USAWA

By Eric Todd

I am going a little bit different direction with the Lifter of the month in January.  While both Al Myers’ win in the Dino Challenge and Abe Smith’s win in the Zercher are worthy of consideration, these guys are very seasoned competitors.  Both have won Nationals (Al maybe more than any other lifter) and are expected to win or at least be in the mix of any and every meet they enter.  I am giving the nod for the January Lifter of the month to a newbie.  Wyatt Sawyers had never competed in a USAWA meet prior to this January, when he traveled from his home in Tulsa, OK to Columbia, MO to compete in the Zercher Classic.  He placed third, and put up many lifts that would compete with veteran lifters. His 189 bodyweight makes these lifts even more impressive.  He hit a 350 Zercher, 250 Clean and Jerk,  a 285 Bench Press-Feet in Air, a 450 Deadlift-Heels together, and a 275 Deadlift-1 arm.  These are just some of them that stood out to me.  If he did all of this as a rookie, I cannot wait what the future brings for this exciting young lifter.  Congrats Wyatt!  Well deserved!