National Teams
Classic and Equipped Bench Press National Teams
*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]