USAWA

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the August, 2008 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. XIX No. 4.)

USAWA NATIONALS

Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 3, 2008 – Al Myers won both the open and master classes at the USAWA’s National Championships, but had plenty of competition in what was an embarrassing field of only 11 entrants.

Scott Schmidt, who had lifted a day earlier in the Ohio State Weightlifting Championships, proved to be one tough opponent.  Al used an 1,800-lb. hip lift to total 1,392.5 kilos.  Scott also did an 1,800 lb. hip to total 1,240 kilos. Scott is 55; Al “only” 42.  The age difference gave Al 1,150.0 points to Scott’s 1,115.05.

The battle for third place was a nail-biter.  Chad Ullom,  Myers’s running mate, had lost 50 pounds in the past nine months and came into the meet at 99.7 bwt.  He wound up with a total of 1,240 kilos, matching Schmidt, but a total newcomer, who called two days before the meet for permission to enter, slipped past Chad for the third spot.

Andy Durniat, 28, from Wooster, Ohio, weighed in at 100.5 kg., only 8/10 of a kilo heavier than Chad, then proceeded to make a 1,700 lb. hip and beat Chad by 20 kilos in total with 1,260 and take third in points with 1,064.57 to Chad’s 1,052.14.

Jim Malloy, 67, was the fifth best lifter with 988.21 points.

Andy not only came with a big hip lift, he blew everyone away in the one-hand deadlift – with both hands, no less.  His third lift in the meet was 185.0 kilos with his left hand.  He then continued on with record lifts, doing 195.0 kg. with his right and 200.0 kg. with his left.

If memory is correct, Andy, in his first effort for record, became the first person since Joe Nanny in the mid-1960’s to break 400 pounds with each hand on the same day.

A second newcomer, Don Bisesi, a 36-year-old from North Olmsted, Ohio, lifted in the 75-kg. class and finished seventh overall, primarily because he was not familiar with the hip lift.  That will change.  Don was eager to learn more.

From the absolute disappointment of the embarrassingly small field, we found gold.  Both new lifters have a chance to become USAWA champs for many years to come.

MEET RESULTS

2008 USAWA National Championships
August 3rd, 2008
Ohio State Fair
Columbus, Ohio

Meet Director: Dennis Mitchell and Megan Tornstrom DeFourny of the
Columbus Weightlifting Club
Emcee: Bill Clark
Scorekeeper: Judy Habecker
Loaders: Zach Beadle, Brandon Rhines, Bob Davis, Paul Stey
Officials: Bill Clark, Denny Habecker, Art Montini, Jim Malloy, Dale Friesz, Al Myers, Chad Ullom, Dennis Mitchell, Scott Schmidt

Lifts: One-Arm Clean & Jerk, Pullover & Push, Zercher, One-Arm Deadlift, Hip Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Al Myers, Kansas
2. Scott Schmidt, Ohio
3. Andy Durniat, Ohio
4. Chad Ullom, Kansas
5. Jim Malloy, Ohio
6. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania
7. Don Bisesi, Ohio
8. Dale Friesz, Virginia
9. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
10. Dennis Mitchell, Ohio

Best Lifter Awards:
Men Open – Al Myers
Men Master – Al Myers

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the August, 2007 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. XVIII No. 4.)

USAWA NATIONALS

Ed Schock won the best lifter title at the USAWA Nationals in Lebanon, Pa., on July 7, but he had plenty of competition from both Al Myers and John Monk and he got a break when Al broke his wrist.

Ed was lifting in the 100.0-kg. class of the 50-54 age group.  He came up with a 685-kg. total good for 680.30 Lynch points adjusted by age. Myers had the best poundage as a 115.0-kg. lifter in the 40-44 age group with an 815.0 total, but age made a difference. Al had an age-adjusted total of 653.74 points.

Monk was close behind with 644.39 points.  John, a new member of the 40-44 age group, totaled 637.5 kilos and had a point total of 644.39.  He was in the 80.0-kg. class.

Elizabeth Monk was the only female lifter and the 11-year-old had a great day with a 502.29 total. (points, that is.)

Myers was in the lead until he dropped a pullover and push.  The wrist was broken, but he was able to continue in the Arthur Lift and the one-hand deadlift, thus managing to barely stay ahead of Monk.

Denny Habecker and wife Judy did their usual excellent meet administration and it was disheartening to see only 20 lifters show.  The Habeckers send thanks to Rex Monahan whose large entry fee allowed the meet to break even.

MEET RESULTS

2007 USAWA National Championships
July 7th, 2007
Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Meet Director: Denny Habecker
Emcee: Bill Clark
Scorekeeper: Judy Habecker
Loaders: Terry Barlet, John Horn, Don Brandt
Officials: Denny Habecker, Jim Malloy, John Vernacchio, Barry Bryan, Art Montini, Dennis Mitchell, John McKean

Lifts: One-Arm Clean & Jerk, Clean and Press Heels Together, Stiff Legged Deadlift, Pullover & Push, Arthur Lift, One-Arm Deadlift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Ed Schock, Pennsylvania
2. Al Myers, Kansas
3. John Monk, Pennsylvania
4. Randy Smith, Michigan
5. Chad Ullom, Kansas
6. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania
7. John McKean, Pennsylvania
8. Jim Malloy, Ohio
9. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
10. Bob D’Angelo, Pennsylvania

Women: Top Placing
1. Elizabeth Monk, Pennsylvania

Best Lifter Awards:
Women Overall – Elizabeth Monk
Women Junior – Elizabeth Monk
Men Junior – James Gilligan
Men 20-39 Age Group – Chad Ullom
Men 40-44 Age Group – Al Myers
Men 45-49 Age Group – Paul Montgomery
Men 50-54 Age Group – Ed Schock
Men 60-64 Age Group – Denny Habecker
Men 65-69 Age Group – Jim Malloy
Men 75-79 Age Group – Art Montini
Men Master – Ed Schock
Men Open – Al Myers

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the July 5th, 2006 edition of the Strength Journal, Vol. XVII No. 3.)

OLLENNUKING, MYERS BEST IN USAWA

Salina, Kan., June 17 – Al Myers did what few have been able to do in the past – direct a national championship and then win the best lifter award.  Normally, the guy with all the administrative problems performs sub-par.  Not so here!

Al put together an outstanding championship meet in a great venue – the Holiday Inn Select – and topped it off with a buffet fit for the biggest hogs around.

Al won the meet with a 2800-pound harness lift following a 600 deadlift.  He needed every pound to beat his 19-year-old gym mate, Ian Reel, who also logged a 2800 harness lift and left little doubt that he’s a contender for USAWA championships for many years to come.

Amorkor Ollennuking was on hand, easily winning the women’s title and finishing seventh overall – regardless of gender, weight or age…. a magnificent performance.

There was one problem with the weekend – Al gave a great party and almost no one came.

The smallest field ever totaled 20 lifters.  Exactly four of them were from east of the Mississippi River – Tim Piper from Macomb, Ill., about 30 miles east of the Mississippi; Randy Smith, who rode his motorcycle all the way to Salina from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; Dennis and Flossie Mitchell, who drove in from Cleveland; and Denny and Judy Habecker, who drove from Lebanon in eastern Pennsylvania.

Al took a brutal financial beating because he was looking for up to 50 lifters. Not only did the USAWA lifters let him down, but many of his friends in the Highland Games and the Strongman crowd who had promised to make the meet a roaring success were nowhere to be found.

The USAWA has a standing policy that anyone who loses money because of lack of support will be compensated for that loss. That’s what our treasury is all about.  Al refused to accept the USAWA check.  We’ll figure out some way to get his expenses covered – maybe we’ll buy his wife a new car.

It is surely time for the USAWA membership to look inwardly and see where this organization wants to go in the future.  Twenty lifters in a national championship is an absolute insult to Al Myers – and to anyone else who dares to take on USAWA events in the future.

Back to the positive – we had our first 90-year-old in a national title meet.  Al’s 90 year old grandfather, Clyde, was on hand all day and did five of the six lifts – choosing to by-pass the harness lift.

MEET RESULTS

2006 USAWA National Championships
June 17th, 2006
Salina, Kansas

Meet Director: Al Myers
Emcee: Bill Clark
Scorekeepers: Scott Tully, Karla Barnhart
Loaders: Ryan Batchman, Tom Maxey
Officials: Thom Van Vleck, Bob Burtzloff, Chuck Cookson, Eric Todd, Doug Longbine, Mark Mitchell

Lifts: One-Arm Snatch, Clean and Press Heels Together, Bench Press Feet in Air, Steinborn, Deadlift 12″ Base, Harness Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Al Myers, Kansas
2. Ian Reel, Kansas
3. Bret Carter, Nebraska
4. Joe Garcia, Missouri
5. Dan Wagman, Colorado
6. Laynne Burnett, Kansas
7. Dan Mather, Kansas
8. Tim Pinkerton, Nebraska
9. Randy Smith, Michigan
10. Darren Barnhart, Kansas

Women: Top Two Placings
1. Amorkor Ollennuking, Missouri
2. Stephanie Beemer, Kansas

Best Lifter Awards:
Women Junior – Stephanie Beemer
Women Master – Amorkor Ollennuking
Women Open – Amorkor Ollennuking
Men Junior – Ian Reel
Men 20-39 Age Under 175lb – Dan Mather
Men 20-39 Age 176lb-200lb – Dan Wagman
Men 20-39 Age 201lb-231lb – Bret Carter
Men 20-39 Age 232lb-265lb – Al Myers
Men 20-39 Age 266lb-300lb – Darren Barnhart
Men 40-49 Age Group – Laynne Burnett
Men 50-59 Age Group – Joe Garcia
Men 60-69 Age Group – Denny Habecker
Men 70-79 Age Group – Dennis Mitchell
Men 90 Plus Age Group – Clyde Myers
Men Open – Al Myers
Men Master – Joe Garcia

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the Strength Journal, Vol. XVI No. 5. )

MIKE McBRIDE – NUMBER ONE!!!

Youngstown, Ohio, June 25-26 – Mike McBride used a 630 neck lift to beat Al Myers for the best lifter award at the USAWA National Championships held at the Jump Stretch Gym – the home of the championship sponsor.

McBride was in second place behind Big Al and barely ahead of Randy Smith from Marquette, Michigan, at the end of the first day’s five events. Randy, who has just turned 50, was in the best condition of his USAWA career and had some left in the tank after each lift.

By the time the field reached the neck lift – the last of the nine lifts forming the championship, McBride had fallen to third and Smith was within easy striking distance of Myers. When starting poundages were posted, it was obvious things would change.  Smith, once again, was capable of doing more than the 300 on his attempt.  Myers opened with 400 and made it with ease, but failed with 500 – which was Mike’s opener.  Had Al done 500, Mike would need 555.  With Al’s failure, Mike went on to do a personal record of 630, beating Frank Ciavattone along the way.

It was an exciting battle for top honors.  Another close battle came in the junior division when Ian Reel, a member of Myers’ Dinosaur Gym, upheld the honor of Kansas by slipping past Jump Stretch’s Andrew Loudon, a first-time competitor, who, like Smith, cut himself short in the neck lift and cost himself a title.  Both Randy and Andy will know better next time.

Ian nipped Andy in total points, 1842-1837.  Andy had done 400 on his third neck lift attempt and had already set an age group record.  He misread the record list and thought he needed 475 to set a new mark.  He made the 475 with ease and it was truly a national record – by more than 100 pounds.  Had Andy done the 475 as a third attempt, Ian would have joined Al Myers in second place.  Live and learn.

Close battles and some outstanding efforts could not hide the fact that only 21 lifters were in the competition.  We’ll discuss that problem later in The Journal.

McBride and Myers have hooked up several times in recent years at Clark’s Gym and their classic battle will continue at the Goerner Deadlift Dozen, the Zercher Meet, the Deanna Meet, Al’s Dinosaur Challenge in Jan., and the USAWA Nationals next June – which will be held in Salina, KS. with Al the meet director.

Thanks to the Jump Stretch folks – Dick Hartzell, Carl LaRosa and his staff and family – for an excellent weekend.  The wind-up dinner was outstanding.  Clark enjoyed the chicken as much as any I’ve ever eaten. 

MEET RESULTS

2005 USAWA National Championships
June 25-26, 2005
Jump Stretch Fitness Center
Youngstown, Ohio

Meet Directors: Dick Hartzell and Carl LaRosa
Emcee: Bill Clark
Scorekeeper: Bill Clark

Lifts: Deadlift with Fulton Bar, Bench Press feet in air, Cheat Curl, French Press, 2-Hand Anyhow with Barbell & Dumbbell, Vertical Bar 1 Bar 2″ 1 Hand, 1-Arm Hack Lift, Clean & Seated Press, Neck Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Mike McBride, Missouri
2. Al Myers, Kansas
3. Randy Smith, Michigan
4. Jim Malloy, Ohio
5. Frank Ciavattone, Massachusetts
6. John McKean, Pennsylvania
7. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania
8. Scott Schmidt, Ohio
9. Ian Reel, Kansas
10. Andy Loudon, Ohio

Best Lifter Awards:
Men Junior – Ian Reel
Men Open – Mike McBride
Men Master – Randy Smith