Dr. Dave's PLU Nationals 2026 Recap

What I do for a living is a gift.

That was the theme of this weekend at Nationals. The entire weekend I was blessed with wonderful conversations and fellowship from fellow coaches and lifters. I got to witness the fire of the human spirit in competition. Overcoming obstacles. Fighting through adversity. Refusing to let a momentary failure define their entire day. I stood motivated and inspired by the efforts of our team and how they competed to the OPS Standard.

I remember when OPS was just me coaching people out of my parents two car garage. I was a young soon to be father trying to create a business from scratch, working every hour I could, with whoever I could, just to support my family. I had no idea how to grow the business outside of putting my very best into each and every athlete I worked with. I am fortunate that my effort was rewarded and the gym grew, the lifters grew, and over the years a team began to form.

From coast to coast of Washington state, to Montana, to California, to Las Vegas, to Missouri, to Oregon, to Virginia, to Ohio, and now Texas. State after state OPS has travelled as a team and competed. Every where we go. People want to know. Who we are. So, we tell them. With successful attempts, state, national, and world records. We are OPS, and we Try Trying.

We showed up to nationals with a full lifter roster, 3 coaches, 2 handlers, and a whole lot of caged tiger energy. Ready to get after it. Prepared and hungry. I had the biggest shit eating grin on my face all weekend long watching our little team from po-dunk Wenatchee absolutely crush it, seeing everyone take notice, and contribute to the energy and atmosphere of an incredible Nationals from Powerlifting United.

I’ve always said to not get bogged down in federations but instead support quality meet directors. PLU has continually impressed me in its growth and care for the lifter experience. From local meets, to regionals, and national competitions. This is a federation I enjoy being a part of, the effort and intent from the top to the bottom of the organization is providing the best day possible for the lifters. That was exactly the tone at Nationals with an incredible stage with Jumbo Trons, excellent competition music, great equipment in the warmup room, and a quality standard enforced consistently through the day.

I’ve been to a lot of national meets through the years and I’m rarely impressed. It’s normally too many lifters, burned out judges, rushed platforms, and just a gagglefuck in general. I was really happy to see that this was not the case for PLU. The roster was appropriate in size, the warmup space plentiful for the session of lifters, and the organization of platforms was executed to a high standard. Even with having lifters on different platforms within the same flight, I was still able to handle both athletes to my standard and get their attempts entered without issue (it was close a few times having to run across the room, but I’m quick when I need to be).

The warmup room for me was especially enjoyable. I had a lot of current and former clients coaching and competing at this Nationals competition. It was this incredible experience to get to see them all compete and coaching their own lifters, a 3 degrees from Dr. Dave kind of moment where everyone in the room is connected through coaching. It was an incredibly surreal time that I got to revel in and enjoy the entire weekend. I literally got to hang out with friends all day and help people get ready to max out. I live for that warmup room flow. When you get that rack running like a NASCAR pit crew and the energy starts creeping up with the load on the bar. All weekend long we made those racks SING and it was a beautiful thing to be a part of.

Then after all that our Team went out there and executed to our standard. Overall we handled 5 lifters to National Championships, and another 4 lifters to podium. Then a plethora of state and national records on top of that. I’m really proud of how every single one of our lifters found their moment to shine on the platform, that one lift that they absolutely CRUSHED and got to feel that wonderful joy of a shiny new PR.

Nationals gave me countless moments of immense gratitude. Gratitude for my athletes. Gratitude for my Coaches Jeff and Monica. Gratitude for the community of powerlifting and the relationships that have grown within it in my decade + in the sport. Gratitude that I get to be a Professional Coach, that I am able to share the knowledge and wisdom passed down to me to newer generations and see this wonderful sport continue to grow.

Below is the meet recaps for the lifters I coached at Nationals.

Alisha Hart | PLU Nationals | 61.2kg

First National competition for Alisha and she had a great showing! We had a back tweak during the middle of prep but Alisha did a fantastic job of controlling the variables she could with the rehab and we got her body back to a great level of strength for competition!

Squats were moving really strong and fast from the get go. Easy opener at 112.5kg then a miss on depth with 120kg. I asked Alisha if she was going to bury it if we went up and she told me she would! Threw on another 5kg for a sweet 3^rd attempt pr with 125kg and good lift! 2/3 on squat but still getting to take our planned 3^rd, that’s some gamer shit that Alisha is great at! 5kg comp pr!

Bench had a strong prep from being able to put a bit more focus on it, thanks to her back rehab work. This was the strongest bench prep for a lot of the female OPS lifters and Alisha was right there in that group. Easy opener at 62.5, smooth second at 67.5, and a very clean and comfortable 3^rd at 70kg for a 5kg comp pr!

DL I just wanted her back to hold together and let us finish strong. She hit a clean 130kg opener, then on the 2^nd we had a bit of a slow down at 142.5kg that got a red for supporting on the thigh. I asked Alisha if she wanted to be conservative or go out there and send it on her last pull and whatever happens happens. She wanted to send it, AND IT MADE ME SO PROUD. Stood up with 152.5kg after a grinder but go turned down. I was so proud of Alisha for sticking out the lift and continuing to pull. I’ll take reds and standing up with the weight over a full miss any day.

Total: 337.5kg (10kg PR), DOTS: 369.52 (+12.75)

Emily Bautista Herdt | PLU Nationals | 80.3kg

First Class Emily came to Nationals on a mission. We were going to break the 900lb total barrier, pull over 400 again, and push the bench press. Emily had a wildly successful prep for this competition and all three of her peaking singles were well above her last competition PRs. I’m always impressed with Emily’s ability to balance a demanding work and travel schedule with hard consistent training. She continues to level up her stress management game every year and the results speak for themselves.

Squat we opened at 140kg and it moved with ease. For a 2^nd we took a clean jump to 150kg for a new national and state record, 3 white lights. From there we took a 3^rd at 155kg for another state and national record and a 7.5kg comp pr! Squat bot showed up and made the team proud!

Emily had a ridiculously strong bench prep, having hit a misloaded 200lbs for a single at 8 weeks out. Dealing with some nerve pain through the arm we adjusted expectations and still made out with prs (after not being allowed to use the bench blocks we brought). Emily adapted like a real competitor and benched touching the floor instead of using the comp blocks that didn’t stay put on the carpet. Easy 75kg opener, 80kg 2^nd for another national and state record, 85kg for a 3^rd attempt to push her national and state record higher, good for a 7.5kg comp bench PR!

Deadlift is Emily’s jam. For being such a strong squatter she’s an even better puller. Smooth opener at 172.5kg, great 2^nd at 180kg, then set herself up for a fantastic 187.5kg 3^rd attempt breaking her old national and state record and snagging a 2.5kg comp pr.

9/9 day that earned her first place in the Women’s Untested 82.5kg weight class for both open and masters!

Total: 425kg (17.5kg PR) DOTS: 399.71 (+12.63)

Nico Veloz Espinola | PLU Nationals | 89.5kg

Nico has been on fire since his November competition and we had a ridiculously productive prep for Nationals. All three lifts had grown considerably and we knew it was just a matter of clean execution on the day and we were gonna be sitting with A HYUGE total pr. Nico and Bonny were handling athletes all weekend, I was so proud of how he handled athletes while making sure his recovery and stress management was on point. It’s no easy feat handling and competing the same weekend, it’s putting a competition on LEGENDARY difficulty.

Squats have taken off since we crossed the 400 barrier. Took an rpe 5 opener at 185kg which came up like a rocket. Strong and smuv 2^nd at 195kg, then took a 3^rd at 205kg. Putting on a show with that 3^rd attempt Nico smoked it for a 15kg comp squat pr! Motivation and momentum off to the perfect start.

Bench was just about hitting numbers and getting a 3^rd above 140kg. Clean and fast opener at 132.5kg. I got to see these from the side as Bonny gave the handouts and you could see how much arousal Nico had from his body vibrating with the bar. EXCITEMENT. 140kg 2^nd attempt like it ain’t no thang, and 3 white lights. Jumped up to 145kg for the perfect 3^rd attempt and Nico executed like a pro, 3 white lights and a 7.5kg comp pr!

Deadlift we were ready to cross the 500 barrier with style. Warmups were flying in the back and I knew he was going to be primed for a great finish. 212.5kg opener like a rpe 5. 222.5kg 2^nd attempt to set him up for a strong 3^rd, 3 white lights. Jumped to 232.5kg and he pulled it even cleaner than the 2^nd, going 9/9 and snagging a sweet 12.5kg deadlift PR!

Total: 582.5kg (+42.5kg PR) DOTS: 377.71 (+11.58)

Jeff Harwell | PLU Nationals | 117.9kg

Jeff continues to improve all aspects of his training and stress management. I am perpetually impressed by his drive to push himself to greater heights as both a coach and an athlete. Jeff was also coaching two lifters at nationals and succeeded in competing and coaching to a high level with his lifters Scott and Latrell both winning their weight classes and earning national champion.

Jeff’s squat has been blowing up but I wanted to make sure we kept gas in the tank to hit a big bench and deadlift, not just blowing it all on a monster squat that he’s more than capable of. We took a strong opener at 260kg, which he smoked. Made a smooth jump to 272.5kg for a second that moved just as strong as the opener. Made a jump to 282.5kg which he handled mightily, earning himself a 2.5kg pr and a strong 3/3 start to the day.

Bench has been a fight for every kg this prep but we ended in a spot where we could still push for a pr. We took 157.5kg for a quality opener, a little downward motion on the unrack but besides that no problem. Took a jump to 165kg which he hit with great speed and position, 3 white lights. For our 3^rd we took a shot at 170kg for a 2.5kg pr, it came off the chest well but then stalled halfway and…you can ask Jeff what happened 😉 2/3 but still sitting strong on subtotal.

Deadlift warmups had a minor isometric snaffu in the warmup room, but Jeff shook it off like a champ and came out with a quality opener at 255kg. We took a normal jump to 265kg for a 2^nd and Jeff had to work for it above the knees but we got the lift! Afterwards the fatigue of the weekend showed up and Jeff wasn’t able to close his right hand. I was so proud of Jeff here for being able to center himself, throw wraps on, and go out and give his full effort for a 3^rd at 272.5kg. It is an incredibly challenging thing to go and attempt a weight when your body is trying to quit but Jeff did what he was supposed to and still gave it his full effort. We missed the lift but won the mental battle and succeeded in giving exactly what was there on the day. 7/9 day and good for 2^nd place in the Men’s Untested Master Division.

Total: 720kg DOTS 412.88

Trae Madrigal | PLU Nationals | 124.1kg

Trae has been busy doing his doctoral dissertation this year and boy howdy did we have ourselves a prep juggling his data collection and IRB boards with prep. Trae handled it all like a professional and managed to set himself up for a strong showing at Nationals.

Squat was moving like a bullet train on the day and I was pumped to push for a PR. Opener at 267.5kg like it was a warmup, good lift! 2^nd attempt at 280kg moved even faster than the opener, which gave me the green light to give him a push for a PR. 290kg 3^rd attempt, corrected a shift into the left hip coming out of the hole for 3 white lights and a 2.5kg squat pr.

Bench we had a goal of making attempts and building the total. Opened at a clean 180kg which he handled no problem. Took a jump to 190kg on the 2^nd attempt which like squat, moved even better than the opener. Got a bit greedy and pushed to 197.5kg for a 3^rd, came up off the chest well but stalled towards the midway point and we couldn’t recover.

Deadlift was looking ridiculously strong in the warmup room and the grip was holding well. Having experienced San Antonio heat and humidity it’s a testament to Trae’s work capacity that his hands held so well. I was handling Jeff and Trae at the same time and spent the flight running back and forth between the two, but Trae made the calls easy. 275kg opener moving like it was a paper weight. 290kg 2^nd attempt moved just as clean and smooth. We took a 3^rd at 300kg and Trae had a beautiful pull, holding it with conviction at lockout. Sacrificed some of his hand to the knurling gods but got his white lights, 3/3 on deadlift! 8/9 day and good for 3^rd place in the Men’s Drug Tested 125kg Open class!

Total: 782.5kg (just 2.5kg shy of his pr) DOTS (443.08)