Monthly Archives: May 2012

Ledaig Record Breaker

by Dave Glasgow

3ND ANNUAL

LEDAIG HEAVY ATHLETICS  WEEKEND

14/15 JULY-2011

14 JULY—HIGHLAND GAMES  NINE EVENTS

15 JULY—USAWA RECORD BREAKERS

 LOCATION:  RAINBOW BEND, KS.  USA

 ON SATURDAY, THE 14TH, WE WILL BE FED BY THE ‘NAUGHTY NURSES BAR-B-QUE’.  AGAIN THIS YEAR AS A SPECIAL TREAT, THERE WILL BE LIVE MUSIC!! 

START TIME IS STRAIGHT UP NOON ON THE 14TH.  WE WILL START THE RECORD BREAKERS ON THE 15ST AT 1000 SHARP.

REMEMBER, FOLKS.  THIS WILL BE A HOT, SUMMER EVENT!  TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONS!!  I WILL HAVE PLENTY OF WATER, SHADE AND THE STOCK TANKS WILL BE WAITING WITH COOL WATER FOR QUICK IMMERSION.

QUESTIONS??  I GOT ANSWERS!!

MY DAUGHTER, AMBER, IS THE A.D. THIS YEAR SO I HAVE INCLUDED HER EMAIL, AS WELL.

dglasgow@cox.net 

dave.glasgow@stryker.com

booboomama2@yahoo.com

USAWA History – 1994 Nationals

by Al Myers

(The following meet report covering the 1994 USAWA National Championships was written by Bill Clark in the June 1994 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. V No.3)

Noi and Malloy: Robbie, Jackie, and Hirsh — the Best!!!

CLEVELAND, OH JUNE 4-5th: The record book took a beating as 37 lifters from eight states enjoyed a two-day, fun-filled session of lifting and meetings under the direction of USAWA president Howard Prechtel at the seventh annual National All-Round Weightlifting Association Championship.

The women’s field was led by Jacqueline Simonsen, the open best lifter, and Noi Phumchaona, the top master.  The best junior was Robbie McKean. Jim Malloy edged out Art Montini in a tight race for the masters’ best lifter and 39-year-old Bob Hirsh was untouchable in the open division.  The actual number of records set won’t be known till Joe Garcia’s computer gets to work on a list which is fast approaching 2000 entries.  No less than 13 marks fell on fourth attempts alone and another three were added when lifters did one-hand lifts with both hands for record without leaving the bar. Another of other marks were near-misses such as Frank Ciavattone’s 1600 lb. hand and thigh.

A 24-year-old in his first-ever USAWA championship almost stole the show, Goeff Gazda, a 131-pounder who trains with Chris Waterman, was built more like a distance runner than a strength athlete, but set half a dozen records, including four on fourth attempts.   He is surely a lifter with a future, considering his slight build.

The meet was held at the Clarion Hotel in suburban Eastlake with excellent accommodations.  The hotel will be the site of the Gold Cup in November, once again to be under its founder, Howard Prechtel.  There’s a good chance the 1995 IAWA Championships will be at the same site.  Our hat’s off to Howard, who directed, fielded questions and solved problems, ran the USAWA board meeting, and still did a number of record lifts – at the young age of 69.

MEET RESULTS

1994 USAWA National Championships
June 4-5, 1994
East Lake, Ohio

Meet Director: Howard Prechtel
Emcee: Bill Clark
Scorekeeper: Marilyn McKean

Lifts: Clean and Push Press, Jefferson Lift, One-Hand Hack Lift, Cheat Curl, One-Hand Snatch, Zercher Lift, Hand and Thigh

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Bob Hirsh, Ohio
2. Bill DiCioccio Jr, Pennsylvania
3. Jim Malloy, Ohio
4. Bill DiCioccio Sr, Pennsylvania
5. Goeff Gazda, Ohio
6. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
7. Chris Waterman, Ohio
8. Howard Prechtel, Ohio
9. Mike Locondro, Pennsylvania
10. John McKean, Pennsylvania

Women: Top Three Placings
1. Jacqueline Simonsen, Vermont
2. Noi Phumchaona, Ohio
3. Deanna Springs, Missouri

Best Lifter Awards:
Women Open – Jacqueline Simonsen
Women Master – Noi Phumchaona
Men Open – Bob Hirsh
Men Master – Jim Malloy
Men Junior – Robbie McKean

USAWA History – 1993 Nationals

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the Strength Journal Vol.IV No.3. )

A FAMILY AFFAIR AT THE USAWA

The USAWA Nationals turned out to be a two-family affair on the male side while Jacqueline Caron dominated the women’s division.  The meet, held in Middletown, PA., under the co-direction of Paul Montini and Paul Healey, drew an entry of 36 lifters from 11-year-old Rocco Montini to 73-year-old Paul Eberhardinger and saw the usual number of records go into the book.

Jacqueline Caron took the women’s division with 1486.33 Lynch Points, beating out Noi Phumchaona and Kerry Clark, who did some outstanding lifting of their own.

The top male award went to Bill DiCiccio, Jr., who scored 1802.92 Lynch Points, beating out his dad, Bill Sr., who was third with 1724.32 points.  Bob Hirsh of Cleveland was runnerup with 1799.6 points, losing his chance to take the best lifter award when his right knee crumpled under a 1580 hip lift. The injury seemed to be minimal.  DiCiccio, Sr., wound up second to Art Montini in the Battle for top master lifter. Art had 2078.12 points on the age-amended list – which, if a trophy overall for the age-amended list were given, would have gone to him.

The top junior lifter was Rocco Montini, who scored 1484.92 points as an 11-year-old in the 35 KG class.  Rocco – Rocky – is Art’s grandson and the son of Paul Montini, the co-meet director.

In the master’s division, Noi Phumchaona (45-49) made her last start in that age group a winner. She was the only master gal on hand.  In the men’s 40-44, Paul Montini was the best – making it three Montini’s. At 45-49, Barry Pensyl was the winner, 50-54 winner was Bill DiCiccio, Sr., 55-59 belonged to John Vernacchio, 60-64 went to Dennis Mitchell, 65-69 was Art Montini, 70-74 was Paul Eberhardinger.  And, just to keep things in perspective, on the age-amended formula, Bill DiCiccio Sr., was 146 points better than Junior.

Thanks to the two Pauls – Montini and Healey – for quick and accurate results and for setting examples by showing excellent lifting form and strength, as well. 

MEET RESULTS

1993 USAWA National Championships
May 22-23, 1993
Middletown, Pennsylvania

Meet Directors: Paul Montini and Paul Healey

Lifts: Clean and Push Press, Jefferson Lift, Steinborn, Zercher Lift, Hand and Thigh, Hip Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
2. Bill DiCioccio Sr., Pennsylvania
3. Jim Malloy, Ohio
4. Bill DiCioccio Jr, Pennsylvania
5. Bob Hirsh, Ohio
6. Barry Pensyl, Pennsylvania
7. Chris Waterman, Ohio
8. John Kurtz, Ohio
9. John McKean, Pennsylvania
10. John Monk, Pennsylvania

Women: Top Three Placings
1. Jacqueline Caron, Vermont
2. Noi Phumchaona, Ohio
3. Kerry Clark, Missouri

Best Lifter Awards:
Women Open – Jacqueline Caron
Men Open – Bill DiCioccio Jr.
Women Master – Noi Phumchaona
Men Master – Art Montini
Men Junior – Rocco Montini
Men 40-44 Age Group – Paul Montini
Men 45-49 Age Group – Barry Pensyl
Men 50-54 Age Group – Bill DiCioccio Sr.
Men 55-59 Age Group – John Vernacchio
Men 60-64 Age Group – Dennis Mitchell
Men 65-69 Age Group – Art Montini
Men 70-74 Age Group – Paul Eberhardinger

How good was Ed Zercher?

by Roger LaPointe

Frank Ciavattone performing a Zercher Lift at the 2000 USAWA National Championships. The entire video of this meet is available for sale from Atomic Athletic.

Comparing old records to modern records can be tough. In the case of Ed Zercher, we can compare contemporary results in the Olympic lifts.

The Olympic weightlifting contests were very different in the early 1930s. The biggest difference being in the number of lifts contested in a single day. Today, there is just the Two Hand Snatch and Two Hand Clean & Jerk, but way back then it was a weightlifting pentathlon, including the single hand version of those lifts and the military press. Of course, the equipment was less sophisticated and the rules slightly different.

At the Fifth Annual Western AAU Weight Lifting Championships Ed Zercher (Bodyweight 156 Pounds), had the following lifts:

One Hand Snatch 120 lbs.
One Hand Clean & Jerk 130 lbs.
Two Hand Military Press 170 lbs.
Two Hand Snatch 145 lbs.
Two Hand Clean & Jerk 200 lbs.
Total 765 lbs.

Ed was also a Loader and Official in the meet.

As a comparison, John Terlazzo (Olympic Gold Medalist Tony Terlazzo’s brother) won the 148 pound class at the 1935 AAU Junior Nationals, as well as John Terpak and Walter Good, as reported in the same issue of The Arena & Strength.

Terlazzo (148#) Terpak (148#) Good (165#)
One Hand Snatch 143# 126.5# 159.5#
One Hand C & J 159.5# 143# 176#
Two Hand Military Press 181.5# 176# 203.5#
Two Hand Snatch 187# 187# 192.5#
Two Hand C & J 242# ——- 275#
Total 913# 632.5# 1006.5#

(I believe Terlazzo’s OHS was his National Record, but it is not mentioned as such in the accompanying article.) Terpak went on to win a Gold Medal in the 1936 Olympics and Good took 14th in the 1936 Olympics.  As you can see, when it came to the five lift Olympic contests, Ed was not quite up to Olympic caliber, but he was not far off.

Thom Van Vleck has reported on the USAWA web site (usawa.com) that “The oldest record listed that has a verified date (Old record list from Bill Clark) is a Harness Lift done by Ed Zercher, Sr with 2150lbs in 1940.” He also reports, “Clark stated that the below records were Missouri Valley AAU marks prior to 1941. So, while we don’t know the exact year these were set, they were set prior to or in 1941. “

Aug. 3-4, 1963 Iron Man Lifting News reported on the 3rd Annual Heart of America Festival, which contested 15 different events, of which Ed (age 56) competed in the following:

Roman Chair 610 lbs., Leg Press-Unsupported 10 Reps 600 lbs.

The Zercher Lift was also a lift at this meet, but Ed did not compete in it. However, he did officiate.  Ed continued to be a judge for Olympic weightlifting contests in the 1960s, Iron Man Lifting News has him listed as an official for the Dec 7, 1964 Missouri State Weightlifting Championships, Missouri State AAU Olympic Weightlifting Championships at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, December 10, 1967. He was also an official for the March 30-31, 1968 Missouri State Penitentiary Weight Decathlon, during which they contested 10 lifts, including the “ Zercher Lift”. The Emcee was Bill Clark.  Ed did not lift in either contest.

Zercher would likely have been considered a “Presser”, but his One Hand Snatch was quite good as well. If powerlifting had been an organized sport in the 1930’s, I suspect that with his pressing ability transferring to the bench press, his record in the deadlift and obvious ability with leg pressing and other squat-type movements, he would have really done well, if not taking some national or world titles.

USAWA History – 1992 Nationals

by Al Myers

MEET RESULTS

1992 USAWA National Championships
May 30-31, 1992
Walpole, Massachusetts

Meet Directors: Bob Moore and Roger Lynch
Emcees: Joe Caron and Bob Moore
Head Officials: Bill Clark, Armand Turgeon, Joe Garcia, John Vernacchio

Lifts: Continental Snatch, Pullover and Push, Steinborn, Hand and Thigh, Neck Lift, Jefferson Lift, One-Hand Deadlift, Zercher Lift, Hip Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
2. Bill DiCioccio Sr., Pennsylvania
3. Jim Malloy, Ohio
4. Roger Lynch, Massachusetts
5. John McKean, Pennsylvania
6. Frank Ciavattone, Massachusetts
7. Bill DiCioccio Jr., Pennsylvania
8. Dale Friesz, Virginia
9. Bob Moore, Massachusetts
10. Joe Garcia, Missouri

Women: Top Two Placings
1. Jacqueline Caron, Vermont
2. Noi Phumchaona, Ohio

Best Lifter Awards:
Women 20-39 Age Group – Jacqueline Caron
Women Master – Noi Phumchaona
Men Junior 13 and Under – Rocky Montini
Men Junior 14-15 Age Group – Bradley Ward
Men Junior 16-17 Age Group – Daniel Drake
Men Junior Overall – Rocky Montini
Men 20-39 Age Group – Roger Lynch
Men 40-44 Age Group – Paul Montini
Men 45-49 Age Group – John McKean
Men 50-54 Age Group – Bill DiCioccio Sr.
Men 55-59 Age Group – John Vernacchio
Men 60-64 Age Group – Art Montini
Men 65-69 Age Group – Rex Monahan
Men Master Overall – Art Montini
Men Open Overall – Roger Lynch

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