ALPENA, Mich. — A powerlifting team from northeast Michigan made a statement on the national stage, capturing 16 first-place medals and setting one national record at the APF/AAPF National Powerlifting Championships held May 8 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The SkellaFit Powerlifting Team sent nine athletes to compete against elite powerlifters from across the United States in the championship sanctioned by the American Powerlifting Federation and its drug-tested division, the American Amateur Powerlifting Federation.
Krista Hempel of Hawks, Michigan, highlighted the team’s performance by setting a national record while winning first place in both the Women’s Raw Master 55-59 Bench Only and Deadlift Only competitions in the 110-kilogram weight class under AAPF rules.
The team’s success spanned multiple age divisions and weight classes. Peyton Kaiser and Eliza Brock, both from Alpena, claimed victories in the Women’s Raw Open divisions, while veteran competitor Brandy Shooks of Presque Isle swept four first-place finishes across both APF and AAPF competitions in the Master 45-49 age group.
Mallory Miller of Alpena dominated the Submaster 33-39 division, winning four gold medals across bench press and deadlift competitions in both federation divisions. Dana Glomski of Hubbard Lake captured two first-place finishes in the Open division’s heaviest weight class.
Additional champions included Megan Schindele of Alpena in the Master 45-49 division and Karen Grochowski of Alpena in the 60-kilogram weight class.
SkellaFit Owner and Head Coach Cristi Johnson attributed the team’s success to consistent coaching and team support.
“Every athlete who stepped on the platform represented months, sometimes years of dedication,” Johnson said. “What makes this group special isn’t just winning medals; it’s watching women who had never before considered themselves to be athletes, discover their strength, confidence, and resilience through the training process and with the support of one another.”
The Alpena-based gym has built its competitive powerlifting program from the ground up, developing athletes from beginners to national champions. The team’s performance demonstrates how small-community gyms can produce elite-level strength athletes.
SkellaFit Personal Training operates as a strength and fitness studio focused on building muscle, confidence and lifelong health through expert coaching and community programming. The facility offers personal training, group strength classes and competitive powerlifting coaching for athletes at all experience levels.
The team will next compete at the APF/AAPF World Powerlifting Championships scheduled for November in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The complete results from the national championships show the breadth of SkellaFit’s success across age groups and weight classes, with athletes competing in both raw powerlifting divisions and specialized bench press and deadlift-only events.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY WBKB 11. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
