Grip Championships
By Al Myers
2019 USAWA GRIP CHAMPIONSHIPS
Group picture from the 2019 USAWA Grip Championships
What a great day at the Grip Champs!
Twelve lifters made their way to the platform for the annual USAWA Grip Championships this year. This has always been a well attended event in the USAWA, and this year was one of the best ever.
Kaela Janzen was the overall Best Womens Lifter. Presenting his award was meet director LaVerne Myers.
There were so many excellent lifts that there’s no way to cover all of them in the meet report. The overall Womens Best Lifter was newcomer Kaela Janzen. The overall Mens Best Lifter was the meet director and grip aficionado LaVerne Myers.
I was very impressed with both Junior lifters Cole and Jarod. These two have excellent coaches and mentors with their Dad’s John and Jason. Also, excellent lifting was had by Scottish Johnny – who was the only one to break a Dino Gym record during the competition (his 185 1arm FB DL topped the gym record of 182 pounds).
Our President Denny Habecker made the longest trip to the event, coming from Lebanon Pennsylvania. Denny set several new records over the weekend to extend his century club record number and stretch his lead in the top spot.
It was great to see Ben Edwards back in action. Ben had the top mark in the dumbbell walk with 112 pounds. LaVerne mentioned this is his opening remarks but I would like to repeat it here. The Grip Championships only came about because Ben convinced me many years ago to have a grip challenge as he thought it would be well received by the membership. The first grip meet in the Dino Gym was promoted by Ben and that was the start of the tradition of the Grip Championships.
Lastly, I want to thank everyone who showed up to compete or support this meet.
MEET RESULTS:
2019 USAWA Grip Championships
Dino Gym
Holland, KS
Saturday, February 9th, 2019
Meet Director: LaVerne Myers
Scorekeeper: Al Myers
Announcer: Al Myers
Official (1 official system used): Al Myers
Lifts: Dumbbell Walk, Deadlift – Fulton Bar One Arm, Deadlift – Inch Dumbbells, Deadlift – One Arm No Thumb, Deadlift – Index Fingers
WOMENS DIVISION
| LIFTER | AGE | BWT | DW | FB1 | Inch | DL1 | IND | TOT | PTS |
| Kaela Janzen | 24 | 186 | 47R | 80R | 160 | 85R | 0 | 372 | 346.2 |
MENS DIVISION
| LiFTER | AGE | BWT | DW | FB1 | Inch | DL1 | IND | TOT | PTS |
| LaVerne Myers | 74 | 229 | 97 | 170R | 240 | 185R | 135 | 827 | 926.8 |
| John Strangeway | 40 | 196 | 92 | 180R | 240 | 190L | 230 | 932 | 850.3 |
| Chad Ullom | 47 | 239 | 97 | 165L | 240 | 200R | 225 | 927 | 812.5 |
| Ben Edwards | 43 | 219 | 112 | 160R | 220 | 195R | 225 | 912 | 806.1 |
| Cole Janzen | 17 | 181 | 77 | 155R | 190 | 160R | 120 | 702 | 692.2 |
| Denny Habecker | 76 | 193 | 37 | 115R | 140 | 120R | 100 | 512 | 639.3 |
| Brandon Rein | 23 | 154 | 77 | 100R | 160 | 130R | 115 | 582 | 609.4 |
| Jarod Payne | 17 | 288 | 102 | 130R | 200 | 145R | 120 | 697 | 541.6 |
| John Janzen | 53 | 291 | 67 | 130R | 180 | 145R | 110 | 632 | 530.6 |
| Dean Ross | 76 | 243 | 57 | 90L | 120 | 110L | 90 | 467 | 514.9 |
| Lance Foster | 53 | 345 | 67 | 110R | 140 | 145R | 155 | 617 | 478.7 |
EXTRA ATTEMPTS FOR RECORD:
John Strangeway: Dumbbell Walk 102
Cole Janzen: Dumbbell Walk 102
John Strangeway: Deadlift Fulton Bar Right 185
Jerod Payne: Deadlift Inch Dumbbells 220
John Strangeway: Deadlift No Thumb Left 195
Denny Habecker: Deadlift No Thumb Right 125
Dean Ross: Deadlift No Thumb Left 120
Dean Ross: Deadlift Index Fingers 100
BEST LIFTER AWARDS:
BEST WOMENS SENIOR – Kaela Janzen
BEST WOMENS OVERALL – Kaela Janzen
BEST MENS JUNIOR – Cole Janzen
BEST MENS SENIOR – Brandon Rein
BEST MENS MASTER 40+ – John Strangeway
BEST MENS MASTER 45+ – Chad Ullom
BEST MENS MASTER 50+ – John Janzen
BEST MENS MASTER 70+ – LaVerne Myers
BEST MENS MASTER 75+ – Denny Habecker
BEST MENS MASTER OVERALL – LaVerne Myers
BEST MENS OVERALL – LaVerne Myers
NOTES: All lifts recorded in pounds. BWT is bodyweight in pounds. R and L designate right and left arms. TOT is total pounds lifted. PTS are overall corrected points adjusted for age and bodyweight.
RECORD DAY LIFTS
John Strangeway – Age 40 years, bodyweight 196 pounds
Finger Lift – Index, Right 125
Finger Lift – Middle, Right 160
Finger Lift – Ring, Right 150
Deadlift – Fulton Bar, Left 160
LaVerne Myers – Age 74 years, bodyweight 229 pounds
Finger Lift – Index, Right 95
Finger Lift – Index, Left 95
Finger Lift – Middle, Right 105
Finger Lift – Middle, Left 105
Habecker Lift 185
Denny Habecker – Age 76, bodyweight 195 pounds
Anderson Press 145
Deadlift – Fulton Bar, Left 100
Deadlift – Fulton Bar, Ciavattone Grip 210
Habecker Lift 200
Deadlift – No Thumb, Left 100
Dean Ross – Age 76 years, bodyweight 237 pounds
Bearhug 152
Lurich Lift 220
Habecker Lift 185
Deadlift – No Thumbs, Overhand Grip 215
Deadlift – Fulton Bar, Ciavattone Grip 160