Category Archives: USAWA Daily News

Colorado Grip Classic changed to Grip Championships

This year’s Grip Championships will be held in Lakewood, Colorado, on May 3, 2025, by promoter Sanjiv Gupta. This replaces the Colorado Grip Classic that was originally sanctioned for that date. Traditionally, Al Myers hosts the Grip Champs, but he was unable to do it this year. Sanjiv expressed interest in hosting it, and the executive board has awarded the Grip Championships to Sanjiv.

Notice to lifters who had been intending to compete in the Colorado Grip Classic: In changing the meet from a local meet to a Championship, Sanjiv has needed to add a $10 entry fee to cover awards and has also adjusted the entry deadline. Remote lifters are no longer allowed, to be sure that all competitors will be using the same equipment.

The lifts are still the same as those that were planned for the Classic. You can see the updated meet announcement here.

2024 Memorial Record Day – results

The Memorial Record Day this year had a small, turnout with 4 lifters setting 15 records.

Steve Jury – 59 – 254 lbs – 120 Kg. Class [ 55-59 ]

  • Press- Dumbbell – Left Hand – 25KG. – 55 Lbs.
  • Press-Dumbbell – Right Hand – 27.5 Kg. – 60 Lbs.
  • Holdout Raised 25 Kg. – 55 Lbs.
  • Holdout Lowered – 27.5 Kg. – 60 Lbs.
  • Swing- Dumbbell – Left Arm – 40 Kg. – 88Lbs.

Mike Lacondro – 62 – 208 Lbs. – 95 Kg. Class [ 60-64 ]

  • Bent Over Row – 100 Kg. – 220 Lbs.
  • Deadlift- 12″ Base – 120 Kg. – 264 Lbs.
  • Continental to Belt – 130 Kg. – 286 Lbs.

Barry Pensyl – 76 – 130 Lbs. – 60 Kg. Class – [ 75-79 ]

  • Swing- Dumbbell- Right Arm – 45 Lbs.
  • Swing- Dumbbell – Left Arm – 45 Lbs.
  • Curl- Strict – 23.5 Kg. – 51 Lbs.
  • Curl- Strict-Reverse Grip – 19.5 Kg.- 42Lbs.
  • Peoples Deadlift – 110 Kg. – 242 Lbs.

Denny Habecker – 82 – 177 Lbs. – 85 Kg. Class – [ 80- 84]

  • Deadlift- Ciavattone Grip -One Arm- Right – 65 Kg. – 143 Lbs.
  • Deadlift – One Arm – Right – 101 Kg. – 222 Lbs.

Officials – Denny Habecker, Barry Pensyl

Bidding for 2025 USAWA Championships

The calendar is already filling up with meet sanctions for 2025! If anybody is interested in bidding for one of the championship events, please let me know (bethskw@gmail.com) ideally by the end of the year.

You can read more about the different USAWA championships in Sanjiv’s excellent article here. Some have the same host every year by tradition, some rotate, and some haven’t been contested in recent years but could be brought back. The dates and hosts for Nationals and the Presidential Cup are already set, but we have a variety of other championships.

The process of hosting a championship is basically the same as for a regular meet, but no other meets can be held on the same date as a championship—which is why I’d like to get those set on the calendar ASAP.

Hermann Goerner Deadlift Dozen – Plus One (Columbia, MO and remote)

OCTOBER 25-26, 2025

CLARK’S GYM AND REMOTE.

ENTRY FEE – None.

WEIGH-INS – 8 a.m,  both days.

AWARDS – Certificates for male and female.

LIFTS – All deadlifts to include

  • two-bars,
  • Reeves, 
  • Jefferson,
  • heels together,
  • hack,
  • all four fingers,
  • one-hand with each hand,
  • one-hand thumbless with each hand.

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. To compete remote, you must enter by 10 p.m. on  Tuesday of the weekend involved or your results will not be accepted. You must send all results to Bill Clark via e-mail only at yeoldclark@gmail.com not later than 10 p.m. on the Tuesday following the meet.

Included on the reporting form must be the name of the official(s) involved. 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 – but not records. Your honesty is the key to all competitions.

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

For Women Only – and Record Day for Everyone (Columbia, MO and remote)

JUNE 21-22, 2025

CLARK’S GYM AND REMOTE

ENTRY FEE –  None.

GENDER REQUIREMENT – Women only.

AWARDS – Certificates.

LIFTS – 

  • Swing – one hand;
  • Deadlift (barbell) – one hand;
  • Push press from rack;
  • Hack lift;
  • Bench press – feet in air.

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. To compete remote, you must enter by 10 p.m. on  Tuesday of the weekend involved or your results will not be accepted. You must send all results to Bill Clark via e-mail only at yeoldclark@gmail.com not later than 10 p.m. on the Tuesday following the meet.

Included on the reporting form must be the name of the official(s) involved. 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 – but not records. Your honesty is the key to all competitions.

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

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