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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/or curl.  

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      3X NATIONAL POWERLIFTING CHAMPION: DANIEL CORRIDEAN:  Daniel Corridean of North Carolina has the distinction of winning more powerlifting world titles than any other lifter.  Dan is a 9x world champion.  Lately, it seems that Daniel wants to add American Challenge titles to his resume.  Dan won the national title in 2021, 2024 and in 2025 Daniel Corridean added his third national title in powerlifting.  Note, there wasn't a lifter within 200 pounds of Dan's total!!! 

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      3X NATIONAL BENCH CHAMPION: MONA ESPINOSA:  In 2021 Mona Espinosa won won her first open bench title, in 2022 Monda defended her title and won her second American Challenge title.  Three years later, 2025, Mona returned and added her third national bench title.  

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      3X NATIONAL CURL CHAMPION: KAREN POYNER:  Karen Poyner of Virginia seems to be pacing her national titles.  Karen won her first national title in (2015), two years later Karen won her second national title (2017), Karen would then wait 8 years to win her third national title (2025).  Note, nobody entered the open division, so I took the top overall lifter.   next year, Karen I, recommend entering the open division as you can still set state, national and world records in your age group even if you enter the open and it's no fun to have the top curl and have someone beat you simply because they checked the open box and you didn't. 

 

       3X NATIONAL CURL CHAMPION: JOSEPH SABOL:  Joseph has something in common with the three previous lifters I've mentioned; all four lifters are masters (age 40+!!!).  Powerlifting is a great sport even as we get older.  Joseph Sabol is from Pennsylvania, and he represented his state well as he not only won his third state title, but it was three in a row!!!  Joseph won his title with 44 pounds to spare.  If you are a curler, you know that 44 pounds is huge!!!    

      4X NATIONAL CURL CHAMPION: ETHAN BINCKLEY:  The masters dominated the first four weight classes, but at 165 it was a 19-year-old teenager, Ethan Binckley, who not only won the national title, but won his fourth title.  Did I mention that he's only 19!!!  There were several national champions contending for the title, but Ethan still won, and he won by fifteen pounds which is domination in curl terms.  

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     5X NATIONAL CURL AND 5X NATIONAL BENCH CHAMPION: MACKENZIE GRACE TAYLOR:  The teenagers made it two in a row, as North Carolina lifting legend Mackenzie Grace Taylor captured her fifth national title in the bench AND she is the first lifter in my write up who also won her fifth national in powerlifting.  Just a side note, Mackenzie also took home the national title in the curl and she's the first lifter who I know of who earned a college scholarship for powerlifting.    

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       6x NATIONAL CURL CHAMPION: JOHN AMMONS:  We have two lifters who won their sixth national title.  The first of the two was one of the most popular lifters in 100% RAW, the one and only John Ammons.  John won his first title in 2015 at 105.  John won in 2016 and 2017 at 114.  In 2018 John moved up to 123 and won his fourth world title.  Three years later, 2021, John came back at 132 and won his fifth world title.  Fast forward to 2025 and John is back at 132 and he won his sixth national title!!!  Footnote, John didn't win the bench of powerlifting this year (I don't think he entered either), BUT he has six national titles in both of those categories so technically John Ammons is an 18x national champion which is second on the all-time list!!!  

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      6x NATIONAL POWERLIFTING CHAMPION: NAOIMI KUTIN:  When they make a documentary about you, I actually watched it on PBS, you're a big deal.  Naoimi started off the day by squatting 314 pounds and ended with a 380-pound deadlift which EASILY earned Naomi Super Girl her sixth national title in powerlifting.  Six puts Naoimi in a tie for the most national titles in powerlifting by any lifter in 100% RAW ever.  She is tied with our last lifter, John Ammons.  

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     10x NATIONAL CURL CHAMPION: GARY TEETER:  It's odd to say, but it was really a down year for Gary Teeter as he didn't drop to 132 and win multiple titles.  In 2025 Gary ONLY won the curl title, BUT that title was Gary's 10th curl title.  A bit of perspective, second place on the list is six!!!  Gary didn't win the bench this year, but Gary does have a 11 national bench titles and 2 national powerlifting titles which means that Gary is a 23x  national champion which is the most combined by any lifter, EVER.  NUFF SAID!!!    Absolutely amazing!!!!