NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Powerlifting Club opened its 2026-27 season with two first-place finishes and several personal records at the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Cup Series in Rogers, Arkansas, on Oct. 17.
Breanne Jones of Shreveport placed first in the women’s equipped collegiate 60-kilogram weight class with a combined total of 427.5 kilograms across the squat, bench press and deadlift. Tytunna Canada of Mansfield earned first place in the women’s equipped collegiate 90-kilogram weight class with a total of 332.5 kilograms.
Jones, a sophomore radiologic sciences major and president of the NSU Powerlifting Club, has been involved in powerlifting for eight years. She set a personal record in the deadlift during the competition and has already qualified for Collegiate Nationals in April.
“I am just really preparing myself for collegiate nationals coming up in April,” Jones said. “It’s just this huge competition and it’s hype and a good goal for every team that wants to kind of get their foot into powerlifting.”
Canada, a freshman nursing major, has been involved in powerlifting for four years. She set three personal records at the competition in the squat, bench press and deadlift.
“I am really doing this to explore new things as a freshman,” Canada said. “I personally feel like I did amazing because this is something I’ve never done before and it’s been a dream.”
Avery Phillips of Bossier City, a junior majoring in secondary education, placed fifth in the women’s raw collegiate 70-kilogram weight class with a total of 162.5 kilograms. Phillips began powerlifting during her sophomore year of high school and returned to competition after three years away, setting a personal record in the deadlift.
“This was my first meet in the past three years, so I kind of felt like I came out of retirement, so it was fun,” Phillips said. “I am looking forward to just more growth and just continue seeing myself and my teammates grow and lift.”
Maya Lucas, an instructor in NSU’s School of Kinesiology and head coach of the Powerlifting Club, said the club is in its second year of competition.
“They performed great. We got a lot of new personal records, we placed first in a couple of different divisions, it was a really good turnout all around. I was very proud,” Lucas said.
The team, accompanied by Lucas and handler Grace Freeman, will compete again at the University of Louisiana Monroe in December. Collegiate Nationals will take place in South Dakota in April.
“It takes a lot of hard work and grit. You have to have a qualifying total in order to get there,” Lucas said.
With Jones already qualified, Lucas said the team hopes two or three more athletes will reach the qualifying total at ULM.