by Bill Clark
JEFF’S DAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Jeff Wenzel first came to Clark’s Gym about three years ago as a spotter for Dave Beversdorf at the first Bench Press Decathlon. He also helped with the other lifters and Ol’ Clark gave him two months of free gym time as his salary for the day.
Talk about a great investment.
Jeff was a bench presser and little else at the time. As he watched the others in the gym doing strange lifts, his curiosity led him to try a few of those strange lifts.
He was hooked.
He did “Lift your Age” when he was 48 and has lured his three sons into competition. His daughter, only six, has tried a few things and no doubt will join this organization that always has plenty of vanilla wafers on hand.
As Jeff worked his way through the record book and gone head-to-head with Abe Smith and John Carter and tackled the BSAG challenge, he decided he would celebrate his Golden Anniversary on Planet Earth at Clark’s Gym with a meet like no other.
He would put 10 of his favorite lifts in a hat and draw five, one by one, and set a few records in his new age category – 50-54.
And so it happened on the weekend of March 8-10.
Seventeen lifters lined up online and got their lifts after each draw from the hat via e-mail.
John Carter was on hand but nursing a pair of bad knees (the accumulation of 50 years of concrete work and driving heavy earth-moving equipment). He sat out and enjoyed watching Jeff battle Abe Smith for top honors. It was the first time John has missed a major competition in the gym in recent years.
The battle for first place took shape immediately with Abe Smith and Tony Hose in the lead after three events.
Then came the luck of the draw. Jeff drew two events that he had hoped would come out of the hat – the Roman Chair sit-up and the bench dip.
Abe had won the press from the rack and the Jackson press and Hose had taken the lateral raise (lying) with Jeff holding on in third place with a second and a pair of third place finishes.
The fourth event was the Roman Chair sit-up – a Jeff favorite. He blew away the field. Tony Hose finished in 10th place and Abe was seventh.
For all purposes, the meet was over.
Hose wound up 9th in the bench dip and Abe won the bench dip by being the lighter man when both he and Jeff set records with their 330 lifts that were well below the required depth.
Jeff had beaten Abe by two points, 11-13. He then treated the vanquished to a pulled pork celebration at the Wenzel castle.
It was a great way to enter the Golden Years.
Hose, who recently turned 55, was third. Two Wenzel kids were on hand. Riley, 20, was sixth and Logan, 10, was ninth of 15. Both completed the five lifts. Six did not. And both stayed around to do five records.
The women’s title went to Kim Van Wagner of Colorado, a former Clark’s Gym lifter, who is now a member of the High Country Vigour team of Coloradoans recently organized by Sanjiv Gupta. Her competition was Allison Lupo of Clark’s Gym.
JEFF WENZEL’S BIG 50 BIRTHDAY BASH
Clark’s Gym, Columbia, Mo. – and Remote.
Weekend of March 8-9, 2025
FINAL STANDINGS
WOMEN
1 – Kim Van Wagner, Co. Age – 17. Bwt. – 127.25. Pts. – 5.
2 – Allison Lupo, Mo. Age – 58. Bwt. – 196. Pts – 10.
MEN
1 – Jeff Wenzel, Mo. Age – 50. Bwt. – 238. Pts. – 11.
2 – Abe Smith, Mo. Age – 43. Bwt. – 182. Pts. – 13.
3 – Tony Hose, Mo. Age – 55. Bwt. – 219. Pts. – 24.
4 – Jarrod Fobes, Co. Age – 47. Bwt. – 214. Pts. – 27.
(Tie) – Toby Ortega. Ill. Age – 44. Bwt. – 153. Pts. – 27.
6 – Riley Wenzel, Mo. Age – 20. Bwt. – 156. Pts. – 29.
7 – Dave DeForest, Mo. Age – 65. Bwt. – 184. Pts. – 31.
(tie) – Travis Luther, Mo. Age – 32. Bwt. – 170. Pts. -31.
9 – Logan Wenzel, Mo. Age – 10. Bwt. – 72. Pts. – 62.
COMPLETED ONLY FOUR LIFTS
10 – Randy Smith, Mi. Age – 70. Bwt. – 197. Pts. – 40.
11 – Tony Lupo, Mo. Age – 58. Bwt. – 243. Pts. – 47.
COMPLETED FEWER THAN FOUR LIFTS
12 – Sanjiv Gupta, Co. Age – 53. Bwt. – 208.5. Pts. – 58.
13 – Elijah Conley, Co. Age – 18. Bwt. – 159. Pts. – 59.
14 – Chris Frappier, Ont. Age – 60. Bwt – 214.6. Pts. – 62.
15 – Kyle Frappier, Ont. Age – 21. Bwt – 214.4. Pts. – 65.
Rankings by Event
The above points were awarded by totaling the placings in each event – low score to win. If you were the best, you received one point. If you were 15th, you received 15 points.
The rankings by event were the final score after bodyweight and age corrections were computed.
These five events were drawn from a hat which included 10 lifts and entries were given time to warm up for each event since they had no prior knowledge of the next lift till it was drawn. Those lifting remote were informed of the next lift via e-mail. Weights listed are actual pounds followed by the corrected figures (weight/age corrections).
PRESS FROM RACK
Women
1 – Kim Van Wagner – 70 (99.75).
2 – Allison Lupo – 55 (66.52).
Men
1 – Abe Smith – 215 (224.58).
2 – Tony Hose – 170 (185.98).
3 – Jeff Wenzel – 170 (153.88).
4 – Travis Luther – 145 (142.32).
5 – Dave DeForest – 115 (135.79).
6 – Toby Ortega – 115 (127.39).
7 – Riley Wenzel – 125 (126.38).
8 – Jarrod Fobes – 135 (123.56).
9 – Tony Lupo – 130 (124.10).
10 – Sanjiv Gupta – 115 (115.33).
11 – Elijah Conley – 105 (113.37).
12 – Randy Smith – 100 (88.3).
13 – Logan Wenzel – 22 (49.6).
No score – Chris and Kyle Frappier.
LATERAL RAISE – LYING
Women
1 – Kim Van Wagner – 30 (42.75).
2 – Allison Lupo – 30 (32.14).
Men:
1 – Tony Hose – 122 (119.95).
2 – Jeff Wenzel – 122 (110.44).
3 – Abe Smith – 82 (80.43).
4 – Jarrod Fobes – 80 (74.41).
5 – Randy Smith – 60 (72.79).
6 – Dave DeForest – 60 (70.84).
7 – Toby Ortega – 62 (68.68).
8 – Riley Wenzel – 62 (62.60).
9 – Travis Luther – 62 (60.85).
10 – Tony Lupo – 60 (57.28).
11 – Chris Frappier – 50 (51.96).
12 – Sanjiv Gupta – 50 (50.14).
13 – Elijah Conley – 40 (43.19).
14 – Kyle Frappier – 40 (34.37).
15 – Logan Wenzel – 6 (15.00).
JACKSON PRESS
Women
1 – Kim Van Wagner – 65 (92.62).
2 – Allison Lupo – 50 (53.75).
Men
1 – Abe Smith – 205 (201.07).
2 – Tony Hose – 175 (172.06).
3 – Jeff Wenzel – 185 (165.85).
4 – Travis Luther – 135 (132.50).
5 – Toby Ortega – 115 (126.79).
6 – Riley Wenzel – 125 (126.35).
7 – Jarrod Fobes – 135 (125.56).
8 – Tony Lupo – 130 (124.10).
9 – Dave DeForest – 100 (119.01).
10 – Randy Smith – 100 (116.83).
11 – Elijah Conley – 105 (103.00).
12 – Logan Wenzel – 22 (49.5).
No score – Sanjiv Gupta, Chris Frappier, Kyle Frappier.
ROMAN CHAIR SIT-UP
Women
1 – Kim Van Wagner – 93 (132,52).
2 – Allison Lupo – 50 (53.75).
Men
1 – Jeff Wenzel – 235 (212.72).
2 – Jarrod Fobes – 208 (193.46).
3 – Randy Smith – 130 (154.72).
4 – Dave DeForest – 110 (129.88).
5 – Riley Wenzel – 125 (126.38).
6 – Toby Ortega – 100 (110.78).
7 – Abe Smith – 110 (107.84).
8 – Tony Lupo – 110 (105.01).
9 – Travis Luther – 100 (98.14).
10 – Tony Hose – 100 (94.84).
11 – Sanjiv Gupta – 78 (79.91).
12 – Logan Wenzel – 25 (56.25).
No score – Elijah Conley, Chris Frappier, Kyle Frappier.
BENCH DIP
Women
1 – Kim Van Wagner – 58 (82.65).
No score – Allison Lupo.
Men
1 – Abe Smith – 330 (311.22).
2 – Jeff Wenzel – 330 (294.12).
3 – Toby Ortega – 225 (271.69).
4 – Riley Wenzel – 220 (222.42).
5 – Travis Luther – 175 (171.76).
6 – Jarrod Fobes – 135 (125.56).
7 – Dave DeForest – 65 (76.75).
8 – Chris Frappier – 70 (72.74).
9 – Tony Hose – 45 (44.24).
10 – Kyle Frappier – 45 (38.66).
11 – Logan Wenzel – 5 (7.2)
No score – Tony Lupo, Randy Smith, Sanjiv Gupta, Elijah Conley.
Officials:
Clark’s Gym – Bill Clark, Tony Lupo, Dave DeForest, Abe Smith, Jeff Wenzel, Allison Lupo.
High Country Vigour Gym – Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes.
Ontario – Chris Frappier, Kyle Frappier.
NO OFFICIAL – Randy Smith.
RECORD DAY
Officials for these records are the same as the officials for the Birthday Bash.
Logan Wenzel. Age – 10. Bwt – 72 lbs.
Anderson squat – 100.
Vertical bar – one bar, one inch – left – 61.
Vertical bar – one bar, one inch, right – 61.
Vertical bar – two bars, one inch – 114.
Pinch grip – two hands – 106.
Allison Lupo. Age – 58. Bwt – 196 lbs.
Anderson squat – 205.
Pinch grip – two hands – 201.
Jefferson – Fulton bar – 165.
Fulton bar – husband-wife team – left hand – 150.
Fulton bar – husband-wife team – right hand – 165.
Tony Lupo. Age – 58. Bwt. – 243 lbs.
Jefferson – middle fingers – 135.
Jefferson –Index fingers – 135.
Jefferson – Fulton Bar – 305.
Fulton bar – husband-wife team – left hand – 150.
Fulton bar – husband-wife team – right hand – 165.
Dave DeForest, Age – 65. Bwt. – 184 lbs.
Deanna Lift – 400.
Anderson squat – 340.
Jefferson – index fingers – 117.
Jefferson – middle fingers – 155.
Jefferson – ring fingers – 127.
Jeff Wenzel. Age – 50. Bwt. – 238 lbs.
Jefferson – index fingers – 226.
Jefferson – ring fingers – 126.
Anderson squat – 650.
Curl – strict – 125.
Kyle Frappier. Age – 21. Bwt – 215.8 lbs.
Dumbbells – clean and seated press – 90.
Crucifix – 60.
Lateral Raise – standing – 60.
Dumbbell to shoulder – 85.
Chris Frappier. Age – 60. Bwt. – 216.2 lbs.
Dumbbells – clean and seated press – 120.
Crucifix – 60.
Lateral raise – standing – 50.
Dumbbell to shoulder – 90.
Kim Van Wagner. Age – 57. Bwt. – 126.2 lbs.
Clean and press – two dumbbells – 68.
Clean and push press – two dumbbells – 68.
Bent over row – 90.
Clean and jerk – two dumbbells – 70.
Deadlift – pinch grip – 178.
Jarrod Fobes. Age – 47. Bwt. – 214 lbs.
Vertical bar, one bar, one inch – right – 183.
Pinch grip deadlift – 345.
Pinch grip deadlift – left – 158.
Pinch grip deadlift – right – 168.
Elijah Conley. Age – 18. Bwt. – 159 lbs.
Vertical bar – one bar – one inch – left – 103.
Vertical bar – one bar – one inch – right – 103.
Pinch grip deadlift – 178.
Riley Wenzel. Age – 20. Bwt. – 156 lbs.
Pullover and press – wrestler’s bridge – 65.
Curl – strict – 100.
Curl -cheat – two dumbbells – 120.
Bench press – two dumbbells – 170.
Lateral raise – standing – 50.
Abe Smith. Age – 43. Bwt. – 182 lbs.
Pullover and press – wrestler’s bridge – 105.
Lano lift – 135.
Lateral raise – standing – 90.
Side press – left – 105.
Side press – right – 120.
Toby Ortega. Age – 44. Bwt. – 153 lbs.
Pullover and press – wrestler’s bridge – 65.
Lano lift – 135.
Lateral raise – standing – 50.
Side press – left – 65.
Side press – right – 65.
