National Teams
Classic and Equipped Bench Press National Teams
To qualify for any team, athletes must maintain a current Powerlifting America membership that remains active through and beyond the international championship. Athletes must also be in good standing, with no potential Article 14 violations and no outstanding dues owed to the federation.
*Note: When comparing lifters of the same age and weight class, the lifter with the higher total will be invited, regardless of formula points.
Team Coaches
- Head Coach: Steve Petrencak Organization email: [email protected]
- Assistant Coach: Dana Rosenzweig: [email protected]
2026 International Events
- IPF World Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championships May 22–31, 2026 – Warsaw, Poland
- NAPF / Pan-American Regional Classic & Equipped Bench Press Championships October 22–24, 2026 (exact location TBD – current bids from Belize and Mexico)
Minimum Qualifying Bench Press (Required for BOTH Teams)
Every lifter (classic or equipped) must bench at least:
- Open division: 50% of the current IPF Open World Record in your weight class
- Sub-Junior, Junior, Masters 1–4: 40% of the current IPF World Record in your age/weight class
World Record links (check the record for your exact category and weight class): goodlift.info/records.php (use the filters for Classic/Equipped, Men/Women, and age group)
How the 2026 IPF World Bench Press Team is Selected
Held at the 2026 Powerlifting America Bench Press Nationals
Automatic Spot
Every 1st-place winner (champion) in their age & weight class gets an automatic spot on the World team if they also hit the minimum qualifying bench (50% or 40% of WR).
1st Wave of Replacements (if a champion can’t go)
All 2nd-place finishers from Nationals + any champions who didn’t hit the minimum qualifying bench → Ranked by IPF GL points (highest gets picked first)
2nd Wave of Replacements
Everyone else from Nationals (3rd place and lower) → Ranked by IPF GL points
3rd Wave – Request Form (only if spots are still open)
You must have competed in a 2025 or 2026 PA National, NAPF Regional, or IPF World meet → Form opens: Feb 5, 2026 @ 12:00 PM EST → Form closes: Feb 19, 2026 @ 12:00 PM EST → Link: https://form.jotform.com/221765428215153 → After the deadline, coaches fill remaining spots by GL points (or their discretion)
Tie-breaker: If two lifters have the same GL points and are in the same age/weight class, the one with the higher bench wins.
How the 2026 NAPF / Pan-Am Regional Bench Press Team is Selected
Same meet – 2026 Powerlifting America Bench Press Nationals
Automatic Spot
Every 2nd-place finisher in their age & weight class usually gets the automatic NAPF spot → Exception: If a 2nd-place lifter already made the World team (because their class was uncontested or the 1st-place lifter declined Worlds), then the 1st-place lifter gets the automatic NAPF spot instead.
1st Wave of Replacements (in this order)
a) Champions from Nationals who went to 2026 Worlds
b) 2nd-place finishers from Nationals who went to 2026 Worlds → Ranked by IPF GL points
2nd Wave of Replacements
All remaining lifters from Nationals (3rd place and lower) → Ranked by IPF GL points
3rd Wave – Request Form (only if spots are still open)
Same rules as Worlds → Form opens: July 1, 2026 @ 12:00 PM EST → Form closes: July 15, 2026 @ 12:00 PM EST → Same link: https://form.jotform.com/221765428215153
Tie-breaker: Same as Worlds – higher actual bench wins if GL points are equal in the same age/weight class.
Questions? Email the coaches at [email protected]