The Iron Mavericks Barbell Club at Colorado Mesa University will host the Western Slope Showdown on Saturday May 2, marking the first USA Powerlifting (USAPL) sanctioned competition held on the Western Slope.
The event will take place at the Maverick Center, bringing together collegiate and regional athletes to compete in the three core disciplines of powerlifting — squat, bench press and deadlift. Lifting will begin at 10 am, with athletes competing in designated flights. Each lifter will have three attempts in the squat before the next flight begins, with the same structure followed for bench press and deadlift.
“This is a big deal,” said founder and head coach, Andrew Trujillo. “This hasn’t happened at CMU or in our region. We are effectively pioneers for the sport on the Western Slope."
The Iron Mavericks Barbell Club has emerged as a competitive presence representing CMU at the state, national and international level. In April, two club members competed at Collegiate Nationals in Louisiana against athletes from more than 100 universities, with CMU’s Alissa Frank ranking sixth nationally.
The Western Slope Showdown represents a significant step forward for strength sports in western Colorado, expanding access to high-level competition for athletes who have traditionally needed to travel outside the region to compete. The club’s growth and impact have also been recognized on campus, earning Student Club of the Year at the CMU Mav Awards.
"This is a student-led program," said Trujillo. "And this event demonstrates what is possible when students take the lead in building something meaningful.”
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Event Details
What: Western Slope Showdown – USAPL sanctioned competition
When: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: Lifting begins at 10 am
Where: Basketball Courts in Maverick Center, CMU
Admission: $15
