HAYWARD, CA – In a meet defined by growth and momentum, the Menlo College Weightlifting team saw fourteen Oaks take the platform at the Hassle Free Winter Breaker at Iron Warehouse. Senior Owen Yama headlined the day with a composed and powerful final appearance as an Oak, earning personal records and an American Open Finals qualification while leading a program-wide surge of strong performances.

Kevin Doherty dusted off the singlet and set the tone for the day, going a perfect 6-for-6. His performance energized the Oaks crew and helped inspire a dominant team atmosphere throughout the competition.

 

Owen Yama - 204kg Total 

The senior from Mountain View, CA delivered a standout performance in his senior send-off, finishing 4-for-6 with a 204kg total and competing with poise and confidence in his final appearance as an Oak. He opened the snatch with a solid 88kg lift and showed resilience after narrowly missing higher attempts. In the clean and jerk, Yama was flawless, going 3-for-3 with strong lifts at 110kg, 113kg, and a 116kg personal record. His performance not only capped his Menlo career in style but also earned him a qualification to the American Open Finals for the first time. Yama's leadership, composure, and competitive drive embodied the senior-send off mindset, setting the standard for the Oaks and leaving a lasting mark on the program.
 

Ryan Padron - 257kg Total 

Senior vet out of Kihei, HI rounded out the day with a 257kg total, going 4-for-6. After missing his opening snatch at 106kg, he rebounded to make the lift and pushed higher. Padron went a perfect 3-for-3 in the clean and jerk with strong lifts at 140kg, 145kg, and a 151kg PR, improving his clean and jerk by 6kg.
 

James Woodley - 245kg Total 

Senior vet out of Danville, CA went 5-for-6 with a 245kg total, increasing his competition total by 7kg. He was perfect in the snatch with lifts at 103kg, 106kg, and a 109kg PR. After missing his clean and jerk opener, Woodley recovered and finished strong with a 136kg lift.
 

Jeshua "Peanut" Ambrosio - 247kg Total 

The junior transfer from San Bruno, CA finished 4-for-6 with a 247kg total, increasing his competition PR by 5kg. He opened the snatch with a successful 105kg lift and carried momentum into the clean and jerk with strong lifts at 136kg and 141kg, adding a 4kg PR.

Fonz Ortega - 236kg Total 

The junior from Milbrae, CA finished 5-for-6 with a 236kg total, improving his competition PR by 7kg. After missing his opening snatch, he rebounded to make 102kg and finished strong with a 105kg lift for a 3kg PR. Ortega followed with a perfect clean and jerk series at 125kg, 128kg, and 131kg.

Elijah Carrasco - 165kg Total 

The freshman from Upland, CA went 3-for-6 with a 165kg total, increasing his total by 10kg. He secured a 70kg snatch after an opening miss and pushed to 75kg. In the clean and jerk, Carrasco posted strong lifts at 90kg and 95kg before narrowly missing a 100kg PR. In just his second platform appearance, the fall walk-on displayed dedication and a positive competitive attitude.

Billy McKinzey - 186kg Total 

The senior out of El Segundo, CA finished 5-for-6 with a 186kg total. He went a perfect 3-for-3 in the snatch with lifts at 71kg, 76kg, and an 81kg PR. In the clean and jerk, McKinzey hit 100kg and 105kg before narrowly missing 110kg.

Osvaldo Garcia Mendoza - 194kg Total 

The sophomore from Redwood City, CA totaled 194kg, going 4-for-6 on the day. He was perfect in the snatch with lifts at 83kg, 86kg, and a competition PR of 89kg, increasing his snatch by 3kg. He opened the clean and jerk with a solid 105kg lift before missing higher attempts.

Orion Rios - 212kg Total 

The junior from Brisbane, CA went 5-for-6 with a 212kg total, increasing his competition total by 13kg. He hit snatches at 88kg and 92kg for a 2kg PR and was flawless in the clean and jerk with strong lifts at 110kg, 115kg, and 120kg, increasing his clean and jerk by 11kg.
 

Jon Brooks - 150kg Total 

The freshman out of Kihei, HI delivered a perfect day, going 6-for-6 with a 150kg total. He posted competition PRs in the snatch with lifts at 55kg, 60kg, and 66kg, and followed with strong clean and jerks at 70kg, 75kg, and 84kg. Competing in his first appearance as an Oak, a freshman lifter turned every total into a personal record. Despite rehabbing a shoulder injury throughout the semester and spending much of his preparation on a squat-focused program, he increased his back squat by 45kg. His strategy of light openers and aggressive jumps paid off, highlighting his perseverance and promising future with the team.

 

Jade Morales - 175kg Total 

The freshman out of Redwood City, CA dominated in her first appearance as an Oak, going a perfect 6-for-6 with a 175kg total. The freshman led the women's group with snatches at 70kg, 72kg, and 74kg, followed by clean and jerks at 95kg, 98kg, and 101kg. This marked the most she has lifted since competing at the 2025 Junior Pan-American Games, signaling a strong start to her Menlo career.

Breanna Zide - 144kg Total 

The sophomore from Westlake Village, CA went 4-for-6 with a 144kg total, matching her snatch PR. She opened the snatch with successful lifts at 63kg and 66kg before narrowly missing 68kg. In the clean and jerk, Zide hit 75kg, missed 78kg, and rebounded to finish strong. She showed determination and grit while competing after recovering from a knee injury sustained post-nationals over the summer.

Kira Barad - 159kg Total 

Sophomore weightlifter out of Kapolei, HI finished with a 159kg total, going 3-for-6. After missing her opening snatch at 68kg, she rebounded to make the lift before missing 71kg. In the clean and jerk, Barad went 2-for-3, opening strong and closing with a successful final lift at 91kg.
 

Peyton Hensley - 110kg Total 

The junior from Murrieta, CA finished 5-for-6 with a 110kg total, marking a 10kg personal record increase. She went 2-for-3 in the snatch with successful lifts at 47kg and 49kg, the latter a 4kg competition PR, narrowly missing 51kg. In the clean and jerk, Hensley was flawless with lifts at 53kg, 57kg, and a 61kg PR. Making her second platform appearance, the newest Oak continued to make noticeable strides in her competition performance, showing growth and confidence on the platform.
 

With multiple debuts, senior milestones, and personal records across the board, the Oaks delivered an impressive team performance at the Hassle Free Winter Breaker and continue to build momentum heading into the rest of the season.