Western Slope Showdown Brings First Sanctioned Powerlifting Meet to CMU

Colorado Mesa University made history last weekend by hosting the inaugural Western Slope Showdown, the first USA Powerlifting-sanctioned competition ever held on the Western Slope.

Organized by the Iron Mavericks Barbell Club, led by founder and coach Andrew Trujillo, the event brought together collegiate and regional athletes to compete in squat, bench press and deadlift under national standards, marking a significant step forward for strength sports in western Colorado.

The competition featured 36 lifters and drew nearly 200 spectators — a high level of engagement for a first-time event in a developing regional market.

The success of the Western Slope Showdown reflects the rapid growth of the Iron Mavericks Barbell Club. In just two years, the student-led organization has evolved into a competitive program representing CMU at the state, national and international levels. Most recently, two athletes competed at Collegiate Nationals, with one qualifying for University Worlds.

Hosting a sanctioned competition on campus marked a new phase for this team. By bringing the event to western Colorado, CMU positions itself as a regional hub for powerlifting, expanding access to high-level competition and building a stronger, more connected strength sports community.

For local coach Parker Jelouchan, hosting the meet locally changed the experience for his athletes, who are used to traveling to Denver to compete. Being able to sleep in their own beds and compete locally allowed them to come in more relaxed and ready.

But the impact extended beyond the lifts.

Jelouchan pointed to the atmosphere as a defining factor.

“The energy was there for every lift and the crowd was packed,” Jelouchan said. “There wasn’t a single lift where the crowd was not involved.”

First-time Iron Mavs competitor, Karissa Riggs echoed that experience.

“It was all the people involved that made it successful,” she said. “From the competitors to the volunteers, everyone was super kind and helpful. Once the competition got going, people were cheering for each other. Even during the awards, everyone was just really excited for one another.”

Riggs qualified for the 2027 Collegiate nationals, marking an early milestone in her competitive career. She will be joined by teammate Ivan Edstrom, who also qualified after delivering one of the standout performances of the meet.

Edstrom, who began training with the team just two months before the competition, posted a 537.5 kg total and established himself as one of the club’s top lifters. Several other Iron Mavs recorded personal bests, pointing to the level of consistency and commitment within the program.

Jelouchan credited much of the event’s success to the leadership behind it.

“This event was different,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a fantastic competition.”

For Jelouchan, who has coached powerlifting for six years, hosting a meet locally had always been the goal — but not one he could execute alone.

“That’s where Andrew stepped in,” he said. “With a great meet director and Andrew’s involvement, I knew they could pull it off. Andrew is just as passionate about building the sport and the community, but he also has the ability to make something like this happen.”

The event also drew experienced lifters from across Colorado. Peter Miles, a longtime competitor who typically travels to Denver to compete, set two state records in the 50-54 age class during the meet, bringing the first recorded powerlifting state records to CMU’s campus.

Miles noted the significance of having a sanctioned competition closer to home, reinforcing the event’s regional impact.

For Trujillo, the Western Slope Showdown represents more than a single event — it reflects what can happen when students are given the opportunity to lead.

Under his leadership, the Iron Mavericks Barbell Club has grown from a small group into a competitive program representing CMU. Hosting a sanctioned competition on campus marked a continuation of that growth, driven largely by student initiative.

Beyond campus, the event signals a broader shift for the region. By bringing together athletes, coaches and spectators from across western Colorado, the Western Slope Showdown establishes a stronger presence for powerlifting locally with CMU at its center.

Looking ahead, Trujillo sees this as just the beginning.

“I set out to prove that CMU could be the regional home of Powerlifting in Western Colorado,” he said. “And we did just that.”