Ray Bowring (140+kg equipped), and Chase Chapa (60kg raw).

Joshua Trevino (67.5kg equipped), Yovanni Juarez (90kg equipped), Austin Cuthbertson (56kg raw), Quinton Briggs (100kg raw), and Carter Welch (110kg raw) all finished third in their respective weight classes.

Bowring set three collegiate-equipped records in the squat (430.5kg), deadlift (445kg), and total (1050.5kg). The total of 1050.5kg is the largest total in collegiate history.

Behind Midland, who had 54 points, in the raw team standings were Louisiana State University (44), UTSA (44), Texas A&M University (38), and McKendree University (25). In the equipped standings, both Midland and UTSA had 71 points, with the Warriors taking the title with more first-place finishers (4). Behind them were Blue Mountain College (57), the University of Louisiana-Lafayette (54), and Texas A&M University (49).