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Torrey Plunk — New Men’s Bodybuilding Open & Masters Pro

Proving Age Is Never the Limit…at 54 years old, Torrey Plunk is still finding new ways to level up.
The longtime Alaska bodybuilder, boxing competitor, martial artist, coach, and gym owner brought decades of experience to the IPL stage at the 2025 Golden Heart Classic, where he earned not one, but TWO IPL Pro Cards in Men’s Bodybuilding Masters and Open. But for Torrey, the victories represented something deeper than trophies or titles. They represented growth, discipline, resilience, and the belief that improvement never has an expiration date.
     After years away from competitive bodybuilding, Torrey returned to the stage sharper, more experienced, and more motivated than ever. With a background that includes wrestling, boxing, MMA, and more than two decades of bodybuilding competition, he continues to push himself not because he has something to prove to others, but because he knows he can still improve.
     Now preparing for his Professional IPL debut, Torrey is embracing a new challenge while continuing to inspire athletes of all ages to pursue fitness, health, and personal growth without limits.

"...although going in I expected to win, I really didn’t know for sure. Others looked good too. We had a stacked class."

NATURALMAG: Congratulations on earning TWO IPL Pro Cards at the Golden Heart Classic last fall! What was going through your mind when you realized you had won your Pro Cards at that show?
Torrey Plunk: For the Masters division, I wasn’t surprised because I had no competition and I knew I looked good. However, in the Open, I was up against four others, and although going in I expected to win, I really didn’t know for sure. Others looked good too. We had a stacked class. Winning felt very rewarding.
NATURALMAG: At 54 years old, you brought an incredible physique and commanding stage presence to the IPL stage. What motivates you to continue pushing yourself at such a high level?
Torrey: For me, it’s knowing I can still improve. That drives me to push myself, to get better. My size hasn’t changed much over the years, but I continue to improve my presentation and bring my most dialed-in physique. If I can bring as good as before, or better, to the stage, that’s a win for me. I love the sport and I love the feeling of achievement.

"It was my experience and muscle maturity. I had been on stage posing in front of an audience 19 times before..."

NATURALMAG: How long have you been involved in fitness and bodybuilding, and what originally inspired you to begin your journey?
Torrey: I’ve had a fascination for muscle since I was a small boy and my father had a nice ball-shaped bicep. I used to ask him to “make a muscle.” This was in the 70s, and back then, if you were asked to make a muscle, it was always a flexed bicep. My father was also a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and we were big Bruce Lee fans, so I was into martial arts early on.
     Then in my freshman year of high school, our wrestling coach started our school’s bodybuilding show, and since I was super lean from wrestling and had my dad’s biceps, they put me on stage. I did our school’s show every year. It was always about five weeks after wrestling ended, so several of us wrestlers did the show.
     Five years out of high school, I got more serious about bodybuilding and stepped on stage at the Mr. Alaska State Championships, placing 2nd out of 14 guys in the novice division. That success stayed with me, but later that year I got into boxing and boxed for several years. I still worked out with weights, but I wasn’t pursuing bodybuilding. I was pursuing the state boxing title and competed in the state tournament five times, placing 2nd three times and 1st twice. Then I decided it was time to stop taking punches to the head and got back into bodybuilding in 2003 and 2004. I won 1st place for Men’s Lightweight in October 2003 and again in March 2004. Then I moved from Anchorage to Fairbanks in 2005 and got into boxing and MMA. I put my brain health on the line a few more times before hanging up the gloves and focusing on bodybuilding again in 2010.
     I was on stage every year for the next eight years, winning my first Men’s Bodybuilding Overall in 2013, and four more from 2016 to 2018. Then I retired, only to come out of retirement to compete in the state bodybuilding championships in 2021.
     Then I retired again, but kept training. I wanted a stage, but wasn’t interested in competing in local NPC shows anymore. I was done with the NPC. So I approached Teresa Quakenbush with an idea of putting on our own local show, and that’s when the Wine & Muscle Showcase was born. Then in 2024, Teresa promoted the first IPL show in Alaska, and I became a certified judge for the show. Shortly after that event, Teresa told me I should be on her stage the following year, and that was enough to get me excited about competing again. Having a local natural show like the IPL gives natural athletes the opportunity to be competitive again.
NATURALMAG: Winning the Men’s Bodybuilding Open division against a stacked lineup is no small accomplishment. What do you feel set you apart on stage that day?
Torrey: It was my experience and muscle maturity. I had been on stage posing in front of an audience 19 times before my first IPL show.

"I tweaked my back and had to rehab it and be careful with my lifts. It’s a recurring issue that I’ve been dealing with for years..."

NATURALMAG: Preparing for bodybuilding competitions takes tremendous discipline. What does a typical prep day look like for you during contest season?
Torrey: The main thing is consistency with workouts, nutrition, and recovery. I don’t miss workouts, I plan my meals, and I do more recovery practices. For recovery, I take baths with Epsom salt, baking soda, and calcium bentonite clay. I also sauna, prioritize sleep, and take naps when I can. I stay focused on the goal to bring my best to the stage. That drives me and makes staying disciplined non-negotiable.
NATURALMAG: What were some of the biggest physical or mental challenges you faced leading into the Golden Heart Classic?
Torrey: I tweaked my back and had to rehab it and be careful with my lifts. It’s a recurring issue that I’ve been dealing with for years, but I have a handle on it for the most part. I’m also very busy operating my gym, coaching, and instructing at the university three days per week, so I’m on the go every day. However, owning a gym means I’m at the gym for hours every day, so it’s convenient for me to fit my workouts into my schedule.

"I’ve been competing on my own for most of my career. I train myself and mostly train alone. However..."

NATURALMAG: How important has the support of family, friends, or the Alaska fitness community been throughout your journey?
Torrey: I’ve been competing on my own for most of my career. I train myself and mostly train alone. However, I’ve always sought out the help and opinions of people I respected and who had a good eye for bodybuilding. Sometimes we need reassurance, and the people around me provide that.
NATURALMAG: Now that you’ve earned Professional status in the IPL, what excites you most about stepping onto the Pro stage for the first time?
Torrey: The opportunity to once again level up and compete with another pro. Ty Clark won his pro card a year before me at the same show where I was the judge. He brings the complete package and has well-developed muscles with size and defined muscle separation. He will be hard to beat, but that motivates me to bring my best.

"It’s never too late to improve. I believe that’s true for anything. It’s a matter of importance...It’s a natural law of the universe."

NATURALMAG: What advice would you give to men over 40 or 50 who may feel it’s “too late” to pursue bodybuilding or improve their health and fitness?
Torrey: It’s never too late to improve. I believe that’s true for anything. It’s a matter of importance. What you prioritize, what you think about, and what you consistently apply effort and frequency toward can and will improve. It’s a natural law of the universe.
NATURALMAG: Looking ahead, what goals do you still hope to accomplish in your bodybuilding career and personal fitness journey?
Torrey: I think I’m nearing the end of my competitive bodybuilding career. I don’t know how long I’ll continue my pursuits in the sport, but I will always continue pursuing fitness in one way or another. That’s what I’ve done my entire life. Wrestling, martial arts, downhill skiing, mountain biking, some running, and in 2019 I entered my first-ever sprint triathlon. I was 48 years old. I had retired from competitive bodybuilding and wanted to try something new. I placed 9th among the men and 11th overall. Not too shabby for my first outing.
     But bodybuilding has always drawn me back. The gym is a sanctuary for me. It’s therapy. It’s good for my mental and physical well-being, so it will always be a part of my life even after I stop competing on stage. NATURALMAG

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