Club of the Year

By Eric Todd

Club of the year: Clark's Gym. Pictured: Joe Caron, Abe Smith, Dave DeForest, Randy Smith, Bill Clark, and Tony Lupo. Not pictured: a host of lifters

Club of the year: Clark’s Gym. Pictured: Joe Caron, Abe Smith, Dave DeForest, Randy Smith, Bill Clark, and Tony Lupo. Not pictured: a host of lifters

I was finally able to award the Club of the Year awards over the past 2 weekend.  The first place finisher was none other than Clark’s Gym. Clark’s is our oldest and longest running club having been officially recognized as a club in the USAWA since 1993.  I can only assume that is when they started recognizing clubs, as I know Clark’s Gym had lifters lifting in the USAWA since its inception. Clark’s had not been exceptionally active for a few years, but made an absolute resurgence over the past couple.  Bill and company have seen old members who have been away for a time return to their all-round roots, as well as drawing in a slew of new lifters into the fold, bring new blood to our organization.  They were the top club at 2021 nationals.  At that same national championships, they took down the top 3 spots in the men’s division, and 4 of the top ten.  They had seven of the top ten in the postal championship.  Two of the top three in the Heavy Lift were Clark’s Gym members, and they had a representative of the gym at Worlds who came in 5th. They had 20 members in 2021, and 22 as of the writing of this article.  I don’t know how the points came out, but I cannot imagine it was close.

KCSTRONGMAN is Runner-Up. Pictured: Lilly Todd, Eric Todd, Everett Todd, John strangeway, Leroy Todd, Stacy Todd, and Chris Todd. Not Pictured: Lance Foster

KCSTRONGMAN is Runner-Up. Pictured: Lilly Todd, Eric Todd, Everett Todd, John Strangeway, Leroy Todd, Stacy Todd, and Chris Todd. Not Pictured: Lance Foster

Coming in second was my own KCSTRONGMAN club.  Talk about new blood, I think we have collectively reduced the mean age of the USAWA by like 40 years.  We were the runner-up club at 2021 nationals, having  three lifters in the top ten (2 in the men’s division and one in the women’s).  We also had two in the top five at the heavy lift. We had 10 lifters in 2021, and 9 members as of the writing of this article.

I truly believe that one of the means by which we can grow is through the club system.  So find some like-minded people and start up a club if you are flying solo.  Maybe next year your club will be the recipient of one of these plaques!

Sad News

By Eric Todd

John McKean executing a one dumbbell deadlift

John McKean executing a one dumbbell deadlift

It is with a sad heart that I bring you this news. I got an email today from Marilyn McKean informing me that on Monday, August 15, her husband John passed away unexpectedly. John is a hall of famer (class of 1999), a century club member coming in at number 6 with 329 records, and an overall class act.  He worked the mic for meets, wrote articles for the website (usually quite entertaining, mind you), and was just an overall wealth of knowledge in the strength world.  I recently came across a series of articles he wrote for the kettlebell company “Dragon Door.”  Just a month or two ago, I enjoyed an email chain John and I had going about all round lifting and the USAWA in general.  Our hearts go out to Marilyn and the rest of John’s family.  John, you will be missed, old buddy.  Train in peace…

Clark’s Gym vs Frank’s Barbell Club postal challenge

By Bill Clark

Frank's Barbell Club takes on the challenge from Clark's Championship Gym

Frank’s Barbell Club takes on the challenge from Clark’s Championship Gym

The team match between Clark’s Gym and Frank’s Gym (in Massachusetts) went from a seven-man match to a match between four men and a woman. Clark’s Gym was the easy winner – 11,892.64 points to 7,893.59 pts.

The top six lifters were from Clark’s Gym and it was a close battle that went to the final lift of the day before John Carter beat Travis Luther for the overall title.

It came down to the final hip lift. With both lined up to attempt 1,905, an age group record for Carter (age 63), Travis had already broken the 80-kg, record of 1655 set at the Nationals in Columbia in 1995 by Cleveland’s Bob Hirsh. Travis sent the mark bye-bye with his 1815. The record was 27 years old.

As they headed into the final hip lift, Carter had exactly a three-point lead over Luther – 2,744 to 2,741. Rather than take something lighter than the 1,905 Carter chose, Travis decided to go head-to-head. He rolled it, but couldn’t hold it.

Carter did his usual psych job on himself and roared at the bar – and it came up.

The record list took a beating as 48 marks fell during the record day following the competition – 25 of them in Massachusetts and 23 in Columbia.

Take a good look at the standings. Hard to believe that Randy Smith wound up sixth and Abe Smith was fourth, losing to Carter, Luther and Dave Hahn, who slipped into third place as he slid into the 85-89 age group and did a record 820 hip lift in the 65 kg, class.

Janet Thompson, who had served on a televised panel concerning women in politics only four days earlier, found time between horse shows to add 10 records to her ever-growing list – which will soon get expanded as she will move into the 65-69 age group. Janet is also a leader in the horse show industry and is serving her third term as a county commissioner. She’s one of a kind.

Ol’ Clark actually did a few records as he lifted for the last time in the 85-89 age group. He kept his distance and stayed masked as Tony Lupo and Dave DeForest loaded his weights and judged from a distance. I had tested positive for covid-19 a week earlier. We were the only three in the special session. I tested negative two days later. Now it is on to the 90-94 age group. One last personal note: Covid had reduced my bodyweight to the 90-kg. class for the first time since I went through  basic training in the heat at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, in the summer of 1951.

The day was a throwback to the sessions that brought many of the USAWA leaders from the past to Columbia and training sessions in the gym with Carter, Garcia, Abe, Steve Schmidt, Art Montini, Dale Friesz, Tom Ryan, James Foster, Howard Prechtel and Noi Phumchaona, Kerry and Casey Clark, Amorkor Ollennuking, John Vernacchio, all three Zerchers, and a guy named Dale Spry, who had every chance to match Carter and Garcia in the chain lifts had he stayed with the game.

We missed the Nova Scotia gang, who would have really spiced up this competition. We hope they will lift in absentia at the 90th Birthday Party Bash later this month and send along their results.

As I struggled with five pounds in the one-hand swing earlier this week, I took solace in the fact that I am probably the only USAWA member – or lifter in an organization – who was competing as a positive for covid and had 11 total joint replacements at age 89. If you know of another, I challenge him or her. At least for now, covid is not a requirement for the match – just 11 total joint replacements for openers. I tested negative on August 4.

Officials (The 3 official system was used for both clubs):

Clark’s Championship Gym: Bill Clark, Dave Deforest, Abe Smith, Tony Lupo (Tony is an official in training)

Frank’s Barbell Club:  Frank Ciavattone, Mark Raymond, Chris Lestan

Bodyweight is in kilos.  All lifts and total are in pounds.

Lifts marked with an asterisk (*) are national records.  Lifters marked with a pound sign (#) lifted with no official, so are not eligible for records.

Team scores were determined by taking the top four male lifters and one female lifter from each team.

Name age age group weight weight class neck lift hip lift Deadlift, Civiattone grip, 1 hand Swing, dumbbell vertical bar, 2 bars, 1 inch1-inch total adj. points
John  Carter Male 63 60 98.4 100 245 1905* 205L* 70R 365* 2790 2856.23
Travis Luther Male 29 Open 76.5 80 245 1815* 185R 85L 445* 2775 2741.12
#Dave Hahn Male 85 85 64 65 270 820 140R 25L 200 1455 2640.65
Abe Smith Male 40 40 83.7 85 375 1505 235R* 130L* 430* 2580 2439.63
Dave DeForest Male 62 60 85 85 300 1300 170R 65L* 285* 2115 2412.59
#Randy Smith Male 67 65 98.5 100 311 1281 150R 89L 278 2109 2397.43
Tony Lupo Male 56 55 107.5 110 245 1000 170R 75L* 255* 1735 1655.04
Bill Clark Male 89 85 88.9 90 0 495* 125R* 5L* 165* 790 1242.36
Janet Thompson Female 64 60 73 75 120* 445* 105R* 30L* 184* 884 1125.01
Team total . 11,892.64
Frank’s Gym team
Mike Marchand Male 16 16 79.5 80 252 1003* 132L* 80R* 240* 1677 1777.65
Frank Ciavattone Male 67 65 125 125 350* 1250* 230L* 45R* 320* 2185 1767.68
Mark Raymond Male 59 55 103.5 105 160 1003 200L* 65R* 240* 1608 1613.98
Wade Marchand Male 53 50 73 75 252 500 145L 50R 240* 1188 1377.61
Jessica Hopps (F) Female 38 Open 94.5 95 252* 901* 116L 45R* 240* 1553 1356.55
Team total 7893.57

Record lifts outside the competition:

Bill Clark , age 89, bwt 88.9
vertical bar – 1 bar- 1 inch -Left 82.5
vertical bar – 1 bar – 1 inch – Right 82.5
Vertical bars – 2 bars- 2 inch – 115
Vertical bar – 1 bar – 2 inch – right  – 71.0
Vertical bar – 1 bar- 2 inch – left – 71.0
TONY LUPO – 56. bwt 107.5
Vertcak bar – 2 bars- 2 inch – 241.
Thor’s hammer  – 30.0 lbs.
ABE SMITH – age 40.  Bwt – 83.7-
Bent press – dumbbell -left – 115.
Bent press – dumbbell -right – 115.
Squat, front – 340.
clean and jerk – one arm – 145 Left
Clean and seated press – 215.
DAVE DeFOREST   Age 62.   Bwt 85. kg.
Curl, cheat – 2 dumbbells – 2×55.
Vertical Bar -1 Bar- 1 inch- Left 182
Dumbbell to shoulder – 132
Press – From Rack-behind neck – 105.
Seated Press behind neck – 95.
JANET THOMPSON Age 64, bwt 73 kg
Harness lift – 525.
Deadlift – 3 inch bar  – 100.
Vertical bar – 1 bar-1 inch – Left – 82.
Veretical bar – 1 bar-1 inch  – right – 82.
Vertical bar -1 bar  2-inch – left – 78.
JESSICA HOPPS.  Age 38. Bwt 94.5 kg
Rim lift – 155
Clean – continental – 96.
Dead lift -no thumbs- 185
Vertical bar – 1 bar- 1 inch – left -125
Vertical bar – 1 bar-1 inch – right – 125
MICHAEL MARCHAND.  Age – 16.  Bwt – 79.5
Rim lift – 215
Deadlift – no thumb-right – 116
Deadift – no thumb- left – 116.
Vertical bar – 1 bar-1 inch- left – 155.
Vertical bar – 1 bar-1 inch – right – 155.
WADE MARCHAND.  Age 53.  Bwt – 73.0 kg.
Rim lift – 215
Dealift – no thumb – left – 116.
Deadlift – no thumb – right – 116.
Vertical bar-1 bar- 1 inch – left – 145.
Vertcal bar -1 bar- 1 inch – right – 145.
MARK RAYMOND.  Age 59.  Bwt – 103.5.
Rim lift – 215.
Deadlift – no thumb – 235
Vertcal bar – 1 bar- 1 inch – left – 172.
Vertical bar – 1 bar-1 inch – right – 172
Clean and Press-Heels together – 88
FRANK CIAVATTONE.  Age 67.  Bwt – 125 kg.
Rectangular fix – 95.
Weaver strick – left – 6.5 lbs.
Weaver stick – right – 6.5 lbs.
Deadlift – no thumb-  left – 185.
Deadift – no thumb-right – 185.

 

2022 Presidential Cup

The 2022 Presidential Cup had a small turnout again this year, with 5 lifters setting 16 new records. Beth Skwarecki became the first repeat winner of the Presidential Cup with her 396 Lb. [180 Kg.] Kennedy Lift. All the lifters had a great time and were treated to some delicious food by Judy when the lifting was done.

The results:

Beth Skwarecki – 41 – 147 Lbs. -70 Kg. class- [40-44]

Kennedy Lift        – 190 Kg. – 419 Lbs.

Snatch – Fulton Bar – 40 Kg. – 88 Lbs.

Snatch from Hang –  53 Kg.  – 116 Lbs.

Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar – 1″- Right Hand – 67 Kg. – 147 Lbs.

Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar – 1″ – Left Hand  – 67 Kg. – 147 Lbs

Barry Pensyl  – 74 – 140 Lbs. – 65 Kg. Class – [70-74 ]

Lateral Raise – Lying –                    24.5 Kg. – 54 Lbs.

Abdominal Raise                       –  18.1 Kg.  – 40 Lbs.

Cheat Curl                                  – 42.5 Kg.  – 94 Lbs.

Ciavattone Deadlift – Right Hand –  57.5 Kg. – 127 Lbs.

Denny Habecker – 79 – 185 Lbs. – 85 Kg. Class [ 75-79 ]

Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar – 1″- Left Hand –  42 Kg.  – 93 Lbs.

Clean & Press – 12″ Base-                          – 45 Kg.  – 99 Lbs.

Continental Snatch                                 – 38.5 Kg. – 85 Lbs.

Aidan Habecker – 19 – 190 Lbs. – 90 Kg. Class [ 18-19 ]

Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar- 2″ -Right Hand – 97.5 Kg. – 215 Lbs.

Squat – 12″ Base                                       100 Kg.   – 220 Lbs.

Daphne Lansdown  – 6 – 48 Lbs. – 30 Kg. – [13 + U }

Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar -1″ -Right – 12.7 Kg. – 28 Lbs.

Officials – Denny Habecker, Barry Pensyl

Beth Skwarecki – Official in training

 

 

Courage Award

By Eric Todd

Dean Ross wins this year's Courage Award

Dean Ross wins this year’s Courage Award

The description of the Courage award reads as follows:

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.

This description fits Dean Ross to a T, and he is this year’s winner.  Dean has gone through a number of health issues this past year, but constantly shows up for competitions, lifts his heart out, and sets records in the process.  I looked back through the history of these awards, and surprisingly, this is only the second time Dean has won this award.   This was certainly not only the second time Dean has overcome obstacles.  I would like to send Dean out a huge, heartfelt CONGRATS!  You truly deserve this award.

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