ABILENE, TX – Radek Spatz has generated a lot of news this year as he and the powerlifting team have enjoyed stellar success. Spatz and Joel Garcia both competed at the state championships in Abilene several weeks ago. Spatz competed in the 123 lbs class and brought home the bronze medal, while Garcia competed in the 242 lbs class.
Spatz took the first step in filling in the next chapter of his life when he signed his National Letter of Intent to attend McKendree University in Illinois. The private university offered Spatz a full scholarship for powerlifting. The school has approximately 2,500 students with a yearly endowment of almost $35 million. The university, founded in 1828, was formerly known as Lebanon University. It’s the oldest college or university in the state of Illinois. This fall Spatz will transition from a Miles Bulldog to a McKendree Bearcat.
During his time at Miles, Spatz has been a multi-sport athlete, but powerlifting was his passion. He competed throughout high school before culminating his career with the bronze medal at the state powerlifting championships held in Abilene on March 27.
Spatz signed the National Letter of Intent in front of a gymnasium full of students and staff. Athletic Director Jayson Wilhelm emceed the event, congratulating Spatz and encouraging everyone to follow his example, work hard and pursue their goals, “This is a special event (signing letter). This doesn’t happen all the time. Radek has worked hard to continually improve and this is the reward.”
Fellow athletes gathered behind Spatz, his family, Wilhelm and powerlifting coach David Buitron. Wilhelm has not been shy about giving credit to Buitron and what he’s done with the powerlifting program. Buitron breathed life and excitement into the program. He’s had the powerlifting program at the forefront of the school’s athletics. Many athletes from football to softball take part in powerlifting. The school had 14 lifters qualify for regionals this year. Spatz signing his scholarship for powerlifting is the icing on the cake for the program.
This is the 2nd signing in the last 2 years at this school in the middle of cotton country. In 2020, Skyler Brooks signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball of the University of North Carolina. She will complete her freshman year at the university this May.
