GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – The Grand Island powerlifting program finished as runner-up at the USAPL National Competition, capping the best year in the program’s five-year history.
The Islanders sent 18 lifters to Texas to compete and crowned their first national champion in program history when senior Hunter Christenson won his division.
Coach Patrick Doyle started the program five years ago with eight athletes. The team has grown to more than 90 participants this year.
“In years past, we’ve had a session or two off because we haven’t had kids lifting. Well, we had a kid every single session this time,” Doyle said.
The steady growth has drawn attention from underclassmen joining the team.
“See how the other like sophomores and freshmen that are coming in even more every year. It’s really cool to see the potential that’s coming in on our team,” Christenson said.
Christenson’s national championship came after a three-year progression at the competition. He finished fourth as a sophomore and third as a junior.
“We knew based on the kids that had graduated and who was coming back that he had a pretty good shot to win it this year,” Doyle said.
Christenson said the victory felt surreal.
“It’s kind of a blur. It’s like afterwards I look back and I don’t remember much, but I kind of know what I did. I don’t know. It’s kind of hard to explain,” he said.
Doyle said Christenson represents the program’s emphasis on hard work and commitment.
“Came in as a freshman, not really lifting a whole lot and has completely transformed his body and everything and gone from relatively weak as most incoming freshmen do to one of the strongest kids in America, which is pretty cool. So the things that kids can do if you hold them accountable to it are pretty amazing,” Doyle said.
Six Grand Island lifters finished in the top 10 of their respective divisions at nationals. Eleven of the 18 qualifiers finished in the top 15.
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