Bingham's Six-for-Six Performance Lifts Lindenwood to University Team Title
Share:
by Calvin Lackey, Rob Hall
March 2, 2025. Lindenwood University Weightlifting Team. Photo by 6/6 Media
Thursday mornings are always quiet in Exhibit Hall C. The barricades had been placed, platforms laid, and media built. But by 10 a.m. that same morning and until the late afternoon on Sunday, there's a different feel. The air is different, and the energy around the Hall is white hot; the crowds of families and athletes themselves compete for any remaining seats.
The stage was set—USAW National University Championships, Columbus, Ohio. Two prides of Lions battling it out for weightlifting supremacy with a stone-faced band of Buccaneers nipping at their heels, looking for their own spoils—gold, silver, bronze and the right to be called team champions.
As the weekend progressed, three teams stood head and shoulders above the rest—East Tennessee State, Mars Hill, and Lindenwood. The race for the Championship was tight, with multiple lead changes. From gold-medal performances by Lindenwood captains Calvin Lackey and James Tice, to podium finishes from Lindenwood’s Lady Lions, the team title was well within reach. But, Mars Hill and East Tennessee State had other plans going into the final day.
As the championship race tightened, every lift and every point mattered. Lindenwood captain James Tice reflected on the unity of his team during this time.
"I was feeling really nervous knowing how close the race was and that the other teams were right on our heels,” Tice said. “We had to show up. At the same time, I felt a sense of peace, knowing that no matter the outcome, I’d be proud after seeing how hard we’d trained and bonded over the past few months. It was emotional to witness how united our team was, pouring all our energy into supporting each other throughout the weekend, especially during Brad’s session. I believed we could pull it off; we just had to execute."
Coming into the final day and session of the Championships, the Lindenwood Lions found themselves in a two-way tie for the title. It would come down to Lindenwood’s freshman super heavyweight, Bradley Bingham, and ETSU’s Aiden Perez. Perez held a one kilogram lead going into the clean and jerk. After a successful third attempt by Perez, it would be up to Bingham to make a big third attempt and beat Perez, winning the team title by just one point.
With the team title on the line, freshman Bradley Bingham stepped onto the platform for the biggest lift of his career. Recalling the moment where he sealed the victory, he said:
"I knew I had to do something big after the ETSU lifter hit 169 kg. After hitting a 5 kg PR at 170kg, I saw my teammates’ reaction and that’s when it hit me -- , we had just won University Nationals. My teammates were incredible, always pushing me to improve and offering tips to fine-tune my lifts. I’ve come a long way since high school, and the stakes, energy, and technical progress I’ve made here at college pushed me to rise to the challenge and deliver when it mattered most.”
With the entire Lindenwood crew in attendance, the young Lion stood up with the massive weight, paused, and punched it to the sky with a loud roar, accompanied by the exuberance of the Lindenwood faithful and captain Calvin Lackey on Commentary.
As a junior on the team Calvin Lackey knew this feeling all too well, recalling his thoughts moments before winning he said:
"Brad and I shared a bar almost every heavy day leading up to the competition, so I knew his usual numbers well—and I knew he would have to deliver the performance of his life for us to win. After being part of the last two co-ed championship teams, I started to imagine what it would feel like if we ended up in second place. At one point, I even came close to accepting it, but Brad didn’t. He had the best lifting day I’ve ever seen from him, leaving everything he had on the platform, exactly when it mattered most," Lackey said.
Lindenwood’s head coach Trenton Crain reflected on the team’s journey, acknowledging the challenges they faced leading up to University Nationals:
“We struggled with consistency but found our rhythm just in time, coming together when it mattered most,” Coach Crain said. “University Nationals gets tougher every year—more programs, stronger athletes, and coaches stepping up their game. This year’s win, decided by just one point in the final session, was the closest in my nine years at Lindenwood. Looking ahead, we’re focusing on making the transition smoother for freshmen and helping our athletes chase their individual goals. We also want to not just qualify for higher-level senior meets, but be competitive at them.”
As University level teams continue to up their game in both recruiting and competing, so will Lindenwood. But for now, these lions will rest and rebuild. After all, they have a title to defend next spring…
**
For more information on Lindenwood’s University Program contact: @lindenwoodweightlifting on Instagram or email TCrain@lindenwood.edu
