On August 1st and 2nd, UPS-Guayaquil held the 2015 National Powerlifting Competition "Copa UPS" in its Centenario Campus. 

Over 110 powerlifters from Pichincha, Los Rios, Azuay, Manabi and Guayas took part in the event; powerlifting teams from ESPOL, ATLAS, GYM Guayaquil, Lorens GYM, O-KGYM were also there.

Both men and women competitors from the UPS team won first and second place in the beginners' category. In all, UPS got 11 gold medals, 8 silver medals and 3 bronze medals.

UPS students in the Women's category: 

•    Melisa Bajaña (Gold) 
•    Lorena Márquez (Gold)
•    Maitte Aguirre (Gold)
•    Ingrid Velecéla (Gold)
•    Jessica Naranjo (Gold)
•    María Asunción (Silver) 
•    Mishell Naranjo (Silver)
•    Cindy Armijos (Silver)
•    Gabriela Rodríguez (Silver)

UPS students in the mens category: 

•    Luiggi Carriel, Gold medal, trophy and plaque as the best in the Junior category
•    Anthony Salazar (Gold)
•    Jonathan Arévalo (Gold)
•    Rene Zambrano (Gold)
•    David Bajaña (Gold)
•    Jordán Cruz (Silver)
•    Mike Campoverde (Gold)
•    Hamet Meza (Silver) 
•    Alexander Peñafiel (Silver)
•    Cesar Anzules (bronze)

UPS professor Luis Carriel, the event organizer, acknowledged some of the university's best athletes such as Lorena Marquez, national powerlifting champion; Cindy Armijos, national champion who classified to the Pan American powerlifting competition in Brazil 2015; Luiggi Carriel, the best in Ecuador's junior category and 4 time national champion who will also be in Brazil 2015; as well as Jessica Naranjo and Gabriela Rodriguez.

The UPS powerlifting team is directed  by Luis Carriel and Victor Emilio Estrada, physical education professors.