LSUS weightlifting dominates Southwest Regionals in first titles since reinvigoration of program

By Matt Vines November 18, 2025

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Out of the 16 LSU Shreveport men’s and women’s weightlifters that competed in the 2025 Southwest Regionals on Saturday, just one finished off the podium in their respective weight class.

Five men and five women each won their respective weight classes as LSUS captured the men’s and women’s regional titles.

That’s the level of domination LSUS wrought on its competition, which includes institutions like the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Houston, TCU and Rice.

LSUS also laid claim to the best overall male and female lifters – Bryson Brown and Grace Gonzales-Liz.

Brown logged 258 kilograms in his best snatch and clean and jerk lifts combined, which not only topped his 65-kilogram weight class but was more than any lifter in the two weight classes above him.

Gonzales-Liz had a similar effect as her 171 kilograms in her two best lifts placed fifth overall regardless of weight class, as she’s in the second-lightest class (58 kilograms).

The best overall lifters are determined by the Sinclair Formula, which accounts for a lifters’ weight, age, and combined weight lifted.

It’s the program’s best showing in the second season of coach Aaron Adams, a former national record holder at LSUS.

“I expected us to win on the women’s side, but the men’s competition is always dicey,” said Adams, whose 23-person roster is still overwhelmingly freshmen. “The culture is starting to get established.

“People kind of know what to expect when they are coming into the program now. But to me the best part is that every single one of our athletes volunteered to help with the event after they finished. Whether it’s at the registration table, loading weights, or whatever needed to be done. They really are part of the weightlifting community.”

Joining Brown as LSUS men’s division winners include Angel Vazquez (60 kg), Braxton Wright (71 kg), Henry Ludbrook (79 kg), and Noah Leggio (94 kg).

Gonzales-Liz had plenty of company at the top of the podium as well from LSUS teammates Savannah Bolden (69 kg), Enyjai Tyson (77 kg), Neveah Kellerman (86 kg ) and Clair Callahan (86+ kg).

The Pilots sent full teams (eight men and eight women) to a regional for the first time in about a decade.

The LSUS women are coming off a second-place finish at the 2024 regionals while the program sent a combined 10 men and women to the university national championships this past season.

But this year, LSUS lifters are in line to qualify for the university world championships.

Brown met the “Junior B” standard that would qualify him for the world championships if he can duplicate those numbers at a national meet.

Adams said he expects other lifters, which include multiple transfers expected to join the program this spring, to likely meet the “Junior B” standard as well.

The LSUS weightlifting culture is known nationally and internationally thanks to the legacy built by international hall of fame coach Dr. Kyle Pierce, and Adams is delivering that culture to younger generations of lifters via the team’s @lsusweightlifting Instagram account, which can generate thousands of likes and hundreds of comments.

Adams is attracting lifters who competed in the Junior Pan American Games like Brown.

In addition to social media, LSUS is conducting summer camps that are bringing in high school lifters from across the nation, effectively building the recruiting pipeline.

LSUS competes again at the American Open Finals in Daytona Beach, Fla, from Dec. 4-7.

The university national championships are in April, where LSUS qualified 10 lifters in 2024 but should bring the full 16 this season.