Team Championships

by Al Myers

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT
2019 USAWA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

The date for the USAWA Team Championships has been set – September 8th (Sunday).  I started promoting the Team Championships in 2007, which features “team lifting”, a combination of 2 lifters on a bar lifting the weight together. This makes for a very exciting event as the 2 lifters must be in coordination with each other to make a successful lift!

MEET DETAILS:

Meet Director: Al Myers

Meet Date: Sunday, September 8th

Meet Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Dino Gym, 1126 Eden Road, Abilene, KS 67410

Sanction: USAWA Membership required

Weigh-Ins: Noon the day of the meet

Divisions: 2-Man, 2-Person (man & woman), and 2-Women

Entry Fee: None

Lifts:

Curl – Strict, Reverse Grip

Snatch – From Hang

Deadlift – No Thumbs, Overhand Grip

Jefferson Lift – Fulton Bar 

Registration:  There is no entry form or entry deadline, but please let me know ahead of time if you plan to attend so I can make the proper preparations. I can be reached at amyers@usawa.com

OTSM Championship

By Eric Todd

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT – 

2019 Old Time Strongman Championship

The Old Time Strongman Championship is usually a rather popular meet among all-rounders.  It has been around since 2011, when Thom Van Vleck hosted the first one in Kirksville, MO.  He went on to host the 2012 and 2013, before it moved to the big tin can somewhere in the neighborhood of Turney, MO to be hosted by yours truly.  The men’s division has been won by a total of 6 lifters, with Chad Ullum (last year’s winner) and myself both winning twice. The women’s division has been won by a total of 3 ladies, with  Heather Tully taking home the title the past 3 years.

As always, I hope for a big turnout for this meet; however, I do not want to do so by the means of deception.  You will not be competing in an arena or nice gym, but rather a large metal Quonset with gravel floors. There is not air conditioning, so it has the possibility of being hot in September.  The facilities come in the form of an outhouse out back. I plan on knocking down all of the wasp nests and sweeping out the spider webs prior to your arrival for your comfort. And while the weights at one time were painted pretty colors like black and gray, they now are mostly marred by a brown rust coloration.  There is a distinct possibility that whilst lifting in my facility, you may get dirt on your costume, so I would persuade you not to come in your good school clothes or your Sunday finest.

That being said, I hope to have a good turnout with lots of great lifting.  It is what has become the norm for this meet.

MEET DETAILS:

Where:      ET’s House of Iron and Stone

                 10978  SW Pueblo Dr

                 Turney, MO 64493

When:       September 7, 2019

Weigh ins: 9:30

Rules:         10:00

Meet Starts: 10:30

Events:          Apollon’s Lift

                     People’s Deadlift

                     Hackenschmidt Floor Press

                     Dinnie Lift

Entry Fee: $25.  Checks payable to Eric Todd.  Entry and check can be sent to me at the above address.

Entry Deadline: August 24, 2019.  Please be prompt in entering, as it helps me plan accordingly for the best possible meet

Awards:    There will be awards for this meet

ENTRY FORM – OTSM Entry

 

Schmidt BBC RD

By John McKean

SCHMIDT BARBELL CLUB RECORD DAY 2019

Beth Skwarecki performed several record Bent Presses at the Record Day.

Beth Skwarecki performed several record Bent Presses at the Record Day.

On the most beautiful, bright blue sky summer day of the year in this rain laden Eastern sector, my grandson Andraes, newcomer mother-of-three Beth Skwarecki, and I arrived at Scott and Kathy Schmidt’s beautiful Ohio home for their first annual record day meet. Scott was just leaving for a vitals run for the meet picnic later, but we were greeted by the always friendly & welcoming Rev. Peeter Pirn. Peet was all set to lift, but was summoned away with the joyous news of his grand daughter being born ,right before his opening attempt! So, our hostess Kathy Schmidt opened the meet with some great record lifts, before scurrying back to the kitchen,to prepare us a feast !!

Scott’s home gym proved to be a fantastic venue for an all-round meet, with enough equipment and sound lifting platform for all our needs. Even had a big open door to breathe the fresh morning air, and to listen to the soothing sounds and refreshing smell of neighbors mowing their lawns!Old USAWA pals  Stevan Santangelo from Kentucky and Cleveland’s stalwart Dennis Mitchell soon arrived to add to the growing excitement and spirited conversation.

Lady lifters Joanna Jones and Beth Skwarecki dazzled us with their picture perfect form on world record lifts, despite both being newcomers to the USAWA! Johanna, a long time mover& shaker of the Ohio Olympic lifting crowd, executed an extremely efficient women’s world record snatch-from-the-hang of 52.5 k ,among several other great pulls &pushes. Thirty Eight year old Beth, just over the 60K weight class, amazed everyone by electing to begin with the tricky James lift, then the bent press! Her years of competition in the rugged sport of Roller Derby has given her perfect balance, flexibility, and coordination, because her picture-perfect bent press even had ole pro bent presser Dennis Mitchell falling out of his official’s chair! I believe it was the highest IAWA bent press ever performed by a female, yet Beth will soon be closing in on a bodyweight attempt!

Can’t forget the teen lifters  -as grandson Andraes won’t let me!! At 13 ,taking a break from summer training with jr high football, Dra wanted to join the lists of his Dad,Sean, and Uncle Rob, when they lifted in the 13 and under category, and actually outdid the (now) “old men” of the family!Heck, these days the little lad (well maybe not so little at 212 pounds bwt!) can even outdo the granddad patriarch (yeah, that’d be me!) of the family!

Of course, our master age lifters put on their usual exciting shows! Newcomer 66 yr old Klaus Gondosch did some excellent overhead lifting, and meet director Scott (hard to believe this youthful looking ,always smiling guy is even master’s age!!), looking trim and fit, just bulldozed a few more records! Stephen Santagelo took the morning off from the organic farm in Kentucky to smash special grip lift records, showing the power that can be developed from daily milking the chickens, and such ! Dennis Mitchell defied age(87!) ,as usual, to  place 5 more record lifts in the books!

The Schmidt meet picnic in a spacious back yard, under tall cooling trees, only added to the great mood and fellowship that we all enjoyed!  I had to apologize to Beth and Dra on the drive home for my non stop talking (yeh, I know none of you can believe that of ME !) due to the high adrenaline level that Scott’s contest supplied! Hopefully this will be the first of many Schmidt events  -even inspired me to maybe restart USAWA record days in our Pittsburgh vicinity!

MEET RESULTS:

2019 Schmidt BBC RD
Schmidt’s Barbell Club
Weslake, Ohio
July 13th, 2019

Meet Director: Scott Schmidt

Officials (3-official system used): Scott Schmidt (meet directer and USAWA official) , Dennis Mitchell (IAWA Tech Chairman and USAWA official), John McKean ( IAWA official and past IAWA General Secretary). All lifts recorded were passed with all three white lights!

Beth Skwarecki  age 38 bwt 62.5 k div female 65 k
James Lift  71 Pounds
Bent Press (pulled up two handed) LEFT hand 55 Pounds
Bent Press (two hand pull) RIGHT hand  77 Pounds
Two hands pullup (overhand chin-up) 33 pounds hanging at waist

Dennis Mitchell age 87 bwt 62.95 k div M ,85+, 65k
Stiff leg deadlift  60K
Vertical bar Deadlift, 1 inch bar, 66.5 pounds (right hand)
Vertical bar deadlift ,1 inch bar, 66.5 pounds (left hand)
One hand Dumbbell swing (right)  25 pounds
One hand Dumbbell swing (left)  25 pounds

John McKean age 73 bwt 69.7k div 70k 70+
Lurich lift  304 pounds
Peoples deadlift  304 pounds

Stephen R. Santangelo age 67 bwt 72.05 k div 65+ 75k
One hand pinch grip strict left 52 pounds
One hand pinch grip strict right 62 pounds
Pinch Grip deadlift left 142 pounds
Pinch grip deadlift right 142 pounds
Two hands pinch grip deadlift 310 pounds

Klaus Gondosch age 66 bwt 75.0 k div 75k 65+**
Clean and press 125 pounds
Snatch from hang 99 pounds
Deadlift 12 inch base 253 pounds
Dumbbell (right) clean & jerk 65 pounds
Dumbbell (left) clean & jerk 65 pounds

Kathy Schmidt age 61 bwt 85.0 k div female 60+ 85k**
strict reverse barbell curl 50 pounds
Barbell straddle lift  114 pounds

Andraes McKean age 13 bwt 97.2 k div 13 & under, 100k
2 hands cheat curl 88 pounds
deadlift with 12″ heel spacing 210 pounds
power row  142 pounds
reverse grip bench press 110 pounds
alternate grip bench press 130 pounds

Scott Schmidt  age 66 bwt 101.0 k div 65+ 105k
2″ vertical bar (left) 70 k
2″ vertical bar(right) 70k
bent over (power) row 105k

Joanna Jones age 43 bwt 103.9k div female 40+ 105k
continental to chest 70k
bench press hands together 83.6 pounds
snatch from hang 52.5 k
2 hands anyhow  80 pounds

Rev. Peeter Pirn  “best trophy” of the meet, had to leave early on the birth of his grand daughter!!

 

Overcoming Adversity

By Christopher Lestan

In every competitive lifter’s career, they must overcome some type of adversity. It may involve personal troubles, financial issues, or some type of nagging injury. Sometimes the troubles we face may even break us, or even mentally cripple us. However, the strongest always find a way to fight through these troubles that loom over them. In some instances, we can become even better. It’s in these situations you really find out what type of lifter, athlete, and person you really are.

This is my story.

In high school, I had just become one of the best lacrosse goalies Westwood High had ever had. I even lead my team to the quarter-finals of the state championships which had never happened in Westwood history, and only had loses against state champions. Going into college I felt invincible. I joined the rugby team there and my incoming class helped Roanoke Rugby become a top-three contender in division two club rugby even being voted All-Star in the conference. Overall, my ego was probably the highest it ever was. That is when it all fell apart.

In the final game of the season, I was tackled at the knee on my right leg while running for a loose ball. Immediately there were four or five loud “Cracks”! I fell in pain and agony. Most people ask me if I felt pain and in all honesty, I couldn’t feel my right leg. Within two hours I was in the ER with a giant cast over my leg. I was in so much shock, pain, and stress that I don’t remember much of the ER. Fast forward two days later I had an MRI done on my right leg and finally had the answer to what was wrong with my leg and it was truly awful. I ruptured my patella tendon, torn my ACL, PCL, LCL, MCL, and Lateral Meniscus. In one hit to the knee I had 6 damaged tendons. Luckily I was seen by the Virginia Tech Surgeon who happened to know my coach at the time, but he even said this was probably the worst contact knee injury he had ever seen. Due to the extreme nature of the injury, I had surgery within twelve hours of the MRI.

Fast Forward for almost two weeks and I am talking to my surgeon close to my home in Massachusetts. It is at this moment I received possibly the worst news. The surgeon looked at my in the eyes and stated, “you will probably never be able to play sports, or lift competitively ever again”. I broke down and cried. Sports my whole life have been my avenue to social life. I made my best friends through hard-fought practices when we had to do sprints in the rain, snow, or ninety-degree weather. Sports is where I gained my confidence in lifting during the offseason. The barbell is where I found my greatest strengths. Now I was being told I would never play sports or lift ever again.

Minutes after my MRI!

Minutes after my MRI!

This is where I started my journey to overcome adversity. I wanted to prove I can recover and play rugby again. Prove that I can be stronger after the injury than before my injury. The next eight months were nothing but eat, sleep, and rehab. It was my only focus. Its all I cared about. I become obsessed. By the start of the spring rugby season of my sophomore year, I was cleared to play rugby again. The injury happened in April and by January I had been cleared by my surgeon. The turn-around was so impressive that even my coach who had been involved in rugby for twenty years couldn’t believe I was playing again.

Within two years after the injury, I achieved my first 500-pound squat in a USA Powerlifting meet. Fast-Forward to April 2019 and I hit Personal Records in a National Powerlifting Meet. Fast Forward in May, where I competed in USAWA 2019 Heavy Lifts Championships. Fast Forward to this June I just competed at the USA Nationals.

This is why lifting is important to me personally, and to any other athlete who has been to some type of adversity. The barbell makes you stronger. The barbell doesn’t mock or make fun of your current situation. It is there to make you better. To fight back. The barbell is what has kept me believing that will be back and be stronger!

Ever since that experience, I have had an edge whenever I compete. I am, according to my surgeon, not suppose to be able to Olympic Lift, Powerlift, and run faster than I did before my injury. Yet I do. Whenever I step on the platform I remind myself of how much rehab, pain, and mental struggle I had to get back to the platform.

The moral of this story is that lifters and athletes who go through struggles similar to mine find a way to fight back to the top. It’s what makes us true warriors of Iron. We live and breath this lifestyle of fighting against all obstacles and defeating it whether it be the barbell or troubled life. These moments are what defines us. We will do whatever is possible to be back on that platform, for it is our passion and our pride. It whats makes us competitors. These moments are also the moments we remember the most and take the most pride with.

In the end, adversity makes us stronger!

Contribution Award

By Al Myers

Denny and Judy Habecker receiving the Howard Prechtel Contribution Award at the 2019 Nationals banquet.

Denny and Judy Habecker receiving the Howard Prechtel Contribution Award at the 2019 Nationals banquet.

At the banquet following the 2019 Nationals I was honored to make a special presentation to Denny and Judy Habecker.  They both received the Howard Prechtel Contribution Award.

Howard Prechtel was a very important person in the USAWA.  His contributions to our organization paved the way to what the USAWA is now.  He served 14 years as the USAWA President (1993 thru 2007), which is the longest tenure of any USAWA President.  He started the IAWA Gold Cup in Lakewood, Ohio in 1991, and the Gold Cup has become one of the feature events in the IAWA.  It has been held every year since it’s start.

Years ago Howard had given a special plaque of his to Bob Geib, which included an engraved picture of Howard on it.  This plaque meant alot to Bob, and for years Bob would bring it to competitions to remember his friend Howard.  In 2015, Bob decided it would be best if it was “shared” within the USAWA.   He presented it to Frank Ciavattone for all the effort he has given to the USAWA – and thus the beginning of the Howard Prechtel Contribution Award.  It is a traveling award (consisting of Howard’s plaque) that is passed from one member to the next, with the intention that the current recipient finds someone that is deserving of it.

I received this honor in 2017, receiving the Howard Prechtel Contribution Award from Frank.  I had intended to award it to Denny during the 2018 Nationals banquet, but due to the lack of privacy at the banquet with other restaurant patrons present (we didn’t have an official awards ceremony that year) I decided to wait till a later time.  Well, this year the timing was right!  I felt that since I had missed giving it out the previous year I would make up for it by giving the Contribution to BOTH Denny and Judy.  They are both very deserving of it, and it was a big honor for me to present the Howard Prechtel Contribution Award to them.

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