Category Archives: USAWA Daily News

Club of the Year Award

By Al Myers

The nomination & voting period is over  for the 2018 USAWA yearly awards, to be awarded at the National Championships in several categories for outstanding performances within the USAWA.  I have just finished the tabulations and I am getting ready to contact the awards shop to get the awards made up.  So – I KNOW who the winners are but that’s still a secret until the awards presentation time!  But there is ONE AWARD that is announced ahead of time – the USAWA Club of the Year.  The reason it’s announced early is that it is really not a mystery as to who the winner is as this is the one award that is based on generating points instead of votes.  I have outlined this point system several times in the past so I won’t rehash all that now.  What I’m trying to say is this – anyone can add up the points on their own as ALL of the information is available on the website to do so, thus this winner is “no mystery”.

No club can win an award like this based on one individuals performance or effort.  It takes contributions of several.  And this club EXCEEDED that for sure – with several lifters helping FRANK’S BARBELL CLUB win the 2018 CLUB OF THE YEAR.  Frank’s club had 16 registered USAWA members, far exceeding any other club.  Their club members included: Frank Ciavattone, Jeff Ciavattone, Joe Ciavattone Sr., Joe Ciavattone Jr., David Gago, Laura Inglis, Chis Lestan, Eric Lestan, Kim Lydon, Rocky Morrison, Tony Patterson, Mark Raymond, Colleen Richards, Dan Rowe, Michael Vuono, and Peter Vuono.  The club also had 2 lifters compete at Nationals (Joe Sr. and Joe Jr.) and promoted 3 club events.

The final standings for the 2018 USAWA CLUB OF THE YEAR (only top 3 listed):

1.  Franks Barbell Club – 29 points

2.  Habecker’s Gym – 17 points

3.  KC Strongman – 16 points

 

As per the original rules for the Club of the Year, the defending USAWA Club of the Year is not eligible the following year, and instead is responsible for “passing the title” at the next year’s awards presentation.  The Dino Gym was the Club of the Year in 2017 and will get the honor of awarding this year’s awards for the Club of the Year.

Heavy Lift Championship

By Mark Raymond

MEET –

2019 USAWA HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIP

HeaviesGroup19

 

The meet was a great success. We had 6 lifters from Massachusetts and New York.  It was held at Frank’s Barbell Club in East Walpole, Massachusetts.

The Lestan brothers, Chris and Eric, were outstanding on the platform! It’s always good to see them in action.

Michael Rabich from Queens, New York, showed lots of enthusiasm as he performed his lifts. We always enjoy spending time with Michael when he comes to visit.

Congratulations to Joe Ciavattone Sr who was overall champion of the meet.

Thanks to Frank and Joe Sr. who officiated the meet.

A special thank you to Peter Vuono for cheering us on throughout the event.

And a special thank you Frank for welcoming us all into his home and treating us to pizza after the event.

Results are as follows:

USAWA Heavy Lift Championship

Frank’s Barbell Club, East Walpole, Massachusetts

May 11th2019

Meet Director: Mark Raymond

Host: Frank Ciavattone

Meet Announcer/Scorekeeper: Frank Ciavattone

Officials – Frank Ciavattone, Joe Ciavattone Sr.

All lifts recorded in pounds

 

Lifters using the one official system:
LIFTER AGE WEIGHT M/F CLASS
Frank Ciavattone 64 292 M 125 Kg/60+ Masters
Joe Ciavattone 50 236 M 110 Kg/50+ Masters
Lifters using the three official system:
LIFTER AGE WEIGHT M/F CLASS
Chris Lestan 23 271 M 125 Kg/Open
Eric Lestan 14 148 M 70 Kg/14-15 Juniors
Michael Rabich 38 195 M 90 Kg/Open
Mark Raymond 56 252 M 115 Kg/55+ Masters

 

 

Lift 1 Neck Lift
Lift 2 Hand and Thigh Lift
Lift 3 Hip Lift
Lifter Age Weight Lift 1 Lift 2 Lift 3 Total # Total Points
Chris Lestan 23 271 700 1000 1800 3500 2668
Eric Lestan 14 148 110 550 800 1460 1885
Frank Ciavattone 64 292 110 300 600 1000 920
Joe Ciavattone Sr. 50 236 600 1000 1500 3100 2813
Mark Raymond 56 252 110 800 1200 2110 1951
Michael Rabich 38 195 400 1000 1200 2600 2357
Record Day Lifts
Lifter Lift #
Michael Rabich Squat – Lunge 240

 

Schmidt BBC RD

By Scott Schmidt

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT – 

SCHMIDT BARBELL CLUB RECORD DAY

Greetings to All our USAWA members!

I am setting up a USAWA Record Meet on July 13, 2019 at my Schmidt Bar Bell Club. The address is 2571 Glenmore Drive  Westlake, Ohio 44145.  We can weigh in at 11 am and start lifting at Noon.There is not a fee to attend but you do need a membership in USAWA to set Records.

If you would like to attend, you can e mail me at: onelifter@yahoo.com

I look forward to a Fun Event! We can have a snack after we lift.

Dino Gym Spring RD

By Al Myers

DINO GYM SPRING RECORD DAY

Group picture from the 2019 Dino Gym Spring Record Day

Group picture from the 2019 Dino Gym Spring Record Day

What an exciting weekend at the Dino Gym!!!  We celebrated LaVerne’s 75th birthday with a record day and a big fish fry afterwards.  The weather was perfect for a fun day.

Seven lifters made their way to the gym for the event. Each lifter set their “usawa max” of 5 records each. I want to really thank these guys for making it, as a few of them came quite a long way.  Our President, Denny, made the longest drive from Pennsylvania.  Dean never misses an event at the gym and made his normal drive from Oklahoma.  Lance and Scottish Johnny came from Kansas City, and John Douglas made his several hour drive from western Kansas.

LaVerne putting his new cane to use!!!

LaVerne putting his new cane to use!!!

Many great record day lifts were made.  As I inputted the results a few really stood out to me.  Regrettably, I was tied up with work and made it to the gym late so I missed out on most of lifts.  Scottish Johnny put up a 425# front squat which is a huge lift for a lifter over 40. The birthday boy LaVerne put up some great finger lifts. Big John put up over 400 pounds in the Neck Lift, and Lance combined many different types of lifting to put up the most well rounded set of records.  Dean exerted himself fully by back lifting and harness lifting over 1000 pounds. Denny put up big records in the one arm dumbbell deadlift with both arms.  My highlight was doing the Lurich Lift for the first time and realizing I like it much better than the Hack Lift!

The evening festivities were held on my deck.  We had a few other gym members join us that night – including Brandon, Casey, Hunter, Molly, K dog, Katie, and Cale.   Each of us took our time giving a roast and gag gift to LaVerne for his birthday. Even though we didn’t get the 75 new records I was hoping for, we did give LaVerne a birthday he won’t forget!

Meet Results:

Dino Gym Spring RD
Dino Gym
Holland, KS
May 4th, 2019

Meet Director: Al Myers

Scorekeeper: Al Myers

Lifts: Record Day Lifts

John Strangeway – BWT 207#, Age 40 years
3 Official System – LaVerne, Denny, Lance
Front Squat: 425#
Deadlift – No Thumbs: 474#
Deadlift – Ciavattone Grip: 418#
Finger Lift – Left Index: 135#
Finger Lift – Right Index: 135#

LaVerne Myers – BWT 235#, Age 75 years
1 Official System – Denny
Finger Lift – Left Little: 65#
Finger Lift – Left Thumb: 71#
Finger Lift – Right Thumb: 71#
Finger Lift – Left Index: 90#
Finger Lift – Right Index: 111#

John Douglas – BWT 314#, Age 55 years
3 Official System – Denny, Lance, LaVerne
Front Squat: 350#
Bench Press – Feet in Air: 275#
Bent Over Row: 303#
Deadlift – Trap Bar: 501#
Neck Lift: 410#

Al Myers – BWT 233#, Age 52 Years
3 Official System – Denny, LaVerne, Lance
Back Extension: 150#
Lurich Lift: 579#
Deadlift – 2 Inch Dumbbells: 241#
Habecker Lift: 320#
Wrist Curl: 230#

Lance Foster – BWT 348#, Age 53 Years
3 Official System – LaVerne, Denny
Anderson Press: 135#
Clean & Jerk – Dumbbell, Right Arm: 50#
Deadlift – No Thumbs: 275#
Harness Lift: 1240#
Bench Press – Fulton Bar: 144#

Dean Ross – BWT 235#, Age 76 Years
1 Official System – LaVerne
Back Lift: 1050#
Harness Lift: 1010#
Bench Press – Feet in Air: 135#
Bench Press – Hands Together: 135#
Back Extension: 75#

Denny Habecker – BWT 193#, Age 76 Years
3 Official System – LaVerne, Lance
Press – From Racks: 100#
Push Press – From Racks: 100#
Deadlift – No Thumbs: 243#
Deadlift – Dumbbell, Left Arm: 147#
Deadlift – Dumbbell, Right Arm: 187#

Award Nominations

by Al Myers

It’s that time of the year again to nominate deserving lifters for the yearly awards!  The USAWA award program was started in 2009 to honor those individuals that displays outstanding achievements throughout the year in different categories.  I have been the USAWA Award Director that entire time and was the one who started the USAWA Awards Program.  Part of the USAWA budget goes to these awards, which means that part of your membership dues support this program. These awards are awarded at the Annual General Meeting of the USAWA, which occurs at the same time as the National Championships.   It is important to remember when “casting your vote” that these awards are for the calendar year 2018 (which is the calendar the USAWA follows for memberships, etc.).  Now for a little “overview” of the rules for nominations:

  • You  must be a USAWA member to make a nomination or cast a vote
  • Nominated individuals must be a USAWA members to be eligible
  • Only one individual may be nominated per person per award
  • Two nominations for each award may be submitted, one for your choice of the Winner and one for your choice of the runner-up.
  • The awards are for the calendar year 2018
  • An individual may be nominated for more than one award

These are the different awards for which you should chose your nominations for:

 Athlete of the Year – This award is for the individual who has accomplished the most athletically within the last year in the USAWA. Top placings at the Nationals and World Championships should figure in high. Also, participation in other Championship  Competitions such as the Heavy Lift Championships, the Grip Championships, the Club Championships, the OTSM Championships, the Team Championships, or the National Postal Championships could factor in.  Participation in elite IAWA events such as the Gold Cup should make an influence on earning this award as well.

Leadership Award – This is for an individual that has shown exceptional leadership qualities within the USAWA during the past year. Things that should be looked at are: going above the level expected of an Officer position, promoting sanctioned events with emphasis being on promoting National or World Competitions, promoting the USAWA by developing a strong club, writing articles for publications about the USAWA, or through other means.

Sportsmanship Award – This goes to an individual who possesses and shows great sportsmanship within the USAWA. The act of sportsmanship may be by conduct at all events, or by an specific example of exceptional sportsmanship.

Courage Award – This goes to an individual who shows the courage to overcome an obstacle in order to return to competition. This may be a comeback from an injury, or just having to deal with difficult personal issues but still shows the courage to compete in the USAWA.

Newcomer Award– This award goes to an individual who in new to the USAWA or has become involved again. It doesn’t have to go to someone in their first year of being involved in the USAWA.

As stated earlier in the rules, I would like you to submit your choice for the WINNER and your choice for the RUNNER UP for each award.  I will score it this way:  for each nomination per award I will give 2 points for the nominated winner and 1 point for the nominated runner up.  I will then add up all the points from all nominations with the person receiving the most points declared the winner and the one with the second most points the runner up.  So you can see that the Award Winners are chosen by YOU THE MEMBERSHIP!   That’s the way it should be done.

Please email me at amyers@usawa.com with your nominations.  The deadline for this is May 10th.  I’m only 10 days because it has been my experience with this is that if a person does not make their nominations shortly after reading this announcement, it never gets done.  So make it easy on yourself  (and me!) and turn your nominations in today!!!!

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