Dr. Dave's Fantasy Draft Iron Edition 2026 Recap
Fantasy Draft Iron Edition Meet Recap
We just finished the first sanctioned powerlifting team competition in history and I could not be more pleased at how well the day went. I’m so proud of the professional high quality competition day we are able to host at OPS with Monica as our meet director. The organization needed to pull off an event like this to the standard we have is truly gargantuan. That’s a skill set I do not possess and I feel immensely blessed to have brought people to OPS that are well suited to the challenges of holding powerlifting competitions.
I am so grateful and appreciative to everyone who gave their time and energy to make Fantasy Draft the success it was. It takes a village to judge, spot/load, run a livestream, move equipment, crowd control, and provide a safe professional environment for elite lifters to compete in. I really enjoyed myself on Saturday just soaking it all in and seeing everything come together for a stellar powerlifting meet.
I had 16 clients competing along with myself, which is likely a PR for coaching and competing in the same day (not that I keep a record). Below are the results for each lifter. Check out our YouTube to see the Fantasy Draft Live Stream!
Amy Headrick- 72.92kg bw – 125kg SQUAT
Amy was just coming off a big trail run race but still did a great job keeping her legs conditioned to squatting with all the miles she was putting in. She went 2/3 on Squat with a strong opener and 2nd attempt at 125kg. We took a jump to 130 to try and tie her pr but just topped it a little high on the day. Easy one to get next time with likely more in the tank!
Emily Bautista-Herdt - 79.65kg bw – 160kg SQUAT
Emily had a great squat prep and was setup for a shot at a PR over her recent best squat of 155 at PLU Nationals. Opened with a fast 145kg and made an easy jump to 155kg for a 2nd. This one slowed down a bit through the middle but I knew Emily still had more in the tank. Smaller 5kg jump to 160kg and she fought through just like how I knew she would! 3/3 on squats with a 5kg squat PR!
Paul White – 133.62kg bw – 210kg SQUAT
This was Paul’s first powerlifting competition! A little over a year ago Paul came in to the gym and told me he wanted to hit a huge squat and start taking some Masters Records. We built his squat from the ground up starting with just the bar to get used to depth and position and I was so pumped to get him on the platform and show off all the progress he’s made. Paul had an excellent prep hitting PRs all the way through. We opened with 187.5kg which he blasted up. Took a smooth jump to 200kg for a 2nd which he dunked again (so proud of the big man’s depth!). Based on speed I had him go 210kg for the 3rd attempt which was right on the money and gave him something to work for but very doable and a quality 3/3 day!
Alisha Hart – 60.05kg bw – 122.5kg SQUAT
We’ve been working on rehabbing Alisha’s low back and I was really proud of how well we kept pain to a minimum during this prep. We did a lot of GPP work before the barbell lifts and Alisha’s work capacity has improved a ton. Had some good glimpses of squat strength during prep but it was a tight rope we were walking with the low back. Opened conservatively with 112.5kg which Alisha blasted up. Alisha is a gamer on squats on meet day so I was confident she’d be able to hit a 2nd at 122.5kg. Smoked it no problem and so I gave her an opportunity for a pr. Called for 130kg and it ended up just being a bit much on the day but no back aggravation and she was hitting deadlifts like a champ this morning. Solid 2/3 performance for Alisha!
Holli Waters – 71.15kg bw – 165kg SQUAT
We had a quick prep to get ready for this meet but holy crap did Holli get caught back up fast. I was really proud of how well Holli handled all of the initial volume and work, it definitely paid off come meet day. We had a bit of a conservative last single at 3 weeks out and after having a great coach athlete talk we decided to push the attempts a bit more at competition knowing that there was likely a lot of unrealized strength still in the tank. Made our openers week a bit heavier and committed to a more aggressive gameplan. Opened at 145kg and with how fast it went I knew we were going to have a great day. 2nd attempt at 155 was shakey but super fast. Made the call for 165kg (just 2.5kg under her best squat ever at a higher weight class) and Holli rode that fucking lightning like a real pro! 3/3 on squats with a huge weight class pr and confidence for a 1k total at a lower bodyweight.
Jeff Harwell – 109.2kg bw – 262.5kg SQUAT
With me Benching and Robin Deadlifting, we had put all the pressure on Jeff for squats and getting our team off to a good start. Jeff has been doing an awesome job with his body recomp since PLU Nationals down 25lbs from his thickest in 2025 to a svelte sub 240lb squat bot. We had ourselves a time figuring out leverages with squat but I’m really proud of the progress he made this prep and being able to put it all together at the end and have a strong performance on the day. Super fast 237.5kg opener which gave us our planned 2nd at 252.5kg. Slowed down just enough to pull 2.5kg off our top end goal of 265kg and adjusted to a 3rd at 262.5kg which ended up being fucking PERFECT with a demure pause in the bottom before driving back up to lockout. 3/3 and a perfect start for Team Car Ramrod.
Allison Nathe – 100.65kg bw – 90kg BENCH
Allison was on the Golden Girls team with Emily and Angela and provided a very strong bench anchor to their team. Allison is one of my first powerlifting lifters at OPS and it brings me great joy to have all the OG lifters still getting after it and putting up big strong numbers over the years. It’s a real gift to get to spend so many years coaching and working with an athlete and I’m so proud of how Allison has continued to push herself over the years and continued to find ways in which she can improve her strength and fitness. We opened with a conservative 82.5kg to see how the weight would be looking on the day. First attempt flew up and we took the planned 2nd attempt at 87.5kg. This slowed down just a bit more but still a good lift, so we opted for a small jump to 90kg on the 3rd. Ended up being the perfect call for the day getting the most we could out of bench and ending with ANOTHER 3/3 performance for the Golden Girls Team.
Kolt Thompson – 117.84kg bw – 175kg BENCH
I roped Kolt and his son Jet into competing in this competition just 6 weeks out to help fill out a team for Paul. They graciously and excitedly accepted. Kolt is already a very strong bench presser and I told him that benching in a meet, with commands, on a combo rack is a very difficult thing to do and we will get after it but at the end of the day if we can get an attempt or two on the board that’s a big win. I’m super proud of how far Kolt’s technique has progressed to a powerlifting style and the enormous work he did retooling his position to be able to keep his butt glued to the pad. We opened with a conservative 175kg just wanting to ensure we got on the board and Kolt hit just like he needed to with one red light for butt lift. Took a 2nd attempt at 185kg because I promised him, we could take a shot at 195kg after he broke the 400 barrier. The bar came up but the judges turned it down for butt lift and we had to retake it for the 3rd attempt. Kolt did a good job continuing to adapt on the day and try to get into position with his tall body on that small combo rack but ended up just being a bit out of shape and missed the 3rd attempt. I’m supremely confident he will bounce back with 182.5kg being an opener next time and having zero issue keeping his butt down.
Adam Day – 78.2kg bw – 122.5kg BENCH
Adam is one of my long time online lifters and I always get so excited to have him at OPS. We had a pretty decent bench training cycle getting prepared for the meet, and I was excited that he was in a place to be able to get after it on bench. Opened with an easy 115kg that he made light work of. Made a quality jump to 122.5kg for the 2nd attempt which also moved handidly. Took a generous jump to 130kg for the 3rd attempt and just ran out of gas just before getting the weight into the triceps. Very close attempt for Adam and good work putting some more kg’s on his team’s total with a 2/3 day.
David Osborn – 133.87kg bw – 205kg BENCH
My goal when I began this prep was to hit a 450 bench. At the time I made that goal I was barely hitting 315 for reps. I was still rehabbing my shoulder injury and I knew that if I could get my body healthy again that the weight would be there. 12 weeks out I took a 455 to a 1 board and hit it at around an RPE 9.5. Lots of duffalo bench and tricep accessories over prep had my lockout feeling strong and the last 6 weeks of prep I was feeling unstoppable again. I was sweating like a sinner in church all day from running around and handling people, expertly weaving my warmups in between hand offs, and I felt fired up and ready to get after it. My opener at 195kg felt like nothing in my hands but I was vibrating and shaking so hard! My CNS was definitely overclocked. Dropped the rack height down for more 2nd attempt at 205 and it felt even better than my opener. It still felt a bit slow so I took the conservative attempt (HOLY SHIT I MADE THE RESPONSIBLE CALL FOR ONCE) at 212.5kg. Again felt light in my hands but I gassed out during the transition into lockout and my triceps just ran out of gas. Still very pleased with hitting my bench goal and I know I’ll be good for 500 at next years comp. Solid 2/3 performance.
Isela Juarez – 63.1kg bw – 150kg DEADLIFT
We finally got Isela on to a team and decided she would deadlift for the competition. Isela is an incredibly strong deadlifter and even when she isn’t at her top end strength she can still rip the weight up with the best of them! We set her up for a 3/3 day with a 132.5kg opener, 10kg jump for her 2nd attempt, and then a 7.5kg jump for her 3rd to end the day at 150kg, a state record, and a 3/3 performance for her team! I really enjoyed how consistent Isela’s pulls were from start to finish, just high class execution!
Angela Richmond – 74.35kg bw – 150kg DEADLIFT
It was really fun watching the deadlift strength surge happen this prep for Angela. I knew after a huge 6 weeks out double in Chicago that she was tee’d up for a great deadlift peak. Angela just has to break the bar off the floor and if she can do that, it’s going all the way to the top. Opened with a smooth 132.5kg that moved handily. Jumped to 142.5kg to gauge where she was going to be on the day and it moved so damn well. Took a confident jump to 150kg and a new state masters record and after a bit of a fight at the floor Angela showed great professional patience as a lifter and stuck the lockout. Incredible 3/3 day making the GOLDEN GIRLS a 9/9 team!
Jet Thompson – 97.18kg bw – 172.5kg DEADLIFT
Jet and his dad Kolt are the newest lifters at OPS and I was so excited that they wanted in on this competition. Needless to say they’re hooked now. Jet turns 13 in December so we wanted a big pull to make the most of his powerlifting debut as a 12 year old. Jet had a big fight with 175kg at 3 weeks out so I wanted this meet to be a good test of his skills and give him experience for when he competes next. Opened with 150kg and he made it look like an empty bar. Took a confident jump to 160kg for a 2nd and he moved it even faster than the opener (of course). Took an BIGGER jump to 172.5kg and he moved it at the same speed as the prior two attempts. We were all sitting there jaws on the floor wishing we had put 400lbs on the bar (That’s how you know it was a successful meet). 3/3 day, new teen state record, and a jaw dropping debut performance from Jet!
Adam Richmond – 105.9kg bw – 260kg DEADLIFT
A pretty stellar deadlift prep for this competition for Adam as well. We had a really strong 585 deadlift at 3 weeks out and he was in shape to go for a PR on meet day. Warmups were moving fast and clean. Opened at 245kg and made it look like a warmup. Quality jump to 260kg to set ourselves up and Adam hit a great wedge and moved with great speed into the lockout for another successful attempt. Made the call for 272.5kg and a big milestone weight. Right as the bar transferred above the knee and to mid-thigh the right hand tore and down the bar went to the floor. *Cue betrayed stare at hands. A strong 2/3 with a really great final attempt by Adam and with some grip work this offseason I know he’ll come back and spank that weight.
Vanessa Alejandre – 74.7kg bw – 192.5kg DEADLIFT
This has been Vanessa’s year for transformation and strength. After a long cut and recomp her body is maximizing it’s leverages and her strength has been in a surging phase. We were really excited for deadlifts knowing that we would get two attempts at 400+. Opened with 170kg to get on the board and set her up for the day. Took a 182.5kg 2nd to cement the 400lb barrier, and she pulled it even faster than her opener. Took a strong jump to 192.5kg on the 3rd and it ended up being the perfect weight on the day, clean transition to lockout and a perfect 3/3 finish for her team! I’m so damn proud of the years of work Vanessa has put in and the results and pay off she’s getting to reap from that effort.
Azriel Domingo – 80.45kg bw – 282.5kg DEADLIFT
Azriel is another of my long-time online lifters and part of Adam Day’s team with their friend Emily. Azriel is a very strong and talented lifter and we were setup for a deadlift pr with him coming off of a body recomp. His opener of 267.5kg basically floated off the floor into lockout so I knew we were in for a strong day. 2nd attempt of 282.5kg was also very fast off the floor, just slowing down a bit above the knee. Gave him some cues to think of for glute engagement at the beginning and we took the big goal jump to 292.5kg for a 3rd. Bar flew up past the knees were Azriel to his credit proceeded to pull for wait seemed like 10 minutes straight before going dark and bringing the bar back down. After a quick little snooze, he bounced right back up to his feet and was good to go again. 2/3 on the day with a 10/10 entertainment and effort 3rd attempt.
Robin Graham – 116.69kg bw – 322.5kg DEADLIFT
I knew deadlifts were going to come down to attempt selection for who was going home with the prize money. Robin did this prep through one of the busiest seasons of his life and I was beyond proud of how he showed up ready to train every single deadlift session and gave everything his body had to give. My plan was to keep just a little in the tank, focus on execution, and let other lifters take big risks and miss. The plan worked out PERFECTLY on the day. We opened with 300kg as an easy opener just to set the tone. Made a conservative jump to 315kg (just under 700lbs) which would force the competition to make their attempts to even get a chance at winning. Robin smoked it and put the pressure on the field exactly how I wanted him to. I put in 325kg for a 3rd attempt knowing I could drop it to something lower if needed based off misses, which is exactly how it played out. Dropped the 3rd attempt to 322.5kg even though he had already won, Robin went out and pulled it like a rockstar at RPE 8 for the biggest deadlift of the meet and an immaculately executed 3/3 day for Team Car Ramrod!
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