USAWA

By Denny Habecker

Where: Habecker’s Gym, Lebanon, PA
When: August  8, 2026
Weigh Ins: 10:00 AM
Lifting Starts: 11:00 AM
Entry Fee: None

The Presidential Cup will follow along some of the same guidelines as the Gold Cup, which is the IAWA meet which recognizes outstanding performances by lifters in the lift/lifts of their choosing.  The Gold Cup started in 1991 under the direction of then-IAWA President Howard Prechtel.  However there will be some differences in the guidelines of the USAWA Presidential Cup:

• The Presidential Cup is hosted annually by the USAWA President only.
• Must be a USAWA member to participate.
• A lifter may choose any official USAWA  lift/lifts (up to a maximum of 5 lifts) to set a USAWA record/records in.
• The lifter must open at a USAWA Record Poundage on first attempt.
• The top performance record lift of the entire record day,  which will be chosen by the President, will be awarded the PRESIDENTIAL CUP.

USAWA President Joe Garcia is unable to host the Presidential Cup in 2026. Denny volunteered to host the event again and the the USAWA Executive Board approved his sanction request.

Just let Denny know if you plan on attending: liftingliar@comcast.net

Date: 28 June – 11 July 2026

Location: Clark’s Gym, Columbia, MO and Remote

Meet Director: Jeff Wenzel

The Rules:

• A lifter can choose any lift with any number of repetitions and weight in a 24 hr period. Any combination of lifts could be used as long as the number 250 is involved.

• Examples: This could be 1 set of 10 reps at 25 pounds all the way up to 250 repetitions with 250 lbs. Let your interest and imagination guide you.

• For those who’d like a challenge we encourage you to do 250 repetitions at 250 lbs including some combination of bench press, squat, and deadlift.

• Please enjoy this one of a kind meet!  We would love to see all USAWA member submit a lift for this meet. 

• Record Day – lifters can submit five record lifts in addition to the challenge above or as part of the challenge.

How to enter: OPEN TO THE WORLD – All competition in Clark’s Gym is hybrid. You may compete in your local gym or in the friendly confines of Clark’s Gym in Columbia, MO. You must send all results to Clark’s Gym via e-mail to Jeff Wenzel or Bill Clark only at hzwst27@gmail.com or yeoldclark@gmail.com not later than 10 p.m. Tuesday 14 July 2026.

Please send to us the lifts chosen, the number of repetitions, and the total time taken. Included on the reporting form must be the name of the official(s) involved if any. DO NOT send your remote results to the USAWA. They must be approved by the meet director first. If you have no officials, your results will be included in the final tabulation of the competition and be eligible for meet awards. Your honesty is the key to all competitions.

OFFICIALS – Must accompany remote results to be eligible for records*.

Remote lifting: To compete remotely, you must enter by 5:00 pm Sunday 21 June 2026 or your results will not be accepted. 

Memberships: You must be a USAWA Member, membership applications will be accepted at the meet. 

Awards: There will be certificate of completion for all lifters and a best lifter award for men and women. The best lifters will be chosen by a three-member panel including John Carter, Bill Clark, and Jeff Wenzel.  

Contact: Clark’s Gym, email: hzwst27@gmail.com or yeoldclark@gmail.com 

*Records on repetition lifts will be kept by the record keeper in accord with USAWA Rules under Section V.8 and Section XII.K.