We're excited to announce that the 2026 USSA Hollywood Steinholding Spring Invitational is now live with its world premier debut on the ESPN 2 network as part of the ESPN 8 The Ocho event, initially airing on Friday August 7th, 2026 at 10:00pm PST / 1:00am EST!
You can now stream the event on-demand through the USSA YouTube channel! See below for the link to watch!
Want to be part of the action at your brewery, bar, restaurant, German club, festival, or other venue? Host a combination Steinholding competition / ESPN 8 The Ocho watch party! We're still registering qualifiers for our State Championship Tournaments across the country, and this is the perfect entry into the sport! Have a watch party first to get your local patrons warmed up for Steinholding action and then go right into your own competition event, or switch it around to have everyone give it a try on their own and then watch to see how the "pros" do it! Either way, it's a great recipe for a fun and memorable event! Head over to our Qualifying Venue Info and Registration page to learn more and get yourself signed up for Steinholding action this summer/fall!
We filmed this event in Los Angeles this April 2026, and we've been super excited to share it with you ever since! The wait is finally over!
Watch the full Hollywood Steinholding Invitational broadcast on the USSA YouTube Channel
2026 ESPN 8 The Ocho Schedule Announcement Press Release
Women's Division
| Name | Tournament Seed | Competitor Bio |
|---|---|---|
| Sydnie Mauch | 1 | 2025 USSA National Championship Runner-Up, 2025 Hofbrau Masskrugstemmen Champion, 2025 and 2023 USSA Texas State Champion |
| Liz Mazzarella | 2 | 2025 Washington State Champion |
| Chantell Shalack | 3 | 2025 Connecticut representative at the USSA National Finals; her husband is Bob Shalack, competing in the men's division |
| Celeste Seiler | 4 | Winner of the nearby Big Bear Lake Maifest Steinholding qualifier, and 2-time Hofbrau Masskrugstemmen Championship finalist; 2025 Washington State Championship Runner-Up |
| Shonte Perluss | 5 | Newcomer to the sport, Celeste Seiler's sister |
| JaNarie Rhambo | 6 | A local competitor from LA and former hammer and shot put thrower and weight lifter. Newcomer to Steinholding. |
| Audra Stillabower | 7 | 2025 North Carolina State Champion |
| Jennie Bucholz | 8 | Newcomer to the sport, Sydnie Mauch's mom |
Men's Division
| Name | Tournament Seed | Competitor Bio |
|---|---|---|
| Cody Bane | 1 | 2025 USSA National Steinholding Champion and current US record holder, 2025 USSA Texas State Champion, 2024 USSA North Carolina State Champion, 2012 Hofbrau Masskrugstemmen Champion |
| Dave Sturzen | 2 | 2025 USSA National Steinholding Championship Runner-Up, 2025 USSA Montana State Champion, 2022 Hofbrau Masskrugstemmen Champion, 2021 USSA Arizona State Champion |
| Bob Shalack | 3 | 2025 Hofbrau Masskrugstemmen Champion, 2025 USSA Massachusetts State Champion, 2024 USSA New Jersey State Champion; his wife is Chantell Shalack, competing in the women's division |
| Jim Thompson | 4 | 3-time USSA Pennsylvania State Champion (2023-2025), 2024 Hofbrau Masskrugstemmen Champion |
| Joel Griffin | 5 | 2-time USSA New York State Champion (2024-2025) |
| Erik Winkler | 6 | 2025 USSA Washington State Champion |
| Kim Planert | 7 | 5-time USSA Ohio State Champion (2021-2025), 4-time Hofbrau Masskrugstemmen Championship finalist |
| Daniel Schmidt | 8 | 2025 USSA Illinois State Champion |
