LR Athletics
Jeremy Zalacca, Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Communications
SALT LAKE CITY – In their first year of competition, the Lenoir-Rhyne Men’s Weightlifting Team won the 2021 USA Weightlifting University National Championship. The Bears finished with 89 points and beat out East Tennessee State, the University of Texas and Northern Michigan University amongst 30 other schools competing.
Under Coach Travis Mash, Lenoir-Rhyne was led in the competition by Ryan Grimsland who won the Gold Medal across the board in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total to earn 28 points individually. Riley Breske finished fifth in both of those competitions to earn 21 total points. Blaine Brooks finished fourth and earned 22 points, while Sean Hammell also took fourth in the 96kg weight class. Team Captain Dean Sciccianto was 5th in the 102kg.
On the women’s side, Hannah Dunn won Gold in the Snatch, Silver in the Clean & Jerk, and total. Mallory Garza took Silver in the Clean & Jerk and Bronze overall.
Overall Grimsland, Dunn, and Garza will join Team USA this summer and compete at the Junior World Championships in Saudia Arabia. Lenoir-Rhyne will have three Bears taking their skills internationally.