Mikaela Leibfried competes at IPF World Bench Press championships
COLFAX graduate Mikaela Leibfried had the opportunity to experience new countries and cultures when she competed in the Women’s World Bench Press Championship in Potchefstoom, South Africa this past April. Leibfried, shown holding a kit while in South Africa, placed third in the 57 kilos class of the juniors competition. —photo submitted
SOUTH AFRICA — Recent Colfax graduate Mikaela Leibfried has put her powerlifting skills to the test on the global stage.
This past spring, Mikaela, accompanied by her father Wade Leibfried, traveled to the other side of the world to compete in the International Powerlifting Federation’s (IPF) World Women’s Bench Press Championships held in Potchefstroom, South Africa on April 23-28.
The diminutive but powerful Mikaela Leibfried finished an impressive third in the 57 kilogram or 125.7 pound weight class in the juniors division which included athletes between the ages of 18 and 24 years of age from around the world.
The 119-pound Leibfried bench pressed more than one-and-a-half times her own body weight with lifts of 82.5 kilos or 181.9 pounds and 85 kilos or 187.4 pounds during the competition to earn the bronze medal.
Russia’s Anna Elizarova won the competition with a bench press of 125 kilos or 275.6 pounds. Megan Leighton of the Republic of South Africa placed second with a best of 102.5 kilos or 226 pounds.
Mikaela Leibfried’s high school coach Matt DeMoe, who did not make the excursion to South Africa, said “Mikaela was very glad she was able to go and take advantage of this opportunity in her powerlifting career.”
Although she told her coach that it was a long journey to South Africa, it was also very interesting to see new countries and compete against the world’s best.
Leibfried received the invitation to compete in the world bench press championships from her future collegiate coach Tim Anderson, who serves not only as the head coach for Midland College in Fremond, Nebraska – were Mikaela signed to attend this fall, but for the USA Powerlifting Team.
The international competition was an amazing conclusion to an outstanding senior powerlifting season for Mikaela Leibfried.
She not only captured Colfax High School’s first ever state individual powerlifting championship during the Wisconsin High School Powerlifting Association State Meet back on March 10 and 11 in Mauston, but became the school’s first national titlist just a few weeks later at the USA Powerlifting High School Nationals held in Appleton and was named the Best Equipped Female lifter in the national competition.
Leibfried also became the first high school powerlifter from the area to sign a scholarship offer to compete at the collegiate level. Mikaela inked a commitment to the Warriors of Midland College, along with her parents Wade and Kim, during a May 9th letter of intent singing ceremony held at Colfax High School.