Monthly Archives: July 2013

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

by Al Myers

Chad Ullom (center) receiving the 2012 USAWA Athlete of the Year Award from USAWA President Denny Habecker (left). USAWA Award Director Al Myers (right) also was involved in the presentation.

The TOP AWARD given out every year by the USAWA is the Athlete of the Year.  This award is “for the individual who has accomplished the most athletically within the last year in the USAWA.  Top placings at the Nationals and World Championships should figure in high. Also, participation in other Championship competitions such as the Heavy Lift Championships, the Grip Championships, the Club Championships, the OTSM Championships, the Team Championships, or the National Postal Championships could factor in.  Participation in elite IAWA events such as the Gold Cup or the IAWA World Postal Meet should make an influence on earning this award as well.”

The two winners this year were pretty much a “no brainer”.  These two lifters exemplified the above criteria to a tee.  They both are more than deserving of this prestigious award, which I consider the “Heisman” of the USAWA.  The winners are:

WINNER – CHAD ULLOM

RUNNER UP – DAN WAGMAN

They were chosen by a nomination/vote of the USAWA membership.  Chad and Dan together received over 90% of the votes cast, so I would consider them “landslide winners”.  Chad was SUPER ACTIVE in the USAWA this past year, winning or placing very high in so many meets that it would make a long list.  He added numerous titles to his USAWA resume.  He is “on pace” to be a future USAWA Hall of Famer.  I will try to remember as many as I can here:

2012 Dino Challenge Overall Winner
2012 IAWA Gold Cup  in Glasgow, Scotland  – World Record
2012 USAWA Old Time Strongman Championships – Overall Winner
2012 IAWA World Championships – World Class Champion and 2nd Overall
2012 USAWA Team Championships – part of Overall Winning Team
2012 IAWA World Postal Championships – part of Overall 2-man Winning Team
2012 USAWA National Championships in Las Vegas – National Class Champion and 2nd Overall
2012 USAWA Club Championships – part of Overall Winning Club
2012 USAWA Grip Championships – Class Champion and 3rd Overall
2012 USAWA Postal Championships – Overall Winner
2012 USAWA Postal Series – Overall Winner

I didn’t even mention the numerous other smaller USAWA events that Chad participated in!   Chad’s  yearly success in the USAWA for 2012 could be argued as  one of the BEST years any lifter has ever had in the USAWA.  Runner Up Dan Wagman is just as worthy – as he took the OVERALL WORLD CHAMPION  TITLE at the 2012 IAWA World Championships in Salina, Kansas.   That’s the biggest title any lifter in the USAWA/IAWA can win during the course of a year. Chad received his award at the USAWA National Championships, and I plan to present Dan his award later this summer when I will see him next.   Congratulations to both of these tremendous lifters.

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS

by Al Myers

Dave Glasgow (left) receiving the USAWA Sportsmanship Award from USAWA Secretary Al Myers (right).

While at the Club Championships at the Ledaig HA Club in Rainbow Bend, Kansas, I was able to personally present a USAWA annual Award Winner.  Every year the USAWA gives a SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD.  This award goes to an individual who “possesses and shows great sportsmanship within the USAWA.  The act of sportsmanship may be conduct at all events, or by an specific example of exceptional sportsmanship.”

This year award winners are:

WINNER – DAVE GLASGOW

RUNNER UP – LANCE FOSTER

Both Dave and Lance are very worthy recipients of this award.  They both are very tough competitors, and always exhibit great effort on the platform, but at the same time are tremendously supportive of the other lifters.  Congratulations to Dave and Lance!

Club Championships

by Al Myers

MEET RESULTS
2013 USAWA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

Group picture from the 2013 USAWA Club Championships.

Thanks to Dave Glasgow of the Ledaig Heavy Athletics Club  the club championships was able to be contested again this year.  Dave agreed to host this Championships since it was cancelled last March due to bad weather. Last weekend was a very big weekend for the Ledaig Club of Rainbow Bend, Kansas.  The club hosted its annual Highland Games on Saturday, threw a big party on Saturday night, and then had this USAWA Championship competition on Saturday.  Dave has hosted his annual event for a few years now, and to make it even more of a special occasion, plans it each year around his birthday.  This year was a memorable year for Dave – and on Sunday at the Club Champs Dave turned 60!  I came bearing a gift – a new 175# Atlas Stone.  I thought this present might be in the running for Dave’s favorite BDAY present, but then when I got there I saw that Dave’s wife Gunner had given him a new 4-wheeler!  I should have taken that as “a sign” for how the day’s competition was going to turn out for the Dino Gym.

Only two USAWA Clubs made an appearance at this year’s Club Championships – the host club Ledaig and the Dino Gym.  As per the standing rules of the Club Championships, each registered club of the USAWA is allowed an entry into this Championship event to recognize the top Clubs in the USAWA.  This is NOT an individual competition, and no individual scores are revealed.  Rather, a total point score of the top 3 club members are added together to form the team club score.  A club may enter more than 3 individuals in the competition if wanted, with the advantage being if someone has an “off day” or gets hurt, another club member can “pick up the slack” and become a scoring member.  I want each club to feel unity in their participation as a club, and either win or lose as a club.  To be eligible to participate with a registered club,  a lifter must be affiliated with the club as outlined on the membership application and the membership roster.

Birthday Boy Dave Glasgow performing a 315 pound Zercher Lift.

Well, Club Ledaig came into this with 7 participating club members to the Dino Gym’s 3.   I felt outnumbered and over-gunned  from the start.  I felt my Dino team was solid (Chad Ullom, Dean Ross, and LaVerne Myers), but so was the Ledaig club.  The heavy hitter Larry Traub made the trip from Louisville (2011 OVERALL Best Lifter from the National Championships), so I knew they were going to have a good addition to their clubs points with Larry lifting. This past year Dave built a big new shed and relocated his gym.  This was the inaugural USAWA event in the new facility.  His gym is a perfect setup for all round lifting, and for hosting a meet of this size.  There was plenty of space to move around and warmup for the days lifting.   Club Ledaig has as many (or more!) USAWA members than any other club, and it seemed like most were in attendance (Dave, Larry Traub, Amber Glasgow, Mike Murdock, Kenny Glasgow, Jera Kressly, Doug Kressly, and Logan Kressly). 

By the time the last Peoples Deadlift was completed  (Larry’s 640), I pretty much knew that the Dino Gym was going to be in second place.  We have won the overall best club at the past three Club Championships, but all things come to an end.  The final score was: 

1.  Ledaig Heavy Athletics – 3308.2 pts

Competing members:  Mike Murdock, Larry Traub, Dave Glasgow, Kenny Glasgow, Jera Kressly, Logan Kressly, Amber Glasgow

2.  Dino Gym – 2569.1 pts

Competing members:  Chad Ullom,  Dean Ross, LaVerne Myers

My hat is off to Dave Glasgow and the Ledaig HAC.  Congrats to them on their BIG WIN at the Club Championships, and for all the hard work they did to put on the competition. I would have to say that has to be the best birthday present any club leader could receive from his club members!

MEET RESULTS:

USAWA Club Championships
July 14th, 2013
Ledaig Athletic Club
Rainbow Bend, Kansas

Meet Director:  Dave Glasgow

Announcer & Scorekeeper:  Al Myers

Official (1 official system used):  Al Myers

Loaders:  Everyone present!

Lifts: Zercher Lift, Bench Press – Fulton Bar, Peoples Deadlift

1.  Ledaig Heavy Athletic Club – 3308.2 points

LIFTER AGE BWT Zercher BP-FB Peoples
Mike Murdock  73  199    135  
Larry Traub  59  201  375  275  640
Dave Glasgow  60  250  315  265  475
Kenny Glasgow  76  218  225  130  345
Jera Kressly  28  230  250  150  385
Logan Kressly  15  167  245  175  385
Amber Glasgow  34  149  190  105  300

 2.  Dino Gym – 2569.1 points

LIFTER AGE BWT Zercher BP-FB Peoples
Dean Ross  70  266  250  185  405
Chad Ullom  41  252  415  310  605
LaVerne Myers  69  249  175  140  315

EXTRA ATTEMPTS FOR RECORD

Jera Kressly: Peoples Deadlift 405
Logan Kressly:  Peoples Deadlift 395

NOTES:  AGE is age in years.  BWT is bodyweight in pounds.

LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS

by Al Myers

Denny Habecker receiving his Leadership Award in the left picture from Al Myers, and Al Myers receiving his Leadership Award from Denny Habecker in the right picture.

The Leadership Award given on behalf of the USAWA goes to individuals “that have shown exceptional leadership qualities within the USAWA during the past year.  This could be going above the level expected of an Officer position, promoting sanctioned events with emphasis being on promoting National or World Competitions, promoting the USAWA by developing a strong club, writing articles for publication about the USAWA, or through any other means of providing leadership within the USAWA.”

This year Leadership Award Winners are:

WINNER – AL MYERS

RUNNER UP – DENNY HABECKER

I was honored to share the stage with Denny in receiving this award from the USAWA.

COURAGE AWARD WINNERS

by Al Myers

Art Montini (right) receiving the Runner Up Courage from President Denny Habecker (left) at the 2013 USAWA National Championships.

The Courage Award, presented on behalf of the USAWA, goes to an individual who “shows the courage to overcome an obstacle in order to return to competition.  This may be a comeback from an injury, or just having to deal with difficult personal issues but still shows the courage to compete in the USAWA.”

The Courage Award Winners for this year go to:

WINNER – DALE FRIESZ

RUNNER UP – ART MONTINI

Several months ago the USAWA lost one of the TRUE SUPPORTERS of the USAWA, with the death of Dale Friesz.  Dale was actively involved in the USAWA for practically the entire time since the organization began.  He was at almost EVERY National Championships, and it was obvious that his passion for all round weightlifting was beyond that of the normal USAWA member.   I miss our weekly email correspondence – Dale always had ideas on how to better our organization.

We all know Dale has been the perennial winner of the Courage Award since the program started.  His persistence to continue competition despite  battling physical hardships and barriers were like nothing I’ve ever seen before, of which I’ve covered in details in previous stories.   Last year at Nationals in Vegas Dale truly gave the grittiest effort on the platform I’ve witnessed.  However, I was somewhat surprised to see Dale gather the most votes for this years Courage Award, considering he is no longer with us on the platform. This goes to show the respect Dale had from his lifting friends and those members of the USAWA to receive an award like this posthumously.  I’ve said this before, but it would seem fitting that the Courage Award in the future take on the name “Dale Friesz Courage Award” as Dale has set “the bar” for deserving it.

Runner Up goes to Art Montini – Dale’s ole friend and competitor.  Art continues to amaze everyone with his active meet participation at the age of 85! At Nationals Art visited with me about plans to attend the IAWA Worlds in England this fall.  His enthusiasm for all round competition is more than most guys a QUARTER of his age!

1 2 3 4