Category Archives: USAWA History

History of the Deanna Springs Memorial Meet

Written and Compiled by Dale Friesz

There has been 15 Deanna Springs Memorial Meets.  Joe Garcia owns this meet – he has won 9 of these meets.  He participated in two others – 2003 and 1997.  Amazingly he failed to total in 2003 and 1997.  In 2003, he was unable to do a Hand and Thigh Lift and in 1997 he failed in the Hip Lift.  He could not do the Hand and Thigh Lift in 2003 as he had been kicked by his own horse! In 1997, his choice of weight in the Hip Lift was too heavy.  That amounts to 9 wins in 11 contests. My hat is off to Joe!!

Deanna and Al Springs, performing a 2-person Cheat Curl

The following is from the USAWA Strength Journal, Vol. VI-7 11/25-1995:

Deanna Springs Dies in Auto Crash
by Kerry Clark, a national USWF titlist like Deanna, contributed the following eulogy for her close friend.

On October 5, 1995, Deanna Springs was killed in a car accident at the age of 45. Deanna was the wife of Al Springs of Dearborn, Missouri. Deanna met Al when she came to his fitness center for rehabilitation for shoulder and wrist problems. She lifted in her first USAWA meet at Steve Schmidt’s in 1992, and although she continued to battle back and arm problems she developed into an excellent and enthusiastic lifter over the last few years.  Al and Deanna were rightfully proud of her record-making marks of 600 pounds in the Hand and Thigh and 1100 pounds in the Hip Lift. But more than a devoted lifter, Deanna Springs was a wonderful person.  She and Al came to all of our meets at Clark’s Gym. Deanna was always the friendliest and most supportive person in the room.  She worked hard to become a better lifter herself and she always gave out encouragement, even to her competitors.  I always looked forward to our meets because I knew that Deanna would be there.  At her funeral, the minister spoke of Deanna’s accomplishments in the USAWA and her National Championship medal was placed in the casket with her.  I felt glad to know that Deanna cared so much about the USAWA because I know that my experience in this organization was enriched by her presence. Deanna Springs was a great lifter, supporter of the USAWA, and a friend. She was also Al’s greatest booster.  Her death was an unexpected blow and she will be greatly missed.

Past Winners of the Deanna Springs Memorial Meet:

MEN’S DIVISION
DATE WINNER AGE BWT TOTAL POINTS
2010 – 3/28
 JOE GARCIA
 56 215 3770 3611.64
2009 – 3/28
 JOE GARCIA
 55 240 3950 3711.88
2008 – 4/06
 AL MYERS
 42 239 3525 2948.17
2007 – 3/25
 ABE SMITH
 25 171 3610 3534.55
2006 – 3/26
 JOE GARCIA
 52 245 4035 3655.85
2005 – 4/02
 ABE SMITH
 23 165 4105 4111.98
2004 – 4/04
 JOE GARCIA
 50 231 3980 3650.87
2003 – 4/06
 STEVE SCHMIDT
 47 215 3940 3654.37
2002 – 4/07
 JOE GARCIA
 48 241 4120 3627.67
2001 – 3/31
 JOE GARCIA
 47 242 3195 2783.60
2000 – 3/26
 JOSH PEMBERTON
 24 209 2960 2581.12
1999 – 3/28
 JOE GARCIA
 45 241 4525 3876.54
1998 – 3/28
 JOE GARCIA
 44 229 4140 3608.4
1997 – 4/12
 JOHN CARTER
 39 226 4245 3553.07
1996 – 3/30
 JOE GARCIA
 42 223 2550 2210.98

WOMEN’S DIVISION
DATE WINNER AGE BWT TOTAL POINTS
2004 – 4/04
 JESSICA TODD
 28 188 1850 1712.18
2001 – 3/31
 ANGELA McBRIDE
 22 132 2140 2490.32
1996 – 3/30
 AMORKOR OLLENNUNKING
 33 175 1875 1810.50

Notes:  BWT is bodyweight in pounds. Total is total pounds lifted. Points are bodyweight and age adjusted.

LIFTS:

1996 – Cheat Curl, Zercher Lift, Crucifix, Jefferson Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift
1997 – Cheat Curl, Crucifix, Jefferson Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift, Hip Lift
1998 to present – Crucifix, Cheat Curl, Deanna Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift, Hip Lift

LOCATIONS:

1996 – Springs’ Garage Gym (Dearborn, Missouri)
1997 to present – Clark’s Championship Gym (Columbia, Missouri)

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 USAWA Records


by Al Myers

I was thinking the other day about the history of the number of records set in the USAWA throughout the years.  Joe Garcia has been the Official Records Chairman since the beginning of the USAWA, and has entered THOUSANDS of records into our Record List. Joe’s efforts on this has been impressive and the USAWA owes him  a lot of thanks for all the work he has done in giving us a 20 plus year Record List.  The list is now approaching 10,000 line items in length.  But, what years have the most records been set in?  This can’t possible be answered because records are continually broken and the list updated, so an absolute count is about impossible for any year except the most current year. However, we can count the records that are STILL on the books from previous years.  Well, I did this and found the results interesting so I am going to share my research with you!

Year Records Year Records
1987 38 1999 453
1988 114 2000 586
1989 154 2001 422
1990 250 2002 682
1991 307 2003 538
1992 294 2004 474
1993 291 2005 702
1994 346 2006 566
1995 468 2007 367
1996 425 2008 360
1997 427 2009 475
1998 433 2010 103


As you can see, 2005 was the year that resulted in the MOST records.  The last three years there has been a drop-off. But it appears 2010 is off to a good start – maybe THIS YEAR will be the year the most records are set??

Congratulations to Dave Glasgow for passing the Official’s Test and becoming an USAWA Official!

What happened 10 years ago in the USAWA?


by Al Myers

Garcia wins Zercher

On February 5-6, 2000, Joe Garcia wins his first Zercher Strength Classic at Clark’s Gym.  Fellow gym members Mike McBride  took second place while James Foster came in third.  Seven lifters participated in this 13 lift meet which occurred over two days. Garcia dominated the Chain Lifts – with lifts of 1600# in the Hand and Thigh, 2300# in the Harness Lift, and 1805# in the Hip Lift.  This meet also included the comeback of John Carter, who had been sidelined for two years with two knee surgeries.

Postal League

Four registered clubs (Clark’s Gym, Prechtel Athletic Club, Ambridge VFW Barbell Club and Frystown Power Zone) have entered the Postal League.  The first leg of this year long competition was completed.

Nebraskaland Strength Classic

Meet director Kevin Fulton won the Nebraskaland Strength Classic, barely edging out Elijah Kucera.  Fulton put up big lifts in the Jerk-Behind Neck (305 pounds) and the Deadlift – Fulton Bar (505 pounds) to secure the win over 17 year old Kucera.

Deanna Springs Memorial

Josh Pemberton won the Deanna Springs Meet, beating Abe Smith and Al Springs.  The meet was very close, with Josh slipping past Abe by only 13 points!  A highlight of the meet was having two old JWC lifters in attendance – Wayne Smith and Wayne Jackson.  Smith had developed a reputation by being a one arm pullup champion, and on this day he performed a record in the Pinch Grip with a lift of 90 pounds.

Buckeye Record Breaker

This record day was promoted by USAWA President Howard Prechtel on March 4th. An amazing 16 lifters took part!  The list of those competing: Noi Phumchaona, Anna Holter, Jim Loewer, Dennis Stahnke, Chris Waterman, Bob McKenzie, Lee Gesbeck, Dennis Mitchell, Bob Cox, John McKean, Art Montini, Bob Hirsh, Walter Moss, Bill Crozier, Bob Geib, and Scott Schmidt.

Courtesy of The Strength Journal published by Bill Clark.

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