For the first time in program history, Olympic weightlifting won the coed division National University Championships title September 28 in Albuquerque, N.M.  The team totaled 70 points at the event to top the University of Georgia in second place by 36 points.

Lindenwood captured 17 individual medals in the process, with two Lions earning three gold medals each.  Darren Barnes snatched 100 kg and lifted 131 kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 231 kg to sweep the three gold medals in the men's 56 kg division.  He also set a new American university record total.  Not to be outdone, his brother Darrel Barnes swept the three gold medals in the 62 kg division, snatching 110 kg and lifting 135 kg in the clean and jerk for a 245 kg total. 

Jacky Bigger won three silver medals in the women's 58 kg division.  She snatched 70 kg and lifted 90 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 160 kg.  Kyle Dosterschill also won three silver medals in the men's 94 kg division.  He snatched 150 kg and lifted 180 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 330 kg.  He was also successful on all six of his lifts. 

Cayla Amatulli earned three bronze medals in the women's 48 kg division.  After snatching 53 kg, she lifted 64 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 117 kg.  Miranda Gilley won a bronze medal in the women's 53 kg division with a lift of 62 kg in the snatch and Austin Rodriguez lifted 95 kg in the snatch to earn a bronze medal in the
men's 62 kg division.

As the leader of the team, head coach Jianping Ma was named the gold medal title coach by USA Weightlifting.  Both Barnes brothers and Dosterschill received invitations to represent Team USA for the 2014 University World Championships in Chiangmai, Thailand in early December.  Darren Barnes had already received an invitation for a reserve spot for Team USA at the 2014 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships in Almaty, Kazakstan.

Lindenwood had a total of 22 lifters at the event, which attracted close to 250 athletes from universities around the United States.  Complete results are available at the USA Weightlifting website.

After a weekend off, the Olympic weightlifting team returns to action at the Lab Open October 11 in St. Louis, Mo.