WPO Bench Wars Unlimited • Qualified Lifters Only • Saturday, October 17, 2026
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York Barbell • WPO-PRO Weekend • October 17, 2026
Bench Wars
Unlimited
Where the world’s strongest bench pressers go to war.
A qualified bench-only showdown at historic York Barbell, built for lifters who have earned their way onto the platform.
Countdown to Bench Wars
145
Days
23
Hours
52
Minutes
46
Seconds
Date
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Venue
York Barbell
York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
Format
Unlimited Bench Press
Qualified Lifters Only
Qualified Lifters Only
Start Time
Rules at 4:00 PM
Lifting at 5:00 PM
Lifting at 5:00 PM
Competition Format
Unlimited Bench Press
WPO Bench Wars Unlimited is a qualified bench-only competition. The platform is limited to confirmed lifters who have earned their place on the roster.
Format
Bench Only
Unlimited bench press competition at historic York Barbell.
Entry
Qualified Lifters
This is not an open-entry event. Confirmed lifters are listed below.
Meet Day
5:00 PM Start
Rules briefing begins at 4:00 PM. Lifting begins at 5:00 PM.
Confirmed Lifters
Confirmed athletes for WPO Bench Wars Unlimited. Lifter cards show the listed Bench Wars number. The Power Index below separates best bench, last successful OPL bench, and predicted bench.
Women 3 Confirmed
Men 17 Confirmed
Athlete cards use the listed Bench Wars number. The Power Index table below separates listed bench from historical best and model projection.
Power Rankings
Bench Wars Power Index
The Bench Wars Power Index uses confirmed athletes only. Best Bench reflects each athlete’s mapped OpenPowerlifting best, Last Successful reflects the latest successful OPL bench result used by the model, and Predicted is the risk-adjusted model projection.
Men’s Favorite
Christopher Sutton
Pick'Em odds +323.
Women’s Favorite
Rochelle Dubbs
Pick'Em odds -104.
Expected 1000+ Men
10.19
Risk-adjusted count.
Expected 1100+ Men
3.29
Risk-adjusted count.
Women 600+ Expected
0.88
Risk-adjusted milestone watch.
Men’s Power Index
17 Confirmed Men| Rank | Athlete | Best Bench | Last Successful | Predicted | Pick'Em Odds | Make-Lift Odds | Bomb-Out Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Sutton | 1,251 lb | 1,251 lb | 1,300 lb | +323 | -383 | +383 |
| 2 | Bob Merkh | 1,105 lb | 1,105 lb | 1,130 lb | +982 | -2,567 | +2,567 |
| 3 | Tony Carlino | 1,207 lb | 1,113.3 lb | 1,120 lb | +1,166 | -728 | +728 |
| 4 | Mike Womack | 1,132 lb | 1,132 lb | 1,130 lb | +1,366 | -245 | +245 |
| 5 | Derrick Bender | 1,045 lb | 1,045 lb | 1,075 lb | +1,461 | -2,567 | +2,567 |
| 6 | Rodney Woodward Jr | 1,000 lb | 1,000 lb | 1,050 lb | +1,768 | -1,900 | +1,900 |
| 7 | Ryan Hamscher | 1,005 lb | 1,005 lb | 1,040 lb | +1,886 | -2,122 | +2,122 |
| 8 | Tyler Butcher | 1,020 lb | 1,020 lb | 1,060 lb | +1,928 | -452 | +452 |
| 9 | Rich Putnam | 1,135 lb | 915 lb | 1,045 lb | +1,965 | -797 | +797 |
| 10 | Matthew Hodge | 1,055 lb | 1,010 lb | 1,020 lb | +2,340 | -797 | +797 |
| 11 | Nick Myatt | 1,113.3 lb | 926 lb | 1,025 lb | +2,461 | -452 | +452 |
| 12 | Adam Hawkins | 1,058.2 lb | 950 lb | 975 lb | +2,931 | -2,789 | +2,789 |
| 13 | Le Roy Vorster | 970 lb | 970 lb | 995 lb | +3,055 | -431 | +431 |
| 14 | Derek Wade | 960 lb | 960 lb | 985 lb | +3,163 | -521 | +521 |
| 15 | Trevor Bryant | 959 lb | 948 lb | 960 lb | +3,272 | -2,344 | +2,344 |
| 16 | Jay Anderson | 970 lb | 970 lb | 995 lb | +3,292 | -308 | +308 |
| 17 | John Dileva | 940 lb | 920 lb | 925 lb | +4,130 | -2,789 | +2,789 |
Women’s Power Index
3 Confirmed Women| Rank | Athlete | Best Bench | Last Successful | Predicted | Pick'Em Odds | Make-Lift Odds | Bomb-Out Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochelle Dubbs | 645 lb | 645 lb | 665 lb | -104 | -1,011 | +1,011 |
| 2 | Rae-Ann Miller | 660 lb | 610 lb | 610 lb | +217 | -431 | +431 |
| 3 | Madelyn Dunn | 507 lb | 480 lb | 500 lb | +473 | -1,456 | +1,456 |
Pick’Em Board
Fan Predictions
Count PropHow many men record a 1000+ bench?
Risk PropHow many confirmed men bomb out?
Risk PropHow many confirmed women bomb out?
Winner PickWho wins the men’s event?
Winner PickWho wins the women’s event?
MilestoneWill the winning men’s bench be 1200+?
Monster AttemptWill the winning men’s bench be 1300+?
Power Index outputs are model previews for fan discussion, Pick’Em content, and livestream storylines. They are not betting lines, official meet projections, or official results.
Schedule
Weigh-Ins & Meet Day
All athletes must weigh in during one of the listed weigh-in windows. Rules briefing and lifting take place Saturday afternoon.
Weigh-In 1
Friday, October 16
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
York Barbell
York Barbell
Weigh-In 2
Saturday, October 17
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
York Barbell
York Barbell
Rules Briefing
Saturday, October 17
4:00 PM
Lifting Begins
Saturday, October 17
5:00 PM
Photos courtesy of Scott DePanfilis.
Travel & Accommodations
York Barbell
York Barbell
& Host Hotel
Bench Wars Weekend takes place at historic York Barbell in York, Pennsylvania. York will be busy with lifters, crews, spectators, and WPO-PRO Weekend events, so athletes and teams should book travel early.
Venue
York Barbell
Address:
3300 Board Road
York, PA 17406
York Barbell is one of the most historic locations in strength sports and a fitting stage for WPO Bench Wars Unlimited.
Open Map
Host Hotel
Tru by Hilton York
Address:
1520 Toronita Street
York, PA 17402
Special event room rates are available October 15–18, 2026.
Booking code: 91E
Reserve Host Hotel
WPO-PRO Weekend
Plan Early
Bench Wars is part of the full WPO-PRO Weekend alongside the WPO World Cup and WPO Pro Super Finals.
Lifters, coaches, handlers, and spectators should arrange lodging and travel as early as possible.
More Lodging Options
The official host hotel for WPO-PRO Weekend is Tru by Hilton York. Use booking code 91E when reserving through the event link.
Photos courtesy of Scott DePanfilis.
Sponsors & Partners
Put Your Brand on the Platform
Bench Wars is part of WPO-PRO Weekend — a serious strength-sport platform built around records, elite lifters, broadcast visibility, and moments that travel far beyond the room.
Sponsor WPO-PRO Weekend
Sponsors are not just buying logo placement. They are aligning with a professional platform built around consequence, pressure, and the biggest attempts of the weekend.
- Event-level visibility across WPO World Cup Weekend
- Livestream and broadcast integration opportunities
- Stage, banner, and backdrop placement
- Award, record, and supporter sponsorship options
- Alignment with York Barbell and WPO-PRO Weekend
Premium Visibility
Powered By
Event-specific sponsor positioning for brands that want concentrated visibility around one of the WPO-PRO Weekend stages.
Broadcast Presence
Livestream
Integration into the broadcast environment, replay archive, lift graphics, and livestream presentation opportunities.
Accessible Support
Supporter Package
A strong option for gyms, coaches, and brands that want public alignment with WPO-PRO Weekend.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Important details for qualified lifters, coaches, handlers, and spectators attending WPO Bench Wars Unlimited at York Barbell.
General
What is WPO Bench Wars Unlimited?
WPO Bench Wars Unlimited is a qualified bench-only competition held as part of WPO-PRO Weekend at York Barbell. It is built for elite bench pressers competing under WPO standards.
When and where is WPO Bench Wars?
WPO Bench Wars takes place Saturday, October 17, 2026, at York Barbell.
Address:
York Barbell
3300 Board Road
York, PA 17406
Is WPO Bench Wars open to everyone?
No. WPO Bench Wars is a qualified-lifters-only event. Athletes must meet qualification standards or receive an invitation.
How do I register?
Registration is limited to qualified lifters. If you have not received the registration link and code, contact AJ Roberts directly.
Registration & Fees
What is the entry fee?
The entry fee for WPO Bench Wars 2026 is $200.
Can I get a refund if I cannot compete?
No. Due to event planning and production costs, all registrations are final and non-refundable.
Can I switch divisions or weight classes after registering?
WPO Bench Wars is competed as an Open division, where the heaviest successful lift wins overall.
Athletes who want their lifts recorded within a specific weight class for record purposes must notify meet staff before weigh-ins. Class changes will not be permitted after weigh-ins.
Qualification
How do I qualify for WPO Bench Wars?
To qualify, athletes must meet one of the recognized qualification standards.
- Men must have a Top 20 bench press in 2025.
- Women must have a Top 10 bench press in 2025.
- If a qualified lifter declines or is unable to compete, invitations may roll down to the next ranked lifter.
- Any lifter who wins Best Lifter Bench Only at APO Nationals in 2025 with a bench press of 950 lb or more receives an invitation.
- Any lifter who benches 1,000 lb or more in 2025 receives an invitation.
- The WPO reserves the right to extend special invitations based on exceptional performances.
Meet Day Details
When and where are weigh-ins?
Weigh-ins take place at York Barbell during the following windows:
- Friday, October 16, 2026 — 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday, October 17, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
All athletes must weigh in during one of these designated times.
When is the rules briefing and lifting start?
The rules briefing starts Saturday, October 17 at 4:00 PM. Lifting begins at 5:00 PM.
What rules govern the competition?
All lifts will be judged under current WPO rules. The full rulebook is available through the World Powerlifting Organization.
Travel & Hotel
Is there a host hotel?
Yes. The official WPO-PRO Weekend host hotel is Tru by Hilton York.
Address:
1520 Toronita Street
York, PA 17402
Special event room rates are available October 15–18, 2026. Use booking code 91E.
Should I book travel early?
Yes. Bench Wars is part of WPO-PRO Weekend, and York will be busy with lifters, crews, spectators, and other WPO weekend events. Book lodging and travel as early as possible.
Contact
Need the Registration Link?
WPO Bench Wars Unlimited is a qualified-lifters-only event. If you are confirmed, qualified, or have questions about registration, contact AJ Roberts directly.
Email
AJ Roberts
Best option for registration link requests, qualification questions, roster updates, and event details.
aj@jroberts.com
Phone
Call or Text
For direct event questions, registration issues, or time-sensitive communication.
(858) 754-8825
Registration is limited to qualified and confirmed lifters. If you have not received the registration link and code, contact AJ Roberts before attempting to register.
The bar is loaded. The platform is ready. Bench Wars is coming to York.