2025 One Ton Challenge Results
The first One Ton Challenge Meet was the brain child of Jeff Wenzel. These lifts were meant to be challenging, while at the same time allow lifters to post some big numbers. Preferably, the lifts are those named after someone. The meet was a success drawing in 20 lifters from five different gyms and two nations. On the women’s side, we had seven lifters, five in the competition and two for records. Allison Lupo was thrilled to win her first outright title in a contested meet. She had a great day as she rolled up a total of 925 lb, and was the only female over 1000 points with age and weight. She wasn’t the only female lifter with big numbers as Mary McConnaughey posted 900 lbs in four events and Lisa Gore lifted 855 lb on a bum knee to take 3rd place. Janet Thompson was the second place finisher.
On the men’s side we actually had two lifters make it to one ton! Both Jeff Wenzel (2357 lb) and Abe Smith (2335 lb) went the extra mile posting totals of more than one Metric Ton (2205 lb). Only 22 lb separated the two, or a hair under 1%! After age and weight were accounted for, Abe Smith came out on top. The battle for 3rd was also interesting as Travis Luther lifted 1910 lb, while Riley Wenzel came in at 1810 lb. For both that is more than 90% of a ton! But once age and weight were accounted for, they literally flipped spots. Tony Lupo gave it a good try getting just over 82% of a ton.
Some big individual lifts were made as Lisa Gore (300 lb People’s DL), Allison Lupo (275 lb People’s DL), and Mary McConnaughey (275 lb People’s DL) all set records in this event. Janet Thompson set a new standard with 200 lb in the Kennedy DL, and Alix McGregor at 79 years young did an Anderson Squat of 120 lb. On the Men’s side perhaps the most impressive lifts were from Jeff Wenzel (700 lb Anderson Squat), Abe Smith (600 lb Anderson Squat), with Travis Luther posting a 575 lb Kennedy DL, and Riley Wenzel was not too far behind at 495 lb. Sanjiv Gupta also posted a record 380 lb in the Kennedy, and relative newcomer Jerome Licini hoisted 360 lb in the same lift. Everett Todd at the tender age of 12, also got a big number on the Kennedy at 265 lb. Eric Todd lifted an impressive 300 lb in the Anderson Press. Tony Lupo’s big lift was 475 in the People’s DL.
