A New Contender Emerges in Classic Physique: Peyton Z. Steps Onto the Stage with Grit, Grace, and Ambition

 By Kyle Lofton Published July 9, 2025

MADISON, Wis.   Under the vaulted ceilings and mid-century grandeur of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, a new name entered the world of Classic Physique with a quiet but powerful debut.

Peyton and Coach Kyle

On June 21, Marquette, MI native Peyton Zivnoska, training out of Joe’s Gym under the guidance of Kyle Lofton of LoftonFitness, made his debut as a first-time competitor at the OCB Wisconsin Natural. He stepped on stage and left with hardware, earning third place in his class for both the Debut and Novice divisions.

Peyton on the right with his third-place medal

For a category that has exploded in popularity over the past year, competitors arrived sharp, sculpted, and stage-ready, Peyton’s placing was no small accomplishment.

“Classic Physique blew up this year,” one of the announcers noted as the lights dimmed and the athletes flexed their way through tightly rehearsed routines. Everyone who placed had to earn it.

Peyton Front and center performing a front lat spread

For Peyton, the stage was a culmination of a year of disciplined preparation, grinding through the rigors of contest prep with measured meals, early morning cardio, punishing gym sessions, and the mental strain that comes with a physique sport rooted in aesthetic perfection.

Peyton on the left with a deep vacuum pose

The work ethic, the focus, the willingness to embrace the discomfort was everything you want to see in a first-time competitor.

Peyton with a front double bicep pose

Backstage, the atmosphere reflected the unique camaraderie of natural bodybuilding. Amid tanned physiques and last-minute pump-ups, athletes traded laughs and encouragement, easing the nerves of those stepping under the spotlight for the first time.

For Peyton, the debut is just the beginning. With eyes already fixed on the 2026 competition season, he’s setting his sights on Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he plans to step into the Men’s Open Classic Physique division, with one goal in mind: a first-place finish and the coveted OCB pro card.

In this sport, genetics may open the door, but consistency and work ethic walk you through it. Peyton has both, and more

As Classic Physique continues its upward surge in popularity, a bridge between the golden era aesthetics of bodybuilding’s past and the rigorous standards of modern competition, athletes like Peyton are carving out new stories on the amateur circuit. Stories defined not just by trophies and titles, but by the discipline, passion, and the sheer will it takes to earn a place under the lights.

• Photography: Andrew Paul Studios