Newcomer Award
by Al Myers
Newcomer Award runnerup winner LaVerne Myers (center), with presenters Al Myers (left) and Denny Habecker (right). Newcomer Award winner Dean Ross was not in attendance to accept his award.
One of the exciting things that is done every year at the National Championships is awarding our USAWA yearly recognition awards. This program started in 2009, and gives recognition to those lifters that have excelled throughout the prior year. There are several award categories, and each winning recipient is chosen by the USAWA membership by a nomination/voting process. This makes winning one of these awards all that much more special, because you know you are picked by your peers for it.
The Newcomer Award goes to an individual that is new to the USAWA, or someone who is making a comeback in the organization. It doesn’t have to be someone who just started. This years winners have been involved in the USAWA for a few years, but both of these lifters have really “amped up” their USAWA involvement this past year. The winners are:
WINNER – DEAN ROSS
RUNNER UP – LAVERNE MYERS
Dean has been on “a roll” this year. He has competed in numerous USAWA events this past year, including several Championship competitions (Team Championships, Grip Championships, and the OTSM Championships). There has not been very many local events that Dean has missed! Runnerup went to LaVerne Myers, who made his “National Debut” at this years meet in Vegas.
Congrats to both of these guys for winning the NEWCOMER AWARD!!