Austin Dugan is a self-starter.

Naturally strong for his size, Dugan gravitated towards lifting weights as a kid. He and friend Corgan Edler spent countless hours in the gym and could visibly see their success, both in the mirror and as their lifts increased.

“Growing up, I always knew my strength,” said Dugan, a 2023 Loreauville High graduate who will be sophomore at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston this fall.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Dugan entered the Louisiana state powerlifting competition as a junior, even though LHS didn’t have a team. He placed fifth in the 148-pound division by lifting a total of 959 lbs.

“I thought that was a pretty big accomplishment,” he said. “From then on, I had the idea to try to win every meet. I’m going to be honest: I’m a medal chaser. I like to collect them.”

Dugan has seen his lifts skyrocket. In 2023, he placed second at the Cajun Prep Open and the Louisiana State Games and won the USAPL Strong Hawk Open. His first squat at the Cajun Prep Open was 281 lbs. Less than eight months later, he lifted 385.8 lbs.

He was back at it again four months later, taking 11th place at the Collegiate Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia. By placing on the national stage, Dugan earned the coveted title of ‘Iron Dawg’ on the Louisiana Tech club team.

“I’ve seen videos of people lifting at nationals,” said Dugan, who competed with lifting equipment for the first time and squatted 474 lbs. “Being there was a completely different experience. There were lights everywhere.

Dugan, who had always competed “raw” – without equipment – saw his totals increase from 1069.2 to 1205.2 lbs. His bench press increased 23 lbs. with improvements of 22 lbs. in the deadlift and 90 lbs on squat.

“That’s the big question,” he said about the decision to compete with equipment in the future.

“I’ve been on the fence about it. A lot of power comes out of that suit. I do like the numbers, but I like raw better in some ways. I think there is more skill involved.”

Dugan, who has continued to compete at 148 lbs., doesn’t stray more than a couple of pounds over his target weight. He is burning through calories this summer, working 12-plus hours a day in the sun as a farming consultant.

The Kinesiology major plans to open his own gym one day. After placing as a true freshman, he expects to continue moving up the ranks at the next national meet, which will be in Oklahoma City.