Heavy Lift Champs Update

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