As a Biology/Pre-Med major at Louisiana Tech University, Cedar Creek graduate Lawson Lillo is more than willing to put the weight of the world on his shoulders, as long as he has a little help from his friends and family.
On Wednesday, Lillo finished first at the Powerlifting America National Championships in Reno, Nevada.
He credits the support he has received along the way for helping him do so.
“Powerlifting is a community,” Lillo said. “It takes everybody. It is not just me. It is me lifting weight, but there is so many people behind the scenes that have made this possible for me.
During Wednesday’s National Championship, Lillo competed in the 74 KG (164 pound) weight class.
“I weighed in at 160 pounds,” Lillo said. “I had a squat of 617 pounds, a bench (press) of 497 (pounds), which is a new American record, and had a deadlift of 562 pounds. My total was 1,676 pounds.”
He has added support with him at the National Championships— Cedar Creek student Carter Lewis, who just finished his junior year in high school, is in Reno with Lillo and will compete today for an American title in the 205-pound weight class.
“He’s been a big factor here (at the National Championships),” Lillo said of Lewis. “I helped Cedar Creek powerlifting this past year as a coach, which was fun. He came to me around a year ago and asked, because he is a good lifter as well, and came up and asked if he should go to Nationals next year.
“I told him, ‘Heck yeah,’ for one thing because I planned to continue to do it. So, we have been training together every day for months now because he had not been able to train after breaking his arm a while ago. So, I wanted to continue it with him and on my own because I knew I had the potential to win it and knew it would be a waste if I did not continue my own lifting.”
Lillo also credits Cedar Creek powerlifting coach Jacob Angevine, who recently added the role of Cougars head football coach to duties, for playing a big role in lifting success.
“He means a lot and has for a long time,” Lillo said of Angevine. “We, my family and I, were able to start it side-by-side with him. My dad started coaching back in 2017 when I was in seventh grade. And Coach Ange and my dad along with a couple of dads helping were able to start the program and continue it with Ange taking over.
“So, he is really a vital part of it all. I will say he is one of the best coaches, not only powerlifting, but overall, one of the best coaches around. His support has been a big driver in my success over the years.”
Now Lillo will watch Lewis compete today, hoping their powerful partnership will continue at the World Championships that will be held in Costa Rica in late August.
“They’ll be held Aug. 26thish until the end of the month,” Lillo said.
World Championship competition will not be anything new for Lillo.
“I competed in Romania in 2023 and competed (in the World Championships) most recently in 2024 in Austin, Texas,” Lillo said.
And Lillo knows his biggest support staff will be with him all the way as he prepares.
“My family lives and breathes powerlifting,” Lillo said. “My brother (Caden), my mom (LeaAnn), my dad (Jason) — they are always there helping me, spotting me, giving me support, bringing me to all the meets. There is no real secret to how much weight I lift, but if there is a secret, it is the motivation they give me.
“They help me cook meals, prepare meals to get all my nutrition right. So, I would say my secret is my support system. Powerlifting is not an easy sport to do on your own. If you do not have people to back you, it is a lot harder.”
