CHAMPIONS CROWNED, BENSON AND STAFFORD GAIN MOMENTUM
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
LA CROSSE, WI —- Livi Pappadopoulos (La Crosse, WI) won her seventh (2018, 2021-2026) La Crosse Open Championship this afternoon, losing no falls to Libby Magnone, Liberty Benson or Shana Verstegen on the road to victory. Verstegen collected silver after a tight 3-2 win over Emily Christopherson in the semi-finals.
Liberty Benson placed third on the Women’s side, which launched her to a sixth WRS ranking. Until 2025, Benson had placed no higher than ninth; her La Crosse Open podium finish was her highest ever (on a Level 1 stage to boot). Benson’s strong, yet steady approach puts her over the top in aggressive-style bucking matches.
Anthony Polentini (Chicago, IL) won his second-straight 2026 title in perhaps the deepest La Crosse Open men’s field in history. Polentini was dominant throughout the tournament, losing only one fall to Efer Christopherson. Before meeting Polentini in the finals, Tanner Hallett only lost one fall to Shane Burns.
Stealing the show was rising star Sean Stafford (Oconomowoc, WI), who entered the tournament as the seven seed. Stafford upset reigning World Champion Marcus Heineck in a shocking 3-1 Quarter Final. He finished the tournament in fourth (losing in the consolation finals to Heineck) and climbed to sixth in the WRS rankings.
Stafford’s stunning performance at the Open illustrates the density of this year’s Men’s field. Throw the top 20 into a bracket, and every guy’s got a shot.
LA CROSSE OPEN RESULTS
MEN
Anthony Polentini
Tanner Hallett
Marcus Heineck
Sean Stafford
Connor Birdsong
Ben Rawson
Shane Burns
Garrick Birdsong
WOMEN
Livi Pappadopoulos
Shana Verstegen
Liberty Benson
Taylor Biser
Ella Wedul
Emily Christopherson
Libby Magnone
Maggie Bulk
