USAWA

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!!

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:

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

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)