USAWA

By Al Myers

Since my blog the other day on the history of the USAWA Heavy Lift Championships, I have received overwhelming support of information from several lifters.  I have these guys to thank for making this review complete: Frank Ciavattone, Denny Habecker, and Joe Garcia.  Thanks guys!

I’m now able to fill in the “open slots” in this summary. Of interest to me, 1994 was considered the first ever Heavy Lift Championships, as designated on the meet summary by Bill Clark. Before this the meet was known as the Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon, named after legendary heavy lifter Steve Schmidt.  Bill continued to promote the Backbreaker on years Clark’s Gym did not host the Heavy Lift Championships following 1994.

The summary below will be kept in our history archives and updated each year with the new best lifters. I plan over the next few weeks to do more stories highlighting the history of the Heavy Lift Championships.  The Heavy Lift Championships is our second longest running Championship event in the USAWA behind our annual National Championships. It has a deep history and deserves more recognition.

HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

DATE	PROMOTER	LOCATION	MENS CHAMPION	WOMENS CHAMPION
5/7/2016	Denny Habecker	Lebanon, PA	James Fuller	Cassie Morrison
5/2/2015	Eric Todd	Cameron, MO	Eric Todd	Mary McConnaughey
5/3/2014	Al Myers	Holland, KS	Eric Todd	none
5/4/2013	Frank Ciavattone	Walpole, MA	Al Myers	Colleen Lane
5/12/2012	Roger LaPointe	Bowling Green, OH	Eric Todd	none
5/21/2011	Denny Habecker	York, PA	Joe Garcia	none
11/6/2010	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt	none
5/16/2009	Denny Habecker	Lebanon, PA	Al Myers	none
11/15/2008	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt	none
11/9/2007	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt	none
11/12/2006	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt	none
8/27/2005	Frank Ciavattone	Walpole, MA	Frank Ciavattone	Cara Collins
8/28/2004	Denny Habecker	Lebanon, PA	Frank Ciavattone	Stephanie Meyer
11/9/2003	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt	none
10/19/2002	Frank Ciavattone	Walpole, MA	Frank Ciavattone	Cara Collins
11/10/2001	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	Abe Smith	none
11/5/2000	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	John Monk	none
9/11/1999	Frank Ciavattone	Walpole, MA	Frank Ciavattone	none
12/5/1998	Frank Ciavattone	Walpole, MA	Frank Ciavattone	Cara Collins
11/1/1997	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	John Carter	Amy Burks
10/27/1996	Kerry Clark	Columbia, MO	John Carter	none
10/29/1995	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	John Carter	Emily Gordon
10/30/1994	Bill Clark	Columbia, MO	John Carter	Kerry Clark