by Al Myers
One of the biggest and most prestigious meets of the USAWA is being held this weekend – the USAWA CLUB CHALLENGE. This meet pits “club against club” in a team competition. Each club provides three team members, whose scores are added up for a team score. This is not an individual competition.
It is still not to late to get your team entered this weekend. Just send me (amyers@usawa.com) or John McKean a shout!!!
by David Dellanave
MEET RESULTS
MINNESOTA ALL ROUND MEET
Group picture from the Minnesota All Round Meet. (front left to right): Jen Sinkler, Jenn Halvorson (back left to right): Jeff Nolan, David Dellanave, Josh Freeman, Adam Glass, Joe Goodin, Al Myers, Mike Murdock
It might be fair to say that the theme of this meet was the unexpected. As of Monday, I knew we had a pretty small contingent of lifters signed up. Then I unexpectedly got an email from Al Myers saying he was coming up for the weekend! I thought, great, we are barely going to have a show and the boss is coming to inspect. Needless to say I was a little worried.
I could not have known that we would have such a great meet that Saturday.
We had a total of 9 lifters, 7 guys and 2 ladies. Between them a total of 18 records were set, including at least 1 IAWA world record that I’m aware of. Talk about unexpected.
The events were contested in this order: Axle Clean & Push Press, Dumbbell Snatch, Bent-Over Row, Jefferson Lift, and Dinnie Lift.
Axle Clean and Push Press was relatively uneventful, with everyone putting up respectable numbers. Al Myers won that event with 233, followed by Adam T. Glass and David Dellanave tied with 213. For the ladies, Jen Sinkler edged out Jenn “With 2 N’s” Halvorson with 142 over 137.
Next up, Adam T. Glass pipped Al Myers in the Dumbbell Snatch with 135 over Al’s 130. David Dellanave lagged behind with 120. Jen Sinkler posted a record-setting 75lb to beat Jenn Halvorson’s 60lb snatch.
The Bent Over Row proved to be an unexpectedly difficult event to perform and judge with contest criteria. Adam T. Glass took top honors, and a record, with a 300lb row, followed by Al Myers with 275lbs. Jenn Halvorson edged out Jen Sinkler in this event with 135 to 125lbs. Joe Goodin also took a 95kg class record with 225lbs.
The Jefferson lift brought an unexpected honor for myself, David Dellanave. I did not know if I would be able to compete this weekend because I was planning to be the sole judge. As such I hadn’t prepared specifically for competition. However, as I tested it out the bar felt light and I was able to go on to break a USAWA & IAWA record with 605lbs. Al Myers followed with 550lbs in this event. On the women’s side, Jen Sinkler also broke a USAWA record with a big double-bodyweight 300lbs pull.
Finally, the Dinnie Lift brought another unexpected element. Loading different weights within 75% of each other proved to be a time consuming hassle. In the end, Adam T. Glass was able to produce an impressive and record-breaking 822lb Dinnie Lift. Al Myers took advantage of the score situation to beat out David Dellanave with a 664lb lift to win the meet. Dellanave’s 619lb lift was also a USAWA record breaker.
After the official meet events, Adam T. Glass went on to break the 2″ Vertical Bar (Right) record with 253lbs and the Pinch Grip (Two Hand Pinch) with 204lbs.
All in all, the meet was a blast and sets the stage for growing USAWA in Minnesota. If you want to come out and compete, contact The Movement Minneapolis today to find out how you can participate. http://www.movementminneapolis.com/
MEET RESULTS
Minnesota All Round Meet
The Movement Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
March 3rd, 2012
Meet Director: David Dellanave
Officials: Al Myers, Mike Murdock, David Dellanave
Lifts: Jefferson Lift, Snatch – Dumbbell One Arm, Clean and Push Press – Fulton Bar, Bent Over Row, Dinnie Lift
WOMENS DIVISION
| Lifter | Age | BWT | Jeff | DB Sn | C&PP | Row | Dinn | Total | Points |
| Jenn Halvorson | 33 | 152 | 275 | 60R | 137 | 135 | 474 | 1082 | 1141.5 |
| Jen Sinkler | 33 | 148 | 300 | 75R | 142 | 125 | 350 | 992 | 1066.2 |
MENS DIVISION
| Lifter | Age | BWT | Jeff | DB Sn | C&PP | Row | Dinn | Total | Points |
| Al Myers | 45 | 250 | 550 | 130R | 233 | 275 | 664 | 1852 | 1557.2 |
| David Dellanave | 28 | 203 | 605 | 120R | 213 | 195 | 619 | 1752 | 1552.5 |
| Joe Goodin | 30 | 205 | 425 | 95L | 173 | 225 | 534 | 1452 | 1279.7 |
| Adam Glass | 29 | 225 | 0 | 135R | 213 | 300 | 822 | 1470 | 1231.6 |
| Josh Freeman | 32 | 177 | 325 | 70R | 127 | 185 | 440 | 1147 | 1100.1 |
| Jeff Nolan | 27 | 232 | 250 | 70R | 107 | 135 | 350 | 912 | 751.8 |
| Mike Murdock | 72 | 234 | 220 | 40L | 117 | 210 | 0 | 587 | 640.7 |
NOTES: BWT is bodyweight in pounds. All lifts recorded in points. Total is total pounds lifted. Points are adjusted points for bodyweight and age.
EXTRA LIFTS FOR RECORDS:
Jeff Nolan – Jefferson Lift: 270#
Jeff Nolan – Snatch Dumbbell Right Arm: 80#
Al Myers – Bent Over Row: 305#
Adam Glass – Bent Over Row: 320#
David Dellanave – Pinch Grip: 154#
Adam Glass – Pinch Grip: 204#
Adam Glass – Vertical Bar Deadlift 1 Bar 2″ Right Hand: 253#
by Al Myers
Chad Ullom, the 2010 USAWA Athlete of the Year, in action with the Fulton Bar Continental to Chest at the 2011 USAWA National Championships.
It’s that time of the year again – to make your nominations for the USAWA Yearly Awards. These awards have been presented the last couple of years at the National Championships to recognize lifters who have demonstrated outstanding achievement throughout the prior year. These awards are decided on by the membership, so that makes it mean more when an award is given to you based on the feelings of your peers. This year I am doing this process a little different. Instead of having a nomination process and then a voting process – I’m going to combine this process into one step to make things easier. Please send me your NUMBER ONE and NUMBER TWO choice for each award. The number one choice will get two points while the number two choice gets one points. I will then add up the points from everyone to determine the winners. Each award will have winner and a runner-up. This way you will need to send me only ONE EMAIL with you combined nominations and votes.
The rules are simple:
These are the catagories to make your nominations from:
Athlete of the Year – This award is for the individual who has accomplished the most athletically within the last year in the USAWA. Top placings at the Nationals and World Championships should figure in high. Also, participation in other National Competitions such as the Heavy Event Nationals or Team Nationals could factor in, along with the Gold Cup.
Leadership Award – This is for an individual that has shown exceptional leadership qualities within the USAWA during the past year. Things that should be looked at are: going above the level expected of an Officer position, promoting sanctioned events with emphasis being on promoting National or World Competitions, promoting the USAWA by developing a strong club, writing articles for publications about the USAWA, or through other means.
Sportsmanship Award – This goes to an individual who possesses and shows great sportsmanship within the USAWA. The act of sportsmanship may be by conduct at all events, or by an specific example of exceptional sportsmanship.
Courage Award – This goes to an individual who shows the courage to overcome an obstacle in order to return to competition. This may be a comeback from an injury, or just having to deal with difficult personal issues but still shows the courage to compete in the USAWA.
Newcomer Award– This award goes to an individual who in new to the USAWA or has become involved again. It doesn’t have to go to someone in their first year of being involved in the USAWA.
Please send your nominations to me (at amyers@usawa.com) by the end of March. All nominations will be kept confidential. The awards will be presented in conjunction with the awards ceremony at the USAWA National Championships in Las Vegas.
by Roger LaPointe
At the Atomic Athletic Meet last fall, the Clean and Push Press was contested. Longtime masters lifter Denny Habecker knows how to press!
Fans of the now defunct Hardgainer magazine will remember John McKean. He is an avid All Round and Olympic style weightlifter who has been competing and setting records as a Master’s age athlete for … some time. Now that I am well into the Masters realm, John gave me some great advice, “Don’t hurt yourself. When you do, work around it and learn.”
That sounds like the most obvious truism ever. As a Masters Age lifter, it is reality.
Right now, while I am primarily an Olympic style weightlifter, I am focused on improving two somewhat related lifts: the crucifix and the clean & press. With these lifts as the primary ones I am working on for a 1-Rep Max, here is a small snapshot of what I am doing to help in that regard.
1. I always work the Indian clubs, for my messed up rotator cuff.
2. I still do snatches and full cleans, as well as a number of related accessory lifts, such as: overhead squats, front & back squats, clean grip and snatch grip pulls.
3. I added in the clean & press as well as the crucifix.
4. I also added in bent over rows.
5. If my back is not recovering as quickly as I need it to be, then I do the incline bench press and incline dumbbell fly.
6. I still do curls and stomach work.
The key is to listen to your body. Especially with orders of weights coming in and going out, I don’t get too hung up on sticking to some pre-determined workout. If something is going really well, then I go with it. If it is not feeling good, I switch it up and work around it.
by Al Myers
Chad Ullom (left) has agreed to be the "PARTY PLANNER" for our National Championships in Las Vegas. I have traveled with Chad several times, and know from experience, that he knows how to have a fun time!
Plans for the 2012 USAWA National Championships in beautiful Las Vegas are underway. The date has been set (June 30th), the venue secured (Average Broz Gym), and entry forms have been available (on this website) for a couple of months now. Everything is going according to the plan I’ve laid out. Now it’s time for YOU to send in your entry to me!! So far I have only two entries in hand – myself and Thom Van Vleck. All details of entering are explained clearly on the entry form. Just one thing I want to remind you of – make your checks or money orders out to the USAWA and not me. This is a USAWA sponsored event and all income/expense is going through the USAWA bank account.
I have picked a place for our “host hotel”. It is the Silverton Hotel and Casino. It is best just to go to their website to get the information for making a reservation. Here is the link: http://www.silvertoncasino.com/
The Silverton is not part of “the strip”. It is located close to John’s Gym, which is the site of the meet. I would guess it is only half a mile or so away. So if you want to “loosen up” before the meet with a little light walking, the Silverton is close enough to the meet site that you can make the hike. Chad and I are going to be renting a car while we are there, so if anyone needs a ride we can run a shuttle service back and forth. Also, taxis are plentiful in Vegas which is another option to get to the meet and back. We do not have a “package deal” with the Silverton so don’t ask for it. This is a large place and I didn’t even bother to check into any special arrangement for our small group. I didn’t want them to laugh at me. Their rates are very reasonable (sixty nine during the week, and eight nine on the weekends). This fee is for double occupancy and even includes breakfast! (look on their website under “resort specials”). They provide free shuttle transportation from McCarran International Airport as well. The Silverton adjoins a huge Bass Pro Shop and has many restaurants within it. I will pick a restaurant for our Friday evening meal and meeting, which I will announce at a later date. I would recommend that you make your reservation as soon as possible to ensure this rate. Of course if you want to stay somewhere else, that is your choice but if we all stay at the same place it will make it easier for us to “get together” throughout our stay.
Our USAWA Vice President Chad Ullom has “stepped up” to be our activity coordinator and PARTY PLANNER. That’s what Vice Presidents are for – planning the fun! Chad is working on several “entertainment activities” that we can do as a group. I know he is looking into a bus tour of Hoover Dam the day following the meet for anyone interested, and a special evening out Saturday night following the meet. This will be in place of the banquet. He promised me that he will let me know when he gets these activities finalized and that he will write an announcement for the website with all the details.
I am working on the T-Shirt design at this time. This is causing me lots of indecision. Since this is such a BIG EVENT for the USAWA, it being our 25th Anniversary and all, I want it to be the PERFECT meet shirt and can’t make up my mind on the design. I have a few good ideas and think I will “lock on” to a design soon. I have three criteria for the shirt – recognize 25 years of the USAWA, highlight Las Vegas, and make it a “lifter’s shirt” with a lifting logo. I want this to be a favorite T-shirt of the lifters – the one you grab out of the drawer full of other T-shirts to wear. The problem is that I’m not artistic in anyway, and have problems making things aesthetic in appearance. I’m not a “fluff guy”, so I may need to ask Thom his opinion on this.
I am getting excited about this year’s Nationals. It will be one that you DON’T WANT TO MISS! I will give out more details as the plans come along. But NOW’S the time to send me your entry form and book your Hotel reservations.