Author Archives: Dale Friesz

Zercher Strength Classic – Review of Participants and Lifts Contested

by Dale Friesz

Oldest Lifter – Ed Zercher Sr. (age 81 at 1989 Classic)

Youngest Lifter – Jeremiah Schmidt (age 11 at 1990 Classic) and Jason Carter (age 11 at 1990 Classic)

Lightest Lifter – Jeremiah Schmidt (77.4 pounds at 1990 Classic)

Heaviest Lifter – Joe McCoy (324 pounds at 1994 Classic)

Lifts contested by year:

Leg Press 1985, 1986, 1988-2010

Clean and Jerk 1985-2010

Zercher Lift 1985-2010

One Hand Deadlift 1985-2010

Neck Lift 1985-2010

Hack Lift 1985-2010

Hip Lift 1985-2010

Bench Press Feet in Air 1985-2010

Clean and Press Heels Together 1985-2010

Deadlift Heels Together 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991-2010

Hand and Thigh Lift 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991-2010

Steinborn Lift 1985, 1988-2010

Harness Lift 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991-2010

One Hand Snatch 1985

Snatch 1985

One Hand Clean and Jerk 1985

Cheat Curl 1987, 1988

Back Squat 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988

Seated Press 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988

Front Squat 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

Jefferson Lift 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988

Crucifix 1985

Number of Lifts by Year:

1985 – 20

1986 – 16

1987 – 16

1988 – 18

1989 – 14

1990 – 10

1991 to 2010 – 13

(1982, 1983 and 1984 data not yet available)

Summary of the Zercher Strength Classic


THE ZERCHER STRENGTH CLASSIC
America’s Oldest All-Round Weightlifting Contest
by Dale Friesz


The concept of the ZERCHER STRENGTH CLASSIC originated with the founder of the United States All-Round Weightlifting Association, Bill Clark. The first ZERCHER STRENGTH CLASSIC was held in 1982, six years before the first USAWA National Championships became a reality. The meet was created to honor Ed Zercher Sr., the famous St. Louis Missouri Strongman who performed at an extremely high level for over sixty-five years in all areas of the strength games.

MALE CHAMPIONS


YEAR
 WINNER
 AGE/BWT # LIFTS
 TOTAL POINTS
2010 – 1/30
 ABE SMITH
 28/180 13 8105 7698.90
2009 – 1/31
 ABE SMITH
 27/180 13 8370 7950.66
2008 – 1/26
 JOE GARCIA
 54/226 13 8020 7635.38
2007 – 2/03
 JOE GARCIA
 53/233 13 8135 7635.20
2006 – 1/21
 ABE SMITH
 24/172 13 7897.5 7708.75
2005 – 1/29
 JOE GARCIA
 51/242 13 8085 7304.83
2004 – 1/31
 JOE GARCIA
 50/240 13 8190 7364.64
2003 – 2/01
 BILL CLARK
 70/238 13 5180 5523.64
2002 – 2/02
 ABE SMITH
 20/169 13 7790 7684.84
2001 – 2/03
 JOE GARCIA
 47/241 13 8050 7029.97
2000 – 2/05-06
 JOE GARCIA
 46/239 13 8792.5 7654.33
1999 – 1/30
 DAVE DEFOREST
 38/185 13 6765 6321.90
1998 – 1/31-2/01
 JOHN CARTER
 40/224.5 13 10080 8542.71
1997 – 2/01-02
 JOHN CARTER
 39/227.5 13 9895 8243.50
1996 – 2/02-04
 JOHN CARTER
 38/225 13 10645 8918.30
1995 – 2/04-05
 JOHN CARTER
 37/218.5 13 9790 8334.23
1994 – 2/05-06
 JOHN CARTER
 36/211.5 13 9345 8097.44
1993 – 2/06-07
 STEVE SCHMIDT
 37/215.5 13 10470 8975.93
1992 – 1/18-19
 STEVE SCHMIDT
 36/223 13 10250 8628.45
1991 – 1/19-20
 STEVE SCHMIDT
 35/227 13 10380 8656.92
1990 – 1/20-21
 STEVE SCHMIDT
 34/225 10 6430 5387.06
1989 – 1/21-22
 STEVE SCHMIDT
 33/212 14 8285 7189.72
1988 – 1/23-24
 STEVE SCHMIDT
 32/215 18 12260 10568.12
1987 – 1/24-25
 STEVE SCHMIDT
 31/215 16 10955 6139.18
1986 – 1/25-26
 SID LITTLETON
 30/161 16 9345 6672.33
1985 – N/A
 SID LITTLETON
 29/165 20 8320 5969.29
1984 – 1/21-22
 SID LITTLETON
 28/- 17 N/A N/A
1983 – 1/22-23
 STEVE SCHMIDT
 27/- 18 N/A N/A
1982 – 1/23-24
 SID LITTLETON
 26/- 16 N/A N/A


FEMALE CHAMPIONS


YEAR
 WINNER
 AGE/BWT # LIFTS
 TOTAL POINTS
2003 – 2/01
 AMORKOR OLLENNUKING
 40/165 13 6165 6226.65
2001 – 2/03
 AMORKOR OLLENNUKING
 38/158 13 6355 6538.66
1999 – 1/30
 ANGELA McBRIDE
 19/136 13 3740 4235.37
1998 – 1/31-2/01
 AMY BURKS
 19/124 13 3470 4235.83
1997 – 2/01-02
 AMORKOR OLLENNUKING
 34/171 13 6070 5897.00
1996 – 2/03-04
 AMORKOR OLLENNUKING
 33/176 13 5920 5699.30
1995 – 2/04-05
 KERRY CLARK
 30/171 13 4565 4473.24
1994 – 2/05-06
 KERRY CLARK
 29/165 13 4695 4702.98
1993 – 2/06-07
 KERRY CLARK
 28/163 13 4660 4794.67
1989 – 1/21-22
 DORIS De La ROSA
 29/147 14 3420 3687.79
1988 – 1/23-24
 DORIS De La ROSA
 28/142 18 4395 4880.65

CHAMPIONS RECAP: MALE

STEVE SCHMIDT – (8) – 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
JOE GARCIA – (6) – 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008
JOHN CARTER – (5) – 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
SID LITTLETON – (4) – 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986
ABE SMITH – (4) – 2002, 2006, 2009, 2010
DAVE DEFOREST – (1) – 1999
BILL CLARK – (1) – 2003

CHAMPIONS RECAP: FEMALE

AMORKOR OLLENNUKING – (4) – 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003
KERRY CLARK – (3) – 1993, 1994, 1995
DORIS De La ROSA – (2) – 1988, 1989
AMY BURKS – (1) – 1998
ANGELA McBRIDE – (1) – 1999

MEET SITES:

MISSOURI STATE PENITENTIARY (Jefferson City, MO) – 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986
MISSOURI TRAINING CENTER FOR MEN (Moberly, MO) – 1985, 1987
CLARK’S CHAMPIONSHIP GYM (Columbia, MO) – 1988 to 2010

History of the Goerner Deadlift Dozen

by Dale Friesz

Dale Friesz, who holds the unofficial title as Historian of the USAWA, provided me with this chart of the past winners of the Goerner Deadlift Dozen. It not only includes the winners each year, but also the winner’s total and adjusted point totals. As you can see from this chart, Dale has the distinction of being the winner in the very first Goerner Meet. The lifts contested in the Goerner Deadlift Dozen are as follows:

Deadlift – Heels Together
Hack Lift
Jefferson Lift
2 Bar Deadlift
Right Hand Deadlift
Left Hand Deadlift
Right Hand Deadlift – Thumbless
Left Hand Deadlift – Thumbless
Index Fingers Deadlift
Middle Fingers Deadlift
Ring Fingers Deadlift
Little Fingers Deadlift
Reeves Deadlift


YEAR LIFTER AGE BWT TOTAL POINTS
1995 Dale Friesz, Virginia
 53 183 2800 3028.09
1996 Rex Monahan, Colorado
 72 186 2742.5 3396.58
1997 Rex Monahan, Colorado
 73 198.25 2685 3229.48
1998 Rex Monahan, Colorado
 74 197.25 2615 3176.52
1999 Kevin Fulton, Nebraska
 39 260.5 4195 3257.42
2000 Kevin Fulton, Nebraska
 40 260 4200 3301.12
2001 Seth Holcomb, Nebraska
 16 192 3340 3359.51
2002 Al Myers, Kansas
 36 272 4020 3058.42
2003 Bill Clark, Missouri
 71 237 2765 2996.41
2004 Mike McBride, Missouri
 27 225 4025 3372.15
2005 Mike McBride, Missouri
 28 229 2755 2231.83
2006 Al Myers, Kansas
 40 251 4020 3214.90
2007 Cancelled Due to Ice
2008 Al Myers, Kansas
 42 248 4325 3547.00


POINTS – formula adjusted for age and bodyweight

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