Author Archives: Al Myers

Lifter of the Month – Joe Ciavattone Sr.

By Al Myers

Joe Ciavattone Sr. performing a big Neck Lift at a past USAWA Heavy Lift Championships.

Joe Ciavattone Sr. performing a big Neck Lift at a past USAWA Heavy Lift Championships.

The USAWA Lifter of the Month for May goes to Joe Ciavattone Sr.!

Joe Sr. was the overall best lifter at the USAWA Heavy Lift Championships in May at Walpole, Massachusetts. The Heavy Lift Champs is one of the Championship events in the USAWA and is one of the most prestigious titles to win in a year. Joe Sr. put up great numbers with a 600 pound Neck Lift, a 1000 pound Hand and Thigh, and a 1500 pound Hip Lift.  Joe Sr. has competed in many Heavy Lift Championships throughout the years, and has established himself as one of the best All Time Heavy Lifters in the USAWA, but this is his first time winning the best lifter overall. The Heavy Lift Champs are always loaded with great competition so this is a great honor for him.

Congrats Joe Sr. on being the lifter of the month!!

IAWA World AGM Agenda

By Al Myers

The IAWA World Championships are almost here!  The entry deadline has passed, and there will be lifters from all over the World in attendance.  This year lifters from Australia, Canada, Ireland, and England will be joining the USA home lifters in lifting.  One of the big activities that occurs in addition to the lifting is the Annual General Meeting of IAWA.  This is where all the big decisions for the year in IAWA are made.   As President, I have worked up the proposed agenda for the meeting – which is outlined below.

The AGM will be right after the lifting on Saturday.   Often the meeting is on Friday night but that WILL NOT be the case this year.  I have the meet venue reserved for Saturday and Sunday (not Friday) and it is a great location for the meeting.  There are no big controversial subjects on the agenda so I expect the meeting will be short.  Please try to make it if you can.

2019 IAWA Annual General Meeting Agenda

1. Meeting called to order with Roll Call by IAWA President Al Myers

  • roll call of the IAWA Vice Presidents
    USAWA-Denny Habecker & Chad Ullom
    IAWAUK – Steve Gardner
    Australia – Peter Phillips & Robin Lukosius
    New Zealand – Cliff Harvey
    Spain – Jose Jara
  • Roll call of members in attendance

2. Reading of the 2018 IAWA minutes by Al Myers, of behalf of IAWA General Secretary Frank Allen

3. Report from IAWA Vice Presidents

4. Report on the World Postal Championships by promoter Al Myers

5. Report on upcoming 2019 Gold Cup in Australia – By Peter Phillips

6. Report from the IAWA Technical Committee by chairman Dennis Mitchell

  • Committee – Dennis Mitchell, Denny Habecker, Al Myers, Steve Gardner, Steve Sherwood, Peter Phillips, John Mahon

7. Report on 2020 Worlds – Lebanon, PA   by Denny Habecker

8. Report on the 2020 Gold Cup – Ireland, by Stevie Shanks

9. New Business

  • Discuss and vote on Shanks Lift

10. Submit Bids for 2021 Worlds and 2021 Gold Cup

  • Submit bid for Worlds By Peter Phillips
  • Submit bid for Gold Cup by Paul Barette

11. Words from 2019 World Meet Promoter – Al Myers

12. Meeting Adjourned

USAWA Member Clubs

By Al Myers

One of the strengths of the USAWA is our member clubs.  Most of the USAWA lifters are associated with a lifting club.   Our competitions are almost always club-based.  I keep a complete listing of the active member clubs on the website with contact information.  As of now the USAWA has 8 registered clubs.   Several of the clubs have been member clubs for many years.  The longest standing member club is Clark’s Championship Gym, out of Columbia Missouri.  Bill Clark started the club program and his club was the first to register and has been registered every year since!

The second longest running club member is the Ambridge VFW Barbell Club, located in Ambridge Pennsylvania.  It’s main contact for many years was Art Montini who is one the legends in the USAWA.  John McKean has now taken over the club since Art’s passing so, for now, the Ambridge BB Club will continue.  My Dino Gym is the third longest active member club, first registering in 2003.

When I became secretary in 2009 one of my goals was to rejuvenate the club program.  The USAWA started giving out yearly awards to recognize club involvement which helped in getting many new clubs to register.  Since then we have had many great clubs register – Frank’s Barbell Club, Habecker’s Gym, KC Strongman, Ledaig Heavy Athletics, Schmidt’s Barbell Club, and the Jackson Weightlifting Club.  All of these clubs are responsible for many fantastic promotions in the USAWA.

A complete club listing is available on the website, which includes current club certificates for each club and a listing of past yearly club award winners.  I also have kept a list of former clubs of the USAWA for prosperity sake. Most of these clubs ceased when the founding club member died and no one took things over.   A couple of former clubs that we don’t want to forget about is the Valley Forge WLC which was directed by John Vernacchio and Prechtel’s AC led by Howard Prechtel.  These were foundation clubs in the USAWA.

I’ve said this before but I’m gonna say it again.  I truly believe the future success of the USAWA lies with active member clubs.  New lifters in a club can learn from the veteran members and receive the encouragement to actually compete in an USAWA competition.  This is how membership grows.  I especially want to thank those who started these clubs and for all the leadership and support to the USAWA that they have provided.

 

New Official Barry Pensyl

By Al Myers

Barry Pensyl (center) is now an USAWA Certified Official.

Barry Pensyl (center) is now an USAWA Certified Official.

Habecker’s Gym gained a new USAWA Certified Official this week!  Longtime USAWA member Barry Pensyl just completed the certification process and is now listed as a Level 1 Certified Official on the website.  That gives him authority to officiate any sanctioned USAWA competition.  It also allows him to officiate in the IAWA as well, as all USAWA officials are also IAWA officials.

Congrats Barry!!

 

Yearly Awards

By Al Myers

Eric Todd (right) receiving the Athlete of the Year Award from John Strangeway.

Eric Todd (right) receiving the Athlete of the Year Award from John Strangeway.

It’s about time I get last year’s award winners announced!  I’ve been waiting till all the winners were privately recognized so they wouldn’t just see their name in a blog as a winner.  Most receive this award at the Nationals Awards Banquet, but this year several of the yearly award winners were not able to be there so it was done at other venues.

Lance Foster (left) receiving the Sportsmanship Award from John Strangeway.

Lance Foster (left) receiving the Sportsmanship Award from John Strangeway.

These yearly awards are chosen by the membership with nomination and vote.   That makes these awards very special – as it reflects what your peers think of you.  I want to congratulate all the winners!  It was another great year in the USAWA.

2018 Award Winners

WINNER RUNNERUP
Athlete of the Year Eric Todd Al Myers
Leadership Award Al Myers & Denny Habecker —–
Sportsmanship Award Lance Foster LaVerne Myers
Courage Award Frank Ciavattone & Dennis Mitchell —–
Newcomer Award John Strangeway Brandon Rein
Club of the Year Franks Barbell Club Habecker’s Gym

 

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