Big Frank Ciavattone-Nominated for Induction into the National Wrestling Hallof Fame!
By Eric Todd
National Wrestling Hall of Fame nominee, Frank Ciavattone
This article goes out as a HUGE congrats to one of the USAWA’s most decorated members. Frank Ciavattone has been nominated for induction in the National wrestling Hall of Fame for the Humanitarian Award! Frank is already a member of the USAWA Hall of fame, as well as a 2015 inductee in the Massachusetts Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is very deserving of this induction, and I am honored to be writing a letter of recommendation to the committee.
Frank took 3rd in the state championship in 1973. His list of accomplishments in lifting is almost overwhelming. He was the first American to lift the storied Dinnie Stones, having accomplished this feat, unassisted, in 1996. He holds many records in the IAWA, and over 300 in the USAWA. He was chosen as lifter of the month twice, once in September of 2014 and again in June of 2019. He has been lifting in the USAWA almost since its inception, and has won many national titles in that time. In 1998 he won the overall award for best master lifter at nationals. In 2012, Frank was awarded with the Grand Best Lifter of the USAWA over its 25 year existence. In 2019, he was awarded with the IAWA Presidential Award of Merit. He has been featured in both the Guinness Book of World Records and Ripley’s Believe it or Not for his exceptional neck lifting abilities.
Frank has not only stood out as a lifter, but has contributed as a leader as well. He is the leader of Frank’s Barbell Club, which has won Best Club three times and has been runner-up once as well. He has served as Vice President and as an at large Executive Board member. He has been awarded the Courage Award three times. Frank was awarded the Sportsmanship award in 2015, and the Leadership award in 2016. He has hosted many National and World meets.
Frank’s nomination no doubt was submitted in part because of his success on the wrestling mat and in the weightlifting arena; however, it goes much further than that. Frank has successfully battled cancer five times since 1979. While battling, he was able to send six kids who were battling cancer themselves to the Make a wish Foundation. Kids and family have always been at the center of Frank’s heart, and I believe a driving force in all of the tremendous amount of success he has had over the years. If you get the chance, give big Frank a shout out for this amazing accolade.