by Al Myers
MEET ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW ENGLAND ALL-ROUND RECORD DAY
Frank Ciavattone "setting up" to pull a big Jefferson Lift at the 2012 IAWA World Championships.
Date: December 1st
Meet Promoter: Frank Ciavattone
Location: Frank’s Barbell Club, Walpole, Massachusetts
by Al Myers
Chad Ullom (left) VERSUS Eric Todd (right) in a Neck Lift Challenge! Will one of these SUPERMEN exceed the 1000 pound barrier?
We are in for a SPECIAL TREAT this weekend at the 2012 IAWA World Championships. The two best Neck Lifters in the WORLD have agreed to have a duel – a NECK LIFT SHOWDOWN! Last year at the 2011 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships in York, PA, Chad Ullom became the first man to exceed 900 pounds in the Neck Lift with a lift of 900. Then this year at the USAWA Heavy Lift Championships in Bowling Green, OH Eric “ET” Todd broke Chad’s record with a outstanding 905 pound effort. However, ET’s record didn’t last long, as Chad upped it to 915 pounds at a record day in the Dino Gym this summer. Well, that didn’t set well with Eric so this challenge was issued! (ok…in reality I set it all up, but it sounds better this way!!!!). Both of these guys are “on the hunt” to be the first man to break the magical 1000 pound barrier. Maybe this challenge on this big International stage will bring it out in them? This will be a good ole’ fashioned ONE ON ONE DUEL, reminiscent of past circus shows between strongmen.
The greatest Neck Lifter in HISTORY Frank Ciavattone will be on hand to be the head official for this duel. Frank holds the Guinness WORLD RECORD in the Neck Lift at 808# under the strict judging criteria of Guinness. This is the link to Frank’s Guinness World Record: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-4000/heaviest-weight-lifted-by-neck/ . This battle will occur right after the finish of Sunday’s competition, while the meets scores are being tabulated. It is something that you will NOT WANT TO MISS!!
by Al Myers
Two legends in All-Round Weightlifting, John Vernacchio (left) and Frank Ciavattone (right) at the 2009 IAWA World Championships in Lebanon, PA.
Yesterday brought some bad news to the All-Round Community with the news of the passing of John Vernacchio. Anyone who has been involved with the USAWA for any length of time knows John. John has been one of the primary leaders in our organization since the beginning, and without his efforts the USAWA might not even exist today. I could go “ON AND ON” regarding John’s titles and lifting resume, but today I want to take the time to remember John for “the man he was”, and from the comments that I have received about him, it is obvious that he was loved and well-respected by all. Please continue to send any comments and/or stories about John, and I’ll share them here on the USAWA website.
by Steve Gardner
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but for those who knew him, just wanted to let you know John Vernacchio has passed away. John was my very good friend and buddy from Philadelphia USA, a prolific all round weightlifter and powerlifter in his early days and a big mover and shaker in the US all round organisation too. John was 75 I think, and he suffered a fatal heart attack this morning. So very very sad. Rest in peace John.
by Andrew Tomlin
he was a gentleman and a legend R.I.P john
by Barry Bryan
Very sad news to hear. I lifted for his gym,trained with him, and he is the one who got me in the all round lifting. We had many great times.
by James Gardner
RIP JOHN. ALWAYS A LEGEND
by Joe Garcia
Sad news indeed. Remember a lot of good times with John at his meets. I called Bill and let him know. If anyone has current address or funeral data shoot them to me.
by John Gardner
Very sad to loose the legend will miss you mr v
by Steve Angell
Am sitting here with tears in my eyes. This has just become one of the saddest days of my life. l owe that man so much and had a love for him like a father. RIP John. You really were a legend!
by Rick Meldon
Horrible news, a great bloke indeed
by David Horne
Very sad news. I always remember my time at his place in Philly with fondness. A great chap!
by Tom Ryan
Yes, very sad news. I echo the comments made above. I knew John well, especially from the 1989-90 academic year that I spent in the Philly area and trained a few times at his gym. John was very active in staging competitions during the early years of the USAWA, in which he was a charter member. And he was a force on the lifting platform! He was a good Olympic lifter who switched to powerlifting after the press was eliminated, as the press was his best lift. John retained his strength as he aged much better than most of us do, as he squatted with 601 at the age of 47, which tied his personal record. Yes, John was 75 and would have turned 76 near the end of the year.
by Graham Saxton
Very sorry to hear the news. I had the pleasure to spend sometime with him on a number of occasions. Treasured memories.
(THERE WILL BE MORE TRIBUTES TO COME OVER THE FOLLOWING DAYS)
by Al Myers
As promised the other day, I am going to announce the GRAND BEST LIFTERS (for both men and women) in the 25 year history of the USAWA. This award is going to the lifters that currently have the most National Records (records set only at the National Championships). To do this requires a lifter not only to be a GREAT LIFTER, but also has shown the committment to have competed in several championships, thus showing longterm support to the USAWA. Just winning the OVERALL BEST LIFTER at a couple of championships won’t be enough. Now the drumroll please…..
MEN’S GRAND BEST LIFTER – FRANK CIAVATTONE
WOMEN’S GRAND BEST LIFTER – NOI PHUMCHAONA
Frank has a total of 45 Nationals Records and Noi has a total of 53 National Records. Those are amazing accomplishments!! Both of these lifters are well-deserving of this title, the BEST of the BEST, as there are several other “worthy” lifters in the running. With the men I’m thinking of guys like Bob Hirsh, Chris Waterman, John McKean, John Monk, Ed Schock, Bill Spayd, and others. For the women, I’m thinking of Jacqueline Caron/Simonsen, Amorkor Ollennuking, Cara Collins, and others.
The National Record List contains 902 records covering 57 lifts (including single arm lifts) that have been contested in the National Championships.
WOMEN NATIONAL RECORD LIST
(for lifters that have 10 records or more)
| RANK | LIFTER | RECORDS |
| 1 | Noi Phumchaona | 53 |
| 2 | Cara Collins | 19 |
| 3 | Jacqueline Simonsen | 15 |
| 4 | Amorkor Ollennuking | 13 |
| 5 | Jeanne Burchett | 11 |
| 6 | Kerry Clark | 10 |
| 7 | Cindy Garcia | 10 |
MEN NATIONAL RECORD LIST
(for lifters that have 10 records or more)
| RANK | LIFTER | RECORDS |
| 1 | Frank Ciavattone | 45 |
| 2 | Al Myers | 30 |
| 3 | Bob Hirsh | 27 |
| 4 | John Monk | 26 |
| 5 | Chris Waterman | 23 |
| 6 | Denny Habecker | 21 |
| 7 (tie) | Randy Smith | 19 |
| John McKean | 19 | |
| 9 | Jim Malloy | 18 |
| 10 (tie) | Joe Ciavattone | 17 |
| Chad Ullom | 17 | |
| 12 (tie) | Joe Garcia | 14 |
| Bob Geib | 14 | |
| 14 (tie) | Dennis Mitchell | 13 |
| Bill Spayd | 13 | |
| Art Montini | 13 | |
| 17 | John Vernacchio | 12 |
| 18 | Dale Friesz | 11 |
| 19 | Ed Schock | 10 |
by Roger LaPointe
Frank Ciavattone performing a Zercher Lift at the 2000 USAWA National Championships. The entire video of this meet is available for sale from Atomic Athletic.
Comparing old records to modern records can be tough. In the case of Ed Zercher, we can compare contemporary results in the Olympic lifts.
The Olympic weightlifting contests were very different in the early 1930s. The biggest difference being in the number of lifts contested in a single day. Today, there is just the Two Hand Snatch and Two Hand Clean & Jerk, but way back then it was a weightlifting pentathlon, including the single hand version of those lifts and the military press. Of course, the equipment was less sophisticated and the rules slightly different.
At the Fifth Annual Western AAU Weight Lifting Championships Ed Zercher (Bodyweight 156 Pounds), had the following lifts:
One Hand Snatch 120 lbs.
One Hand Clean & Jerk 130 lbs.
Two Hand Military Press 170 lbs.
Two Hand Snatch 145 lbs.
Two Hand Clean & Jerk 200 lbs.
Total 765 lbs.
Ed was also a Loader and Official in the meet.
As a comparison, John Terlazzo (Olympic Gold Medalist Tony Terlazzo’s brother) won the 148 pound class at the 1935 AAU Junior Nationals, as well as John Terpak and Walter Good, as reported in the same issue of The Arena & Strength.
| Terlazzo (148#) | Terpak (148#) | Good (165#) | |
| One Hand Snatch | 143# | 126.5# | 159.5# |
| One Hand C & J | 159.5# | 143# | 176# |
| Two Hand Military Press | 181.5# | 176# | 203.5# |
| Two Hand Snatch | 187# | 187# | 192.5# |
| Two Hand C & J | 242# | ——- | 275# |
| Total | 913# | 632.5# | 1006.5# |
(I believe Terlazzo’s OHS was his National Record, but it is not mentioned as such in the accompanying article.) Terpak went on to win a Gold Medal in the 1936 Olympics and Good took 14th in the 1936 Olympics. As you can see, when it came to the five lift Olympic contests, Ed was not quite up to Olympic caliber, but he was not far off.
Thom Van Vleck has reported on the USAWA web site (usawa.com) that “The oldest record listed that has a verified date (Old record list from Bill Clark) is a Harness Lift done by Ed Zercher, Sr with 2150lbs in 1940.” He also reports, “Clark stated that the below records were Missouri Valley AAU marks prior to 1941. So, while we don’t know the exact year these were set, they were set prior to or in 1941. “
Aug. 3-4, 1963 Iron Man Lifting News reported on the 3rd Annual Heart of America Festival, which contested 15 different events, of which Ed (age 56) competed in the following:
Roman Chair 610 lbs., Leg Press-Unsupported 10 Reps 600 lbs.
The Zercher Lift was also a lift at this meet, but Ed did not compete in it. However, he did officiate. Ed continued to be a judge for Olympic weightlifting contests in the 1960s, Iron Man Lifting News has him listed as an official for the Dec 7, 1964 Missouri State Weightlifting Championships, Missouri State AAU Olympic Weightlifting Championships at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, December 10, 1967. He was also an official for the March 30-31, 1968 Missouri State Penitentiary Weight Decathlon, during which they contested 10 lifts, including the “ Zercher Lift”. The Emcee was Bill Clark. Ed did not lift in either contest.
Zercher would likely have been considered a “Presser”, but his One Hand Snatch was quite good as well. If powerlifting had been an organized sport in the 1930’s, I suspect that with his pressing ability transferring to the bench press, his record in the deadlift and obvious ability with leg pressing and other squat-type movements, he would have really done well, if not taking some national or world titles.