Tag Archives: John Vernacchio

John Vernacchio RD

By Denny Habecker

JOHN VERNACCHIO MEMORIAL RECORD DAY

I had three lifters show up for the John Vernacchio Memorial Record Day and do some great lifting. The lifters are  Stephen Santangelo from Kentucky, Barry Pensyl from Easton, and Beth Bulebosh from Pittsburgh. They all did some outstanding lifting.

Meet Results:

John Vernacchio Memorial Record Day
Habecker’s Gym
Lebanon, PA
December 15th, 2018

Meet Director: Denny Habecker

Meet Official (1-official system used): Denny Habecker

Lifters:

Barry Pensyl – age 70 – 152Lbs. [ 70KG. class , 70-74]
Hackenschmidt Floor Press – 72.5 Kg. [160 Lbs.]
Abdominal Raise                – 42 Lbs.
Swing, Dumbell – Right Arm- 50 Lbs
Swing, Dumbell – Left Arm –  50 Lbs.
Cheat Curl, Reverse Grip       –  48 Kg. [106 Lbs.]

Stephen Santangelo  – age 66 – 162 Lbs. [75 Kg. class, 65-69]
Left Hand Little Finger Lift     – 105 Lbs.
Right Hand Little Finger Lift   – 105 Lbs.
Left Hand Thumb Lift            – 106 Lbs.
Right Hand Thumb Lift          – 109 Lbs.
Right Hand Middle Finger Lift – 162 Lbs.

Beth Bulebosh  – age 50 – 280 Lbs. [ 125+ Kg. class, 50-54]
Bench Press, Fulton Bar       –  45 Kg. [99 Lbs]
Maxey Press                       –  35 Kg. [77 Lbs.]
Dumbell Press – Right Hand  – 30 Lbs.
Dumbell Press – Left Hand    – 30 Lbs.
Vertical Bar Deadlift, 1 Bar, 2″ – Right Hand – 92 Lbs.

Vernacchio RD

by Al Myers

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT – 
JOHN VERNACCHIO MEMORIAL RECORD DAY

It made me feel good to see this sanction request in the mail today.  Our USAWA President Denny Habecker is hosting a memorial meet to a great man and legend in the USAWA – the late John Vernacchio.  During the early years of the USAWA John was very involved as a lifter, coach, club founder, officer, and meet promoter in the USAWA.  He influenced many to become involved in the USAWA and was a mentor to many all rounders.  John V is one person we want to remember in our organization.  Thank you Denny for hosting a record day in his memory!

MEET DETAILS:

Meet Promoter: Denny Habecker

Meet Date: December 15th, 2018

Location: Habecker’s Gym, Lebanon, PA

Contact Denny if you plan to attend.

John Vernacchio Record Day

By Denny Habecker

John Vernacchio Memorial Record Day

We had three enthusiastic lifters here for the John Vernacchio Memorial Record Day. Aidan Habecker, Steve Freides, and Barry Pensyl set 14 American records.  I served as the official for the day and was very impressed with the quality of lifting that was done.

Meet Results:

John Vernacchio Memorial Record Day
Habecker’s Gym
Lebanon, PA
December 16th, 2017

Meet Director: Denny Habecker

Officials (1-official system used): Denny Habecker

LIFTERS:

Aidan Habecker,  14 Years Old    158 Lbs.   75 Kg. Class
Right Hand 2″ Vertical Bar Lift – 149 Lbs.
Right Hand Dumbbell Snatch   – 44 Lbs.
Lano Lift                                – 22 Lbs.
Shoulder Drop                        – 77 Lbs.

Steve Freides,  62 Years Old     151 Lbs.     70 Kg. Class
Trap Bar Deadlift                    –  331 Lbs.
Alternate Grip Bench Press       – 134 Lbs.
Hack Lift                                 – 298 Lbs.
Jefferson Lift                           – 331 Lbs.
Front Squat                            –  176 Lbs.

Barry Pensyl   69 Years Old    150 Lbs.    70 Kg. Class
Alternate Grip Bench Press      –  129 Lbs.
Straight Arm Pullover              –  72 Lbs.
Bent Arm Pullover                   –  84 Lbs.
Right Hand Thumbless Deadlift – 116 Lbs.
Left Hand Thumbless Deadlift    – 110 Lbs.

HOF BIO – JOHN VERNACCHIO

By Al Myers

(Webmasters Note: Over the next month I will be running a series of biography blogs covering all past USAWA Hall of Fame members.  These bios will be added to the history section, under Hall of Fame.)

HALL OF FAME BIOGRAPHY

JOHN VERNACCHIO – CLASS OF 1996

VernachioHOF1

John Vernacchio was born in 1936 and grew up in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He attended Holy Savior Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Bishop High School in 1956. He attended Shippinsburg State University where he played football while attaining his degree. After graduation in 1961, he finished his education at Temple University where he earned his Masters degree in Exercise Physiology. John taught High School for several years and coached football. He has also coached football at the College and minor pro league level. John has also worked as a rehabilitation therapist for a Chiropractor. John has two grown sons – John born in 1962 and Jeffrey born in 1965. John lives in Texas and has two daughters. Jeff lives in Pennsylvania with one son. Both received B.S. degrees from Westchester State University. John started training when he was 13 years old at the local YMCA and began competing in weightlifting in 1957 with friends Richard Durante and Domenic DeSanto. John Vernacchio won his first National title in 1961 at the National Collegiate Weightlifting Championships. He continued to train under the direction of James Messer at the Holy Savior Weightlifting Club. John got his start in Olympic lifting, but eventually competed in powerlifting for many years for the Valley Forge Weightlifting/Powerlifting Club. John was one of the charter members of the USAWA, being involved since the beginning in 1987. He was introduced to the USAWA by Bill Clark. John has served two terms as President of the USAWA, and one term as Vice President of IAWA. He has promoted several National and International competitions throughout the years. He has promoted three National Meets – in 1988, 1989, and 2004. John has the distinction of being the Meet Director of the very first USAWA National Championships (1988). He has promoted three IAWA World Championships – in 1989, 1991, and 1997. He also promoted the 2003 IAWA Gold Cup. His favorite lifts were the military press and the squat. Even though John has won numerous weightlifting, powerlifting, and all-round meets through the years, when asked what his greatest accomplishment was, he replied, “My biggest accomplishment was to see both my sons graduate from College.” John Vernacchio displays every quality a Hall of Famer should possess – excellence with the iron and excellence in life. John died on December 27th, 2012.

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2012 USAWA Year In Review

by Al Myers

The 2012 Year In Review is dedicated to the late, great John Vernacchio.

For the fourth year now, I have done a 2012 USAWA Year In Review.  This book contains all of the information that has been placed on the USAWA website throughout the prior year.  If a blog was written – it is included in this review book.  All together, this review book is 476 pages and contains 164,701 words!!!  Definitely not something you would get read in one evening!  I have had a few copies printed and bound, so if anyone wants one send me an email with your request.  The books cost $50, payable to the USAWA.  This was the cost of the printing so no money is being made here.  Of course, if you just want the file I’ll email it to you free of charge and you can print it out yourself.  The book is printed in black and white.  Color printing would have been 3 times as much! 

This book is not edited.  I just copied and pasted from the website.  I do this monthly as a way of backing up the website, so making this book is not really that much work for me.  And after the problems with the website this past week, where we lost over a days worth of material, it goes to show that the internet may not be a permanent source of this important information.  Having a hard copy book that you can place on your bookshelf will still be there in 50 years!!

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