2020 Hall of Fame
The term Hall of Fame was basically originated in 1900 when the first U.S Hall of Fame was founded at Bronx Community College in the Bronx, New York (the same Bronx that Al Rosen is from). Since, Hall of Fames have been created for baseball in Cooperstown, New York; Football in Canton, Ohio and there are Hall of Fame for most other sports as well as other industries of entertainment, WWE, Rock and Roll, etc. In 2012 the Tri-Fitness Challenge started their Hall of Fame and they induct new members each year.
The prerequisites for the Hall of Fame are the inductees have been involved with Tri-Fitness for at least 10 years and have made an impact on the sport. In the sport of Tri-Fitness, the athletes compete in the Obstacle Course, Fitness Skills (Box Jumps, Bench Press and Shuttle Run), Fitness Routine, True Grit Challenge and the bedazzling Grace and Physique event. Thus, the following athletes are not only fit, but fast and fierce as well. The induction also includes photographers, magazine editors, judges, etc. The 2020 inductees include the following:
Gina Ellis is from Northern California and has been challenging herself in Tri-Fitness since 2002. In 2002, she placed 5th in Grace and Physique and 3rd in Obstacle Course at the Orlando Regional Challenge. Gina has a best time of 57.30 seconds on the Obstacle Course. She has competed in Las Vegas and St. Petersburg, Florida numerous times at the World Challenge and camps in San Diego. Her son Tyler has challenged himself at Tri-Fitness and this year her daughter Riley will do the same.
Weston Walker is from Pinellas County, Florida and is a member of Team Tampa.
Wes started competing in 2010 and has taken first place overall at the 2016
through 2019 World Challenges. He has an all-time best of 40.19 seconds on the
Obstacle Course and 82 seconds on the True Grit Challenge. Probably Wes’
biggest Tri-Fitness accomplishment was meeting his wife Jennifer at Tri-Fitness.
Stephanie Markese is a member of Team Tampa, mother of two boys and a
former NFL Tampa Bay Buc cheerleader. Stephanie started Tri-Fitness in 2008 and
in 2010 she won first place in the Tri-Fitness model, top 10 in Grace and Physique
and ran an all-time best of 58.03 seconds on the Obstacle Course. She is a great
role model for her two boys Lucien and Lorenzo who are 7 and 4 years old and
participate in Tri-Fitness; her husband Dan also challenged himself in Tri-Fitness
this year!
Jackie Kastelic is from Chesapeake, Virginia and the owner of a Cross Fit box.
Jackie started competing at the 2005 Fall Classic in Tampa and in the 2007 World
Challenge in Las Vegas she took 2 nd place in the Grace & Physique. In 2013, she
won the Grace & Physique at the World Challenge in St. Pete Beach. Jackie has an all-time best of 54.06 seconds on the Obstacle Course and has placed in the Tri-
Fitness Overall.
Sean Lichty is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 2014, Sean won the Fitness Skills
title and has placed top 5 overall in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 World Challenges.
Sean has a best time of 48.28 on the Obstacle Course and 96.09 on the True Grit
Challenge. Sean was a member of the Lancaster team which had more than 20
members.
Mandy Magnuson is originally from Maine but moved to Tampa and discovered
Tri-Fitness in 2005. In 2007, she placed 3red in Grace and Physique in Las Vegas
and 2 nd in Grace and Physique at the 2008 Nationals in Tampa. Mandy has an all-
time best of 52.08 seconds on the Obstacle Course. In addition, she has judged
and helped at many events.
Kelly Decolati is a personal and group trainer in Las Vegas and started
participating in Tri-Fitness Challenges in 2005. In 2007, she placed 7 th on the
Obstacle Course with a time of 56.72 seconds while placing top 15 in Overall Dual
Fitness Optional. Kelly formed her own Team Las Vegas (approximately 20
women) who challenged themselves in Tri-Fitness Challenges.
Axel von Wernitz is an engineer from Maryland. Axel has been participating in
Tri-Fitness Challenges since 2008. He placed 4 th in Nationals and 8 th at the World
Challenge in Las Vegas. Axel has an all-time best time of 54.30 seconds on the
Obstacle Course. In addition, Axel participated in the True Grit Team Challenge in
2012. Axel shared his HOF induction with the late Sydney Joseph his Tri-Fit
roomie and fellow Hall of Famer.
Shana Verstegen is from Madison, Wisconsin and is a world champion
Lumberjack champion as well as a TRX master trainer. Shana started Tri-Fitness in
2009 and won 2 nd place in Fitness Routine. In 2012, she placed first overall at the
National Challenge in St. Pete Beach. Shana has an all-time best of 55.75 seconds
on the Obstacle Course. This year, her husband Peter and son Greyson joined her
in challenging themselves at Tri-Fitness.
Kimberly Taylor is from Baltimore, Maryland has competed in more than 10 Tri-Fitness Challenges since 2010. In each challenge, she has competed in 5 to 6
events. Her best True Grit Challenge time is 108.62 seconds which qualifies her
for the all-time rankings. She is a fitness advocate and has brought several friends
to challenge themselves in Tri-Fitness.
Liva Rivera is originally from New Jersey, but moved to Tampa, Florida and has
been a member of Team Tampa since 2010. She has challenged herself at nearly
every Tri-Fitness Challenge during the last decade. She has an all-time best of
55.94 seconds on the Obstacle Course. Liva’s two daughters Alexa and Willow
also challenge themselves at Tri-Fitness and her son Mikey is in training.