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     THE AMERICAN CHALLENGE:  The American Challenge is a fantastic meet as there are meets spread all across the country.  Lifters simply have to compete at the closest meet and when all meets are finished, the results are compiled, and a national champion is crowned. 

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     ARCHIVE:  Not only do I want to recognize the current open champions, but I like to remember the past champions as well.  The archive is a record of the past open winners in the full meet, curl and bench.  Some of the data has been lost over the years and I do make more than my share of mistakes so the archive will be updated/repaired from time to time.  

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       THE AMERICAN CHALLENGE WRITE UP:  I am going to keep this write up short and simple.  I love to see consistency, so this write up will focus on the lifters that won their third (or higher) open national title in the powerlifting, bench and the curl; I will also mention lifters who brought home the best lifter awards in these categories.  Will there be mistakes in my results; there always is.   

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     THE AMERICAN CHALLENGE (FULL MEET):  There was a lot of outstanding lifting in the powerlifting division and a LOT of lifters won back-to-back titles, but not one lifter in the men's division won a third (or higher) national title.  We did have two women who did; BOTH are very young. 

         The first of the day is a soon to be legend, Mackenzie Grace Taylor from North Carolina.  Mackenzie hasn't lost a competition in forever.  Mackenzie would take first in the open division at 181, which makes Mackenzie a four-time national champion.   The kicker: Mackenzie is only sixteen!!!  Yes, Mackenzie started winning world titles at age 13.  Note, you cannot enter the open division if you are under fourteen, unless you have an elite total.  Mackenzie had an elite total at a very young age.  

        The second lifter is a legend; Naomi Kutin who (as of August 27th) is now Naomi Green of New Jersey.  Congratulations Naomi!!!  More good news for Naomi; Naomi would take home her fifth open national title!!!  ONLY five lifters (male or female) have, won five or more national titles in their careers.  The record is six, which means Naomi could tie the record next year.  Yes, the youth movement is on.  Most people know that Naomi's nickname is Super Girl.  They actually made an award-winning documentary about Naomi; not one of those homemade movies we all love to make, but a genuine real move that I watched on television when I was in Florida.  

      BEST LIFTERS:  No surprise at all, Naomi Green would take home the best lifter light award.  Great day Naomi.  Winning the best lifter heavy award was Paige Karolak of Florida.  Great job Paige!!!  Winning the best lifter award for the men in the light division was James Bryant of Florida.  Wining the best lifter heavy award for the men was Raymond Hodge also from Florida.  A few years ago, Florida rarely won national titles, in 2024, Florida dominated the American Challenge.

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      THE AMERICAN CHALLENGE (BENCH): The bench was the same as powerlifting as once again we ONLY saw two lifters win the open division for the third time or higher.  The first lifter pulled out an amazing feat; Not only did North Carolina's Mackenzie Grace Taylor win her fourth national powerlifting title, Mackenzie would also take home her fourth national bench press title.  Yes, that's eight open national titles and Mackenzie is only 16!!!

        The young folks were dominating, but what about the old folks?  If you follow the national scene, you already know that nobody has dominated like Gary Teeter from Pennsylvania.  Gary dropped to 123 to win the national title, then Gary moved up to 132 to win a second national title; both in 2024.  Now this is where things get interesting.  Gary already had nine national bench titles which left him in a tie with Pedro Mejias of New York for the most open national bench titles.  Adding two more gives Gary eleven national bench titles which makes Gary the first lifter, EVER, to win ten or more national titles.  I'll say it again, Gary Teeter is now an eleven-time national bench press champion!!!

        BEST LIFTERS:  Taking home the best lifter light award for the women was Taylor Clarke of Florida who literally dominated the best lifter award.  The best lifter heavy award was razor thin, but in the end four-time national champion, Mackenzie Grace Taylor would take home the best lifter award by two points over Emily Richmond.  Winning the best lifter light award for the men was Illias Burnett of Virginia.  We had the privilege of watching Illias compete at the North Carolina state meet, this guy is a beast!!!  Winning the best lifter heavy award went to Raymond Hodge of Florida.  Dang if Florida wasn't strong this year!!!  

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     THE AMERICAN CHALLENGE (CURL):  I truly enjoyed the golden age of curls as we had a lot of repeat champions like Krystal Brown, Natasha Beasley, Maximillian Zart and John Cooper.  This being said, we have two rising stars.  Ethan Binckley of North Carolina just graduated high school, but that didn't stop Ethan from winning his third open national title.  Also winning his third national title was Michael Oliver from Maryland. 

     Now onto the legendary category and we had two.  First off Gary Teeter would win the 123 class to take home his eight-world title AND Gary would win the 132 class to take home his ninth world title.  Gary now has nine curl world titles which puts him three higher than his nearest competitor.  If you add powerlifting, bench and curl, Gary Teeter is a 22x national champion.  Nobody else is even close.  See, it's cool to get old, right Gary.

     We then have Bruce Knox from Maryland.  Bruce would win his sixth national title which puts him in a tie for second place with the legendary John Cooper.  Here's an important footnote.  Bruce only competes at one national meet a year so his six American Challenge titles in arguably the hardest weight class in 100% RAW is, well, legendary.   

        BEST LIFTERS:   Wining the best lifter light award was Britania Williams of Texas.  Wining the best lifter heavy award was Alexis Kajencki from Virginia.  For the men, the best lifter light award went to Ethan Binckley of North Carolina.  North Carolina and Virginia always do well at the American Challenge.  Winning the best lifter heavy award was Michael Oliver of Maryland.  Yes, both of the best lifter men's awards went to three-time national champions.  

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        TEAM CHAMPIONS:  N/A

  

       STRONGEST STATE:  North Carolina has won more national titles than any other state for the last six years.  In 2024 North Carolina met their match.  Florida won 19 national titles, which was a dominating performance.  Virginia finished in second with eleven national titles, and North Carolina finished in third with ten.  Great job Florida!!!  

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