EmpowerID Nationals Showcases Strength at the 2026 Arnold Sports Festival

Arnold Sports Festival, Columbus, Ohio

The 2026 USA Powerlifting EmpowerID Nationals meet brought together EmpowerID lifters from across the country for a full powerlifting contest of squat, bench press, and deadlift. The broadcast repeatedly emphasized the significance of the moment, with commentators noting that this was the first time the event had been run at the Arnold and highlighting the energy of a packed expo-hall crowd.

Squats Set the Tone

The competition opened with two flights of squats and a quick pace once the first flight moved past repeated bar changes for athletes using the lighter 5-kilogram bar. Early in the day, Ian Palmateer completed a strong series and finished with 107.5 kg, while Allan Lewis rebounded from a missed second attempt to make 112.5 kg on his third.

In the heavier flight, some of the biggest squats of the meet came from Matthew Graham, Charlie Phillips, and Earl Beechum. Graham finished with 177.5 kg, Phillips made 180 kg, and Beechum posted the top successful squat of the day at 185 kg. The squat session showed the depth of the field right away and gave the crowd several momentum-building lifts.

Bench Press Keeps the Momentum Going

After intermission, bench press produced some of the day’s most consistent lifting. Melissa Johnson went a perfect 3 for 3 on bench and finished with 32.5 kg, while Ashlee Lockerman steadily built her total and closed with 25 kg. In the heavier classes, Charlie Phillips recorded the heaviest successful bench press of the meet with 137.5 kg.

Other standout benches came from Ronald Cole Zarczynski, who finished with 130 kg, and Earl Beechum, who added 110 kg to his growing total. The bench session also reflected one of the day’s defining themes: athletes taking advantage of accommodations while still lifting under standard meet structure and commands. EmpowerID Nationals at the 2026…

Deadlifts Finish the Meet in Style

Deadlifts closed the competition and decided several of the day’s best performances. Melissa Johnson became the first lifter to secure a perfect 9-for-9 day, and she was later joined by Mia Schiedenhelm and Ashlee Lockerman, who also completed flawless meets. Earl Beechum finished perfect as well, making him another 9-for-9 lifter on the day.

The heaviest pulls came in the later flight. Charlie Phillips and Philip McLemore each finished with 210 kg, tying for the biggest deadlift of the event. Matthew Graham added 195 kg, while Ronald Cole Zarczynski finished with 187.5 kg. McLemore also had the final successful deadlift of the entire meet, bringing EmpowerID Nationals—and USA Powerlifting’s Arnold weekend—to a strong close.

A Strong First Showing at the Arnold

As a first-year addition to the Arnold Sports Festival, EmpowerID Nationals delivered exactly the kind of atmosphere and performance USA Powerlifting hoped for. The meet combined high-energy crowd support, several perfect performances, and a number of strong heavyweight lifts, while also giving EmpowerID athletes one of the sport’s biggest stages. Based on both the results and the tone of the broadcast, the debut was a success and gave the division a memorable national showcase.

Meet Results – EmpowerID Nationals

Powerlifting.com meet coverage based on official results, event reporting, and on-site or published sources.