The USAW South East Regional University Championship brings 140 college weightlifters to the Reitz Union on Nov. 14 and 15. Tickets are $15 at the door.
The University of Florida hosts the USAW South East Regional University Championship this weekend, Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, with 140 college weightlifters registered to compete in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom. Lifting starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and spectators pay $15 at the door.
Gator Weightlifting, UF’s team and the meet’s host, says the field makes it the largest college weightlifting competition ever held in the United States outside University Nationals.
Who is lifting
The Gators will be joined by teams from the University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University, the University of South Florida, Webber International University, Warner University, the University of North Florida and other programs for two full days of competition.
UF arrives with a strong record of its own. According to the team, the Gators won the men’s national university championship in 2023, and both the men’s and women’s teams took national titles in 2024.
The team describes a sport that has grown fast on campuses. College weightlifting was “once a relatively small corner of American weightlifting,” the team said, and the university scene “has developed into one of the sport’s most exciting and competitive arenas. And nowhere is that more evident than here in Florida.”
“Across Florida, collegiate programs are growing, developing exceptional athletes, and building a competitive culture that is helping shape the future of American weightlifting,” the team said.
‘A golden era’
Michael Espinosa, the meet director and head coach of Gator Weightlifting, said the size of the field would have been hard to picture not long ago.
“Collegiate weightlifting is experiencing its golden era,” Espinosa said. “And it’s these Florida teams that are holding the torch and leading the way. To bring 140 collegiate athletes together under one roof is something that would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago. It’s exciting to see how far we’ve come, and even more exciting to think about where the sport is heading.”
Times and tickets
- When: Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15. Competition begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, with sessions throughout both days, expected to run into the evening and finish at about 9 p.m. each day.
- Where: Reitz Union Grand Ballroom, University of Florida, Gainesville.
- Admission: $15 for spectators, paid at the door.
- Athletes: 140 registered college competitors.
Session times for individual lifters had not been posted as of Nov. 11, so anyone coming to watch a particular athlete should check with that lifter’s team.
Frequently asked questions
When is the USAW South East Regional University Championship?
Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. Lifting starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and sessions run through both days until about 9 p.m.
Where is the weightlifting championship in Gainesville?
In the Grand Ballroom of the Reitz Union on the University of Florida campus.
How much does it cost to watch?
Spectator admission is $15 at the door.
Which teams are competing?
The host Gators, UCF, FAMU, USF, Webber International University, Warner University, UNF and other programs, with 140 athletes registered.
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