Award Program History
by Al Myers
I spent some time yesterday compiling a listing of all past USAWA Award Program Winners. The official USAWA Award Program began in 2009, which gives out awards every year chosen by the membership. I have been the director of this Awards Program since it began, and is something that I’m very proud of. We have so many great people and lifters in our organization and this is just one way to recognize their accomplishments.
This listing will be kept in our History Archive on the website. I will add to it each year to always keep it current. I’m hoping to do more research and find other award winners of the past. I know at times before this program started “special awards” were given out either by the organization or individuals at our National Championships. I would like to include that information as well as it’s part of the USAWA history and should not be forgotten. If anyone has this information, or part of it, please pass it along to me so these awards can be recorded in this archive.
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Each year the USAWA nominates and selects individuals for special awards. These awards are given on behalf of the USAWA for outstanding merit in several categories. Below is a listing of past award winners.
2015 Award Winners
| WINNER | RUNNERUP | |
| Athlete of the Year | Denny Habecker | Dean Ross |
| Leadership Award | Al Myers | Denny Habecker |
| Sportsmanship Award | Frank Ciavattone | Art Montini |
| Courage Award | Denny Habecker | Chad Ullom |
| Newcomer Award | Emily Burchett | Matt Hancock |
| Club of the Year | Dino Gym | Habecker’s Gym |
2014 Award Winners
| WINNER | RUNNERUP | |
| Athlete of the Year | Chad Ullom | Eric Todd |
| Leadership Award | Al Myers | Denny Habecker |
| Sportsmanship Award | Frank Ciavattone | Dave Glasgow |
| Courage Award | Art Montini | Dick Durante |
| Newcomer Award | Steve Santangelo | Jeff Ciavattone |
| Club of the Year | Frank’s Barbell Club | Ledaig Athletic Club |
2013 Award Winners
| WINNER | RUNNERUP | |
| Athlete of the Year | Al Myers | Eric Todd |
| Leadership Award | Denny Habecker | Thom Van Vleck |
| Sportsmanship Award | Dennis Mitchell | Dave Glasgow |
| Courage Award | Dean Ross | Art Montini |
| Newcomer Award | Mike McIntyre | Logan Kressly |
| Club of the Year | Dino Gym | Habecker’s Gym |
2012 Award Winners
| WINNER | RUNNERUP | |
| Athlete of the Year | Chad Ullom | Dan Wagman |
| Leadership Award | Al Myers | Denny Habecker |
| Sportsmanship Award | Dave Glasgow | Lance Foster |
| Courage Award | Dale Friesz | Art Montini |
| Newcomer Award | Ruth Jackson | James Fuller |
| Club of the Year | Ledaig Athletic Club | Salvation Army Gym |
2011 Award Winners
| WINNER | RUNNERUP | |
| Athlete of the Year | Al Myers | Larry Traub |
| Leadership Award | Thom Van Vleck | Denny Habecker |
| Sportsmanship Award | Mike Murdock | Art Montini |
| Courage Award | Dale Friesz | Dave Glasgow |
| Newcomer Award | Dean Ross | LaVerne Myers |
| Club of the Year | Dino Gym | Ledaig Athletic Club |
2010 Award Winners
| WINNER | RUNNERUP | |
| Athlete of the Year | Chad Ullom | Al Myers |
| Leadership Award | Al Myers | Thom Van Vleck |
| Sportsmanship Award | Rudy Bletscher | Mike Murdock |
| Courage Award | Dale Friesz | none |
| Newcomer Award | Larry Traub | none |
| Club of the Year | Habecker’s Gym | Ambridge BBC |
2009 Award Winners
| WINNER | RUNNERUP | |
| Athlete of the Year | Al Myers | Chad Ullom |
| Leadership Award | Bill Clark | Al Myers |
| Sportsmanship Award | Denny Habecker | Art Montini |
| Courage Award | Dale Friesz | Frank Ciavattone |
| Newcomer Award | Dave Glasgow | Kohl Hess |
| Club of the Year | Dino Gym | Ambridge BBC |