2026 Lightweight Decathlon Results: Fun During the Dog Days of August!

This year’s version featured three different lifts or variations of a lift from last year’s roster. As was the case last year, the idea was to choose lifts that are challenging, yet something most folks can perform. Also, we wanted lifts that typically don’t exceed 100 lbs. Five lifters hit that mark on the Jefferson Deadlift with Little Fingers, and three on the Ziegler lift, two on the Finger Lift Thumb, and one each on Side Press Dumbbell, Lateral Raise Lying, and Crucifix. That’s only 13 of the 160 lifts. Lifters who hit 100 lbs were Jeff Wenzel (4), Riley Wenzel, Dan Jones, and Frank Ciavattone (2), Toby Ortega, Nils Larson, and Tony Lupo (1). For Women, the equivalent mark would be 75 lb and Lisa Gore hit that mark in the Jefferson Lift. I have notes below for each lifter as to where you place overall, in your age category, in your weight category, for raw weight moved, and how many events each Women’s lifter finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd after Lynch and Age adjustment. For the Men’s, I noted 1st through 5th for each event.    

In spite of temperatures near 90 F and dewpoints from 75 – 80 F in Columbia of course, the turnout was fantastic. We had 16 lifters from five gyms compete. Two people emerged as the champions of a challenging two days – on the women’s side, Lisa Gore from Clark’s Gym was the repeat champion. On the men’s side, Jeff Wenzel (Clark’s Gym) knocked on the door last year. This year he kicked it in to win the Men’s title. On the Women’s side RJ Jackson and Jessica Hopps finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, while on the Men’s side, Riley Wenzel and Toby Ortega finished 2nd and 3rd place.

Some interesting notes: Lisa Gore would place 3rd of all 16 lifters when a gender adjustment was applied. Also, while the father and son team of Jeff and Riley Wenzel finished at the top, they also became the first M/M team to do the Anderson Press at 305 lb. Lifters who set records in every event were Lisa Gore (10), RJ Jackson (6), Toby Ortega (10), and Nils Larson (10). 

Some lifters who did the event last year saw some vast improvements due to more equipment and better health. Jarrod Fobes and Jerome Licini were up by 36% and 32%! Other lifters were up too. Lisa Gore was up 23%, Riley Wenzel 13%, Allison Lupo 8%. Toby Ortega and Jeff Wenzel were slightly up.     

Thank you to all who participated. The response was great. The weights may have been light, but there was a ton of fun and camaraderie. The results below showed that there was a lot of good lifting that took place from good lifters – including six male and female lifters who are top 10 on the Individual Records list. As we look down the road for the future, we will swap in some different lifts and take out a few to keep the list fresh. Additionally, we’ll look for a date that is further away from other meets, possibly during a cooler month.

Any suggestions for next year’s event will be welcome.

*USAWA Age/Weight Record, **USAWA ALL Record. NE = No equipment

WOMENS DIVISION

NAMEAgeAge CategoryWeight lbs / (kg)Weight (Class)Lynch FactorAge Concern
Lisa Gore6060217.0 / 98.61000.85361.21
RJ Jackson6460102.0 / 46.4501.43291.25
Jessica Hopps4240158.0 / 71.8751.02801.03
Kim Van Wagner5955128.6 / 58.5601.18421.20
Allison Lupo6060200.0 / 90.9950.89261.21
Crystal Diggs39ALL176.0 / 80.0800.96121.00
NAMESide Press (H)Jefferson Deadlift Little FingersLateral Raise LyingThor’s HammerPinch Grip Strict (H)
Lisa Gore45R**80**44**26**41R**
RJ Jackson35R*45**30*NE38R**
Jessica Hopps30L**55**2024.5**42R**
Kim Van Wagner30R**26**201826R
Allison Lupo27R**32**20t16*29R*
Crystal Diggs30R**61**20NE31R**
NAMECrucifixZeigler Clean and JerkFinger Lift ThumbRectangular Fix FultonWeaver Stick Forward
Lisa Gore60**71**36R**60**3.0**
RJ Jackson30*033R**NENE
Jessica Hopps30t45*46L**42**3.25**
Kim Van Wagner2026**38R**35**0.5*
Allison Lupo20**40**26R**30**1.75**
Crystal Diggs3053**23R**NENE
NAMETotal WeightLynch Factor (Weight)Age ConcernRank
Lisa Gore466.0397.78481.311
RJ Jackson211.0302.34377.932
Jessica Hopps337.8347.21357.623
Kim Van Wagner239.5283.62340.344
Allison Lupo241.8215.79261.105
Crystal Diggs248.0238.38238.386

MENS DIVISION

NAMEAgeAge CategoryWeight lbs / (kg)Weight (Class)Lynch FactorAge Concern
Jeff Wenzel5150232.0 / 105.51100.82351.11
Riley Wenzel21ALL150.0 / 68.2701.02621.00
Toby Ortega4645158.5 / 72.0751.02621.07
Dan Jones4240200.0 / 90.9950.89261.03
Wade Marchand5755163.0 / 74.1751.00761.18
Frank Ciavattone7170263.0 / 119.51200.77331.38
Nils Larson6765239.0 / 108.61100.81121.30
Tony Lupo6060244.5 / 111.11150.80181.21
Jarrod Fobes4945211.5 / 96.11000.86551.10
Jermone Licini6765230.3 / 104.71050.82681.30
NAMESide Press (H)Jefferson Deadlift Little FingersLateral Raise LyingThor’s HammerPinch Grip Strict (H)
Jeff Wenzel97R**1151244171R
Riley Wenzel60Rt1057041t31R
Toby Ortega65L**105**84*41*51L*
Dan Jones60R110**7044.555L**
Wade Marchand40R*77*30*26.5*47L*
Frank Ciavattone30R*110*50*22*50L**
Nils Larson60R*55*70*22*50L*
Tony Lupo101L**70*443961R**
Jarrod Fobes80R**454028*58R
Jerome Licini35R*55**16*21.2*33.7R*
NAMECrucifixZeigler Clean and JerkFinger Lift ThumbRectangular Fix FultonWeaver Stick Forward
Jeff Wenzel120*121*59R*85*5.0
Riley Wenzel80111**42R**70**3.0
Toby Ortega80*55*34R*65*3.0*
Dan Jones70*135**71.5R**68**5.75**
Wade Marchand70*85**71.5R*85*4.5
Frank Ciavattone4055*132L**85*6.0t
Nils Larson60*70*101R**73*4.75*
Tony Lupo2471*51R*60*4.0*
Jarrod Fobes454578R**45*2.5
Jerome Licini1645*37R*55*3.0*
NAMETotal WeightLynch Factor (Weight)Age ConcernRank
Jeff Wenzel838.0685.74768.021
Riley Wenzel613.0651.74651.742
Toby Ortega583.0598.27640.153
Dan Jones689.8615.67634.144
Wade Marchand521.5525.46620.055
Frank Ciavattone580.0448.34618.716
Nils Larson565.8458.94596.627
Tony Lupo525.0420.95509.348
Jarrod Fobes466.5403.76444.139
Jerome Licini317.0262.10340.7210

Women’s Overall Champion: Lisa Gore

Crystal Diggs, 6th overall, 1st ALL, 1st 80 kg, 3rd Raw Weight, Events: 2nd (Zeigler Clean), 3rd (Jefferson DL), 4th (1). Records: 5 ALL (of 7 events).

Jessica Hopps, 3rd overall, 1st 40 – 44 y, 1st 75 kg, 2nd Raw weight, Events: 1st (Weaver Stick), 2nd (2 – Thors Hammer, Pinch Grip), 3rd (4), 4th (2). Records: 7 ALL, 1 Age/WT, 1 tie.

Kim Van Wagner, 4th overall, 1st 55 – 59 y, 1st 60 kg, 5th Raw weight, Events: 2nd (2 – Thumb lift, Rectangular Fix), 3rd (3), 4th (2). Records: 5 ALL, 1 Age/WT .

Lisa Gore 1st 60 – 64 y, 1st 100 kg, 1st Raw weight, Events: 1st (5), 2nd (3 – Side Press, Lateral Raise, Weaver Stick), 3rd (1), 4th (1). Records: 10 ALL.

Allison Lupo, 5th overall, 3rd 60 – 64 y, 1st 95 kg, 4th Raw weight, Events: 3rd (1  – Weaver Stick), 4th (4). Records: 7 ALL, 1 Age/WT, 1 tie

RJ Jackson, 2nd overall, 2nd 60 – 64 y, 1st 50 kg, 6th Raw weight, Events: 1st (4 – Side Press, Lateral Raise, Pinch Grip, Finger Lift Thumb), 2nd (2). Records: 3 ALL, 3 Age/WT (6 events).      

Men’s Overall Champion: Jeff Wenzel

Riley Wenzel, 2nd overall, 1st ALL, 1st 70 kg, 3rd Raw weight, Events: 2nd (2 – Thor’s Hammer, Ziegler Clean), 3rd (3 – Jefferson, Little, Lateral Raise, Crucifix), 5th (2). Records: 3 ALL, 2 tied

Dan Jones, 4th overall, 1st 40 – 44 y, 1st 95 kg, 2nd Raw weight, Events: 1st (1 – Ziegler clean), 3rd (2 – Thor’s Hammer, Weaver Stick), 5th (4). Records: 6 ALL, 1 Age/WT

Toby Ortega, 3rd overall, 1st 45 – 49 y, 1st 75 kg, 4th Raw weight, Events: 1st (1 – Thors Hammer), 2nd (3 – Jefferson Little, Lateral Raise Lying, Crucifix), 3rd (1 – Pinch Grip Strict), 4th (1). Records: 2 ALL, 8 Age/WT

Jarrod Fobes, 9th overall, 2nd 45 – 49 y, 1st 100 kg, 9th Raw weight, Events:  3rd (1 – Side Press), 4th (2). Records: 2 ALL, 2 Age/WT.

Jeff Wenzel, 1st overall, 1st 50 – 54 y, 1st 110 kg, 1st Raw weight, Events: 1st (3 – Lateral Raise, Pinch Grip Strict, Crucifix), 2nd (1 – Side press), 3rd (2 – Ziegler Clean, Rectangular Fix), 4th (1), 5th (2). Records: 1 ALL, 4 Age/WT

Wade Marchand, 5th overall, 1st 55 – 59 y, 2nd 75 kg, 8th Raw weight, Events: 2nd (2 – Rectangular Fix, Weaver Stick), 3rd (Finger Lift, Thumb), 4th (2), 5th (1). Records: 1 ALL, 8 Age/WT.

Tony Lupo, 8th overall, 1st 60 – 64 y, 1st 115 kg, 7th Raw weight, Events: 1st (1 – Side Press), 2nd (1 – Pinch Grip Strict), 4th (1). Records: 2 ALL, 5 Age/WT  

Nils Larson, 7th overall, 1st 65 – 69 y, 2nd 110 kg, 6th Raw weight, Events: 2nd (1 – Finger Lift Thumb), 4th (3), 5th (1). Records: 1 ALL, 9 Age/WT

Jerome Licini, 10th overall, 2nd 65 – 69 y, 1st 105 kg, 10th Raw weight. Records: 1 ALL, 8 Age/WT.

Frank Ciavattone, 6th overall, 1st 70 – 74 y, 1st 120 kg, 5th Raw weight, Events: 1st (4 – Jefferson Little, Finger Lift Thumb, Rectangular Fix, Weaver Stick). Records: 2 ALL, 6 Age/WT, 1 tie

RECORD DAY AT CLARK’S GYM 

Jeff Wenzel     AGE 51                        WT 110 kg

Team Anderson Press                          305 lb

Side Press, DB Left                              87 lb

Pich Grip, Strict Left                            51 lb

Riley Wenzel   Age      21                    WT 70 kg

Team Anderson Press                          305 lb

Allison Lupo   Age 60                         WT 95 kg

Team Anderson Press                          205 lb

Side Press, DB Left                              22 lb

Pinch Grip Strict, Left                          29 lb

Finger Lift, Thumb Left                        26 lb

Weaver Stick, Backward                      2.0 lb

Tony Lupo       Age 60                         WT 115 kg

Team Anderson Press                          205 lb

Apollons Lift                                        145 lb

Pinch Grip, Strict Left                          46 lb

Finger Lift Thumb Left                         31 lb

Weaver Stick, Backward                      5.0 lb

Toby Ortega    Age 46                         WT 75 kg

Side Press, DB Right                            60 lb

Finger Lift, Thumb Left                        31 lb

Pinch Grip, Strict Right                        51 lb

Jefferson, Index                                   142 lb

Jefferson, Middle                                170 lb

Lisa Gore         Age 60                         WT 100 kg

Weaver Stick, Backward                      3.0 lb

Pinch Grip Strict Left                           31 lb

Finger Lift, Thumb Left                        21 lb

Officials, Clark’s Gym:

Bill Clark, Allison Lupo, Tony Lupo, Jeff Wenzel

RECORD DAY AT FRANK’S BARBELL CLUB

Frank Ciavattone        Age 71             WT 120 kg

Lateral Raise, Standing                        40 lb

Seated Press, DB, 2H                           44 lb

Clean and Press, Behind Neck            20 lb

Bench Press, 2 DB                               80 lb

Continental to the Chest                     155 lb

Nils Larson                  Age 67             WT 110kg

Bench Press Reflex                              225 lb

Bench Press, One Arm Right               51 lb

Bench Press, 2 DB                               130 lb

Bench Press, DB Left                           70 lb

Bench Press, DB Right                         70 lb

Wade Marchand        Age 57             WT 75 kg

Anderson Squat                                   315 lb

Bench Press Reflex                              115 lb

Clean and Jerk, 2 DB                           80 lb

Clean and Jerk, Behind Neck              100 lb

Clean and Jerk, Fulton Bar                  103 lb

Dan Jones                   Age 42             WT 95 kg

Finger Lift, Thumb, Left                       61 lb

Pinch Grip, Strict R                              55 lb

Bent Press DB Left                              60 lb

Jessica Hopps             Age 42             WT 75 kg

Pinch Grip, Strict Left                          40 lb

Finger Lift Right Little                          40 lb

Finger Lift Right Ring                           67 lb

Finger Lift Right Middle                      77 lb

Finger Lift Right Thumb                       46 lb

Officials:

All five lifters are certified officials.

RECORD DAY IN COLORADO

Jarrod Fobes   Age 49                       WT 100 kg

Finger Lift, Left Little                        78 lb x 3 R        218.71

Finger Lift, Left Ring                         78 lb x 10 R     729.05

Finger Lift, Left Middle                     103 lb x 10 R    962.71

Finger lift, Left Index                         78 lb x 24 R      1749.71

Finger Lift, Left Thumb                     58 lb x 4 R        216.84

Colorado Officials:

Kim Van Wagner

RECORD DAY IN TEXAS

Crystal Diggs      Age 39 y                               WT 80 kg

Leg Press, Self Loaded                                    51 lb

Pullover and Press, Wrestler’s Bridge        10 lb

James Lift                                               33 lb

Squat, Overhead                                              45 lb

Shoulder Drop                                                 33 lb

RJ Jackson           Age 64 y                            WT   50 kg

Abdominal Raise, Roman Chair                   30 lb

Pull up                                                           26 lb

Chin up                                                          36 lb

Deadlift, Ciavattone, No Thumbs R            106 lb

Rim Lift                                                       176 lb   

Texas Officials:

Each refereed the other