OTTAWA, Kan. – Ottawa University head powerlifting coach Ryan Baylark and four incoming freshmen have been named to the roster for the IPF World Classic & Equipped Sub Junior and Junior Powerlifting Championships. The event will take place in Cluj Napoca, Romania, August 24 through September 3. The four freshmen who will be competing are Kasee Sketoe, Nicolas Calidonia, Chase Lawton, and Lola Cheramie.

"In our inaugural season in the IPF / Powerlifting America, I am very excited to bring Ottawa Powerlifting to the world stage," said Baylark. "It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as a national team coach to handle these four exceptional incoming freshman athletes. The future of Ottawa Powerlifting is very bright."

Baylark, who is entering his second season as OU's head powerlifting coach, has been named to the Subjunior and Junior National Team coaching staff as an assistant coach. He is a three-time silver medalist at USAPL Bench Nationals at 83KG and 93KG. He was a 2017 bronze medalist at USAPL Raw Nationals at 83KG and is a three-time American bench record holder at 83KG. He has also coached athletes to Special Olympics Nationals. Baylark earned a 2022 USAPL Pro Card. He is a 10-time Kansas State Record holder at 181, 198, and 205. He has the highest all-time Dots Score for the state of Kansas, has the highest 2022 Dots Score for the state of Kansas, and has coached various athletes to state records in several weight classes.

Sketoe, who is from West Monroe, La., helped lead her team to a 2023 and 2022 state championship. In 2022, she was a regional champion, a state champion, national champion, and a world champion. This past year, Sketoe was a regional champion, an individual state champion, a First Team All-State selection, and named Best Lifter. She has only been competing in powerlifting since 2020.

Calidonia, who hails from Covington, La., has competed and won regional, state and national tournaments in powerlifting. He was invited to worlds in Istanbul, Turkey in 2022. Calidona was a back-to-back Louisiana State 114 Champion.

Lawton, a Covington, La. native, is a three-time Louisiana State Tournament qualifier and champion. He is a two-time national champion and captured a world championship. Lawton was named the Best Lifter twice in all divisions, 1A-5A. He participated in the IPF Worlds in Istanbul Turkey in 2022.

Cheramie, who is from Covington, La., was part of a regional championship, a state championship, a national championship, and a Team USA World Championship. She has earned All-Region, All-State, All-National, and All-World honors.

The 2022-23 Braves had nine athletes qualify for USA Powerlifting National Collegiate. John Wyatt and Baxter Self earned All-American honors with their second place finishes in their weight divisions.