USAWA

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the Strength Journal, Vol. XVI No. 5. )

MIKE McBRIDE – NUMBER ONE!!!

Youngstown, Ohio, June 25-26 – Mike McBride used a 630 neck lift to beat Al Myers for the best lifter award at the USAWA National Championships held at the Jump Stretch Gym – the home of the championship sponsor.

McBride was in second place behind Big Al and barely ahead of Randy Smith from Marquette, Michigan, at the end of the first day’s five events. Randy, who has just turned 50, was in the best condition of his USAWA career and had some left in the tank after each lift.

By the time the field reached the neck lift – the last of the nine lifts forming the championship, McBride had fallen to third and Smith was within easy striking distance of Myers. When starting poundages were posted, it was obvious things would change.  Smith, once again, was capable of doing more than the 300 on his attempt.  Myers opened with 400 and made it with ease, but failed with 500 – which was Mike’s opener.  Had Al done 500, Mike would need 555.  With Al’s failure, Mike went on to do a personal record of 630, beating Frank Ciavattone along the way.

It was an exciting battle for top honors.  Another close battle came in the junior division when Ian Reel, a member of Myers’ Dinosaur Gym, upheld the honor of Kansas by slipping past Jump Stretch’s Andrew Loudon, a first-time competitor, who, like Smith, cut himself short in the neck lift and cost himself a title.  Both Randy and Andy will know better next time.

Ian nipped Andy in total points, 1842-1837.  Andy had done 400 on his third neck lift attempt and had already set an age group record.  He misread the record list and thought he needed 475 to set a new mark.  He made the 475 with ease and it was truly a national record – by more than 100 pounds.  Had Andy done the 475 as a third attempt, Ian would have joined Al Myers in second place.  Live and learn.

Close battles and some outstanding efforts could not hide the fact that only 21 lifters were in the competition.  We’ll discuss that problem later in The Journal.

McBride and Myers have hooked up several times in recent years at Clark’s Gym and their classic battle will continue at the Goerner Deadlift Dozen, the Zercher Meet, the Deanna Meet, Al’s Dinosaur Challenge in Jan., and the USAWA Nationals next June – which will be held in Salina, KS. with Al the meet director.

Thanks to the Jump Stretch folks – Dick Hartzell, Carl LaRosa and his staff and family – for an excellent weekend.  The wind-up dinner was outstanding.  Clark enjoyed the chicken as much as any I’ve ever eaten. 

MEET RESULTS

2005 USAWA National Championships
June 25-26, 2005
Jump Stretch Fitness Center
Youngstown, Ohio

Meet Directors: Dick Hartzell and Carl LaRosa
Emcee: Bill Clark
Scorekeeper: Bill Clark

Lifts: Deadlift with Fulton Bar, Bench Press feet in air, Cheat Curl, French Press, 2-Hand Anyhow with Barbell & Dumbbell, Vertical Bar 1 Bar 2″ 1 Hand, 1-Arm Hack Lift, Clean & Seated Press, Neck Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Mike McBride, Missouri
2. Al Myers, Kansas
3. Randy Smith, Michigan
4. Jim Malloy, Ohio
5. Frank Ciavattone, Massachusetts
6. John McKean, Pennsylvania
7. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania
8. Scott Schmidt, Ohio
9. Ian Reel, Kansas
10. Andy Loudon, Ohio

Best Lifter Awards:
Men Junior – Ian Reel
Men Open – Mike McBride
Men Master – Randy Smith

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the July, 2004 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. XV No. 5.)

IT IS ED SCHOCK’S WORLD

The world, it seems, belongs to Ed Schock.

Ed, a 51-year-old lawyer from Lebanon, Pa., made a clean sweep of best-lifter honors in 2004 to date.

He was the best lifter in the USAWA Nationals, despite missing one of the seven lifts in the championship totally.  Then he added best lifter honors in the IAWA International Postal Competition.

At the USAWA Championships, he missed all three attempt in the one-hand, 2-inch vertical bar deadlift.  Then on fourth attempt, he switched from the failed right hand to the untried left and was easily successful.  So much for the right hand the next time around.

Even with no score in the vertical bar lift, Ed easily won the best lifter award over John Monk, Tony Succarotte, and Bill Spayd.

Ed will have a chance to add a third major title on August 28 and won’t even have to leave home.  The USAWA Heavy Lift meet has been switched from Massachusetts to Lebanon and Ed will have his first chance to try the chain stuff. He is the favorite to win, even though he’s never done them.

Though strong everywhere, it is Ed’s pulling power which sets him apart.  Lifting in the 100-kg. class, Ed did a 440-lb. Zercher, a 363-lb. Fulton DL with overgrip in the postal meet and added a 635 trap-bar DL and a 330-lb. one hand hack in the USAWA Nationals. His 635 trap-bar was the best in the USAWA by anyone at any age or bodyweight.

The meet, run by John Vernacchio, came off without a hitch, despite an entry list which didn’t fill till the final moments prior to the entry deadline.

John has now turned his attention to the Silver Cup which he plans to do on the beach near Philadelphia in mid-September which the weather is still great. More on that meet later.  Thanks to John for putting on the latest tribute to Ed Schock.

MEET RESULTS

2004 USAWA National Championships
June 5-6, 2004
North Penn YMCA
Lansdale, Pennsylvania

Meet Director: John Vernacchio
Emcee: Larry Butts

Lifts: Cheat Curl, Vertical Bar 1 Bar 2″ 1 Hand, Trap Bar Deadlift, Straight Arm Pullover, Bench feet in air, Continental to Belt, One-Arm Hack Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Ed Schock, Pennsylvania
2. John Monk, Pennsylvania
3. Tony Succarotti, Delaware
4. Bill Spayd, Pennsylvania
5. Frank Ciavattone, Massachusetts
6. Larry Silvestri, Massachusetts
7. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania
8. Randy Smith, Michigan
9. Bob D’Angelo, Pennsylvania
10. Richard Durante, Pennsylvania

Women: Top Three Placings
1. Pam Maciolek, Pennsylvania
2. Tammie Rudisell, Pennsylvania
3. Maria Guaret, Pennsylvania

Best Lifter Awards:
Women 20-39 Age Group -Tammie Rudisill
Women Master Overall – Pam Maciolek
Women Open – Pam Maciolek
Men Junior 16-17 Age Group – Cale Demille
Men 20-39 Age Group – John Monk
Men 40-44 Age Group – Larry Silvestri
Men 45-49 Age Group – Frank Ciavattone
Men 50-54 Age Group – Ed Schock
Men 55-59 Age Group – Larry Blockston
Men 60-64 Age Group – Denny Habecker
Men 65-69 Age Group – John Vernacchio
Men 70-74 Age Group – Richard Durante
Men 75-79 Age Group – Joe Amendalaro
Men 80-84 Age Group – John Dorylis
Men Open – Ed Schock
Men Masters – Ed Schock
Men Junior – Cale DeMille

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the June, 2003 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. XIV No. 4)

HIRSH, HALL, MONK BEST AT USAWA

Youngstown, Ohio – June 7-8 — Bob Hirsh has been on the sidelines for more than two years with a variety of injuries.  Long rehab sessions with Howard Prechtel, the USAWA president, finally paid off and Bob, elected to the USAWA Hall of Fame two years ago, returned to action at the USAWA National Championships this weekend…. and he came back as if he had never been gone.

Bob won the best lifter award at Nationals, as well as being the best master and the best lifter in the 45-49 age group.  Lifting in the 70-kg. Class, Bob used a 525 hack lift and a 375 Zercher to rise to the top in a very competitive field.  Bill Spayd, now a state trooper in Pennsylvania, was close behind in second place with John Monk, Brandan Aldan, Chris Waterman, and Al Myers as close behind as one missed third attempt.

The point totals: Hirsh – 2250.38, Spayd – 2218.88, Monk – 2212.36, Aldan – 2144.60, Waterman – 2144.57, Myers – 2127.91.  Talk about close!!!

Rita Hall took the women’s crown in a close battle with 63-year-old Marian LaRosa.  Rita, a 41-year-old, tallied 1107.26 points with Marian close on her heels at 1096.67. 

Best junior was Joshua Monk.

MEET RESULTS

2003 USAWA National Championships
June 7-8, 2003
Jump Stretch Fitness Center
Youngstown, Ohio

Meet Directors: Dick Hartzell and Carl LaRosa
Emcee: Bill Clark
Scorekeeper: Bill Clark
Loaders: Chris Rice, Gary Smith, Jason Groves, Bob Carcelli, Chris Waterman

Lifts: One-Arm Snatch, Clean & Press Heels Together, Stiff Legged Deadlift, Hack Lift, Bench Alternate Grip, Cheat Curl, Vertical Bar 2 Bar 2″, Zercher Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Bob Hirsh, Ohio
2. Bill Spayd, Pennsylvania
3. John Monk, Pennsylvania
4. Brandan Aldan, Ohio
5. Chris Waterman, Ohio
6. Al Myers, Kansas
7. Jason Groves, Ohio
8. Antonio DelSignore, Ohio
9. Randy Smith, Michigan
10. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania

Women: Top Two Placings
1. Rita Hall, Pennsylvania
2. Marian LaRosa, Ohio

Best Lifter Awards:
Women 40-44 Age Group – Rita Hall
Women 60-64 Age Group – Marian LaRosa
Women Master – Rita Hall
Women Open – Rita Hall
Men Junior 14-15 Age Group – Joshua Monk
Men Junior 16-17 Age Group – Kiff Kincaid
Men Junior 18-19 Age Group – Joe Hunter
Men Junior Overall – Joshua Monk
Men 20-39 Age Group – Bill Spayd
Men 40-44 Age Group – David Olsavsky
Men 45-49 Age Group – Bob Hirsh
Men 55-59 Age Group – John McKean
Men 60-64 Age Group – Denny Habecker
Men 65-69 Age Group – Andy Komorny
Men 70-74 Age Group – Dennis Mitchell
Men 75-79 Age Group – Art Montini
Men 80-84 Age Group – Jack Lano
Men Master Overall – Bob Hirsh
Men Open – Bob Hirsh

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the July, 2002 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. XIII No. 3.)

NOI AND DICIOCCIO BEST AT USAWA

Bill DiCioccio and Noi Phumchaona were the overall winners in the USAWA’s National Championships at the Ambridge, Pa., VFW Club the weekend of June 29-30, giving the masters another sweep of overall honors.

Noi, lifting in the 55-59 age group and the 55 kg class, 688.3 kgs. and was an easy winner.  Carolyn Goolsby was second in her first-ever USAWA competition.  Carolyn is from South Carolina.  DiCioccio used a 1,725-pound hip lift at 62 years of age to edge past John Monk, Jr. for the men’s title.

The meet, directed by Art Montini and John McKean, was a friendly affair, as usual, topped off by a great dinner which cost the lifters the best price in history – nothing.  Still – only 27 lifters made it to the platform, even though the Pittsburgh area is almost in the center of the major concentration of USAWA members.

Thanks go to John and Art – and to Marilyn McKean for putting up with John and for handling the scorers’ table for both days.

MEET RESULTS

2002 USAWA National Championships
June 29-30, 2002
Ambridge, Pennsylvania

Meet Directors: Art Montini and John McKean
Scorekeeper: Marilyn McKean

Lifts: Steinborn, One-Arm Hack Lift, Trap Bar Deadlift, Clean and Seated Press Behind Neck, One-Arm Clean and Jerk, Stiff Legged Deadlift, Hip

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Bill DiCioccio Sr., Pennsylvania
2. John Monk, Pennsylvania
3. Brandon Aldan, Ohio
4. Frank Ciavattone, Massachusetts
5. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania
6. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
7. Larry Silvestri, Massachusetts
8. Dennis Mitchell, Ohio
9. Joe Hunter, Ohio
10. Bob Geib, Hawaii

Women: Top Two Placings
1. Noi Phumchaona, Ohio
2. Carolyn Goolsby, South Carolina

Best Lifter Awards:
Women Open – Noi Phumchaona
Women Master – Noi Phumchaona
Men Open – John Monk
Men Master – Bill DiCioccio, Sr.
Men Junior – Joe Hunter
13 and Under Junior – Joshua Monk
15 and Under Junior – Cale Demille
17 and Under Junior – Joe Hunter
20-39 Age Group – John Monk
40-44 Age Group – Nils Larson
45-49 Age Group – Frank Ciavattone
55-59 Age Group – Denny Habecker
60-64 Age Group – Bill DiCioccio Sr.
65-69 Age Group – Andy Komarny
70-74 Age Group – Art Montini
75-79 Age Group – Rex Monahan

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the July, 2001 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. XII No. 5.)

OLLENNUKING, MONK PACE THE USAWA

Columbia, Mo. June 24 – The smallest crowd in the history of the USAWA National Championships enjoyed a “fun” weekend, came away with a good share of records, engaged in close battles for best lifter awards, all in an air-conditioned setting at Lange Middle School – which proved to be an excellent venue for a national competition.

Only 17 lifters were on hand and two others – Chris Waterman and Frank Ciavattone – paid entry fees which they knew they’d not use, just to support the meet.  The meet sponsor, Clark’s Gym, didn’t take in enough money from entry fees to pay the rent, let alone pay for awards and other details.

Thanks to generous entry fees from Rex Monahan, Howard Prechtel, and Ciavattone, the losses were cut tremendously and the USAWA voted to cover any losses after the latest Monahan contribution.

But – the fact remains – the USAWA membership did not support the championships…..for whatever reason.  Maybe it was high gas prices, maybe it was distance, maybe it was a shrinking economy.  Or maybe it was either none of the above or all of the above.  The gut feeling was that the membership has come to show only limited support for the title meet, even when it was in such a setting as Ambridge or Lebanon.

Regardless of those who stayed home – those who enjoyed the weekend engaged in some of the closest competition ever.   John Monk won the grand champion award over 19-year-old Abe Smith of the host club, then teamed with Abe to set a two-man deadlift record of 825 pounds in a post-meet record session.  Joe Garcia used a 1,500-pound hand-and-thigh to finish third overall.

Amorkor Ollennuking and Noi Phumchaona did some great lifting with Amorkor taking the grand champion award and Noi the top master plaque for the women.

The closeness of the competition was pinpointed by the difference between Dennis Mitchell and Al Springs.  When the dust settled, Al totaled 1843.491 points (age corrected) and Dennis finished with 1843.472 points.  Talk about the thinnest of margins!

The meet was also a battle of the walking wounded.  Art Montini had back surgery less than two weeks earlier and was told to lift no more than five pounds.  He didn’t exactly comply, but often took only a light opener and moved on.  Dale Friesz was making his first start after hip replacement surgery three months earlier.  Dave DeForest had minor surgery on his calf two days before the meet.  Howard Prechtel had a badly damaged right quad and could do only three of the seven lifts.  Bill Clark set aside degenerating cartilage in the lower back and neck and a totally unusable left shoulder to turn in some of the more grotesque performances of the weekend.  A fun time was had by all.

The meet was a “gym” meet.   Because of the small field, the press was not invited to attend and no public announcement was made.  When people are lured into a national championship, they expect to see a full field and not a small group, half of whom were barely moving.  To have brought in the press would have been to embarrass the USAWA.

For those on hand, it will go down as a truly “fun” meet, even if they could not walk on Monday.  Clark’s Gym thanks to group which worked all weekend, loading and moving equipment, meaning that no lifter had to load a weight all weekend.  In fact, the lifters had to do very little officiating as well.  The slave laborers are listed in the results.

MEET RESULTS

2001 USAWA National Championships
June 23-24, 2001
Columbia, Missouri

Meet Director: Bill Clark and Joe Garcia
Emcee: Bill Clark
Scorekeeper: Bill Clark
Loaders: Joel Anderson, Jonathan Anderson, James Foster, Tom Powell
Officials: Art Montini, Kerry Clark, Casey Clark, Joe Garcia, Dale Friesz, Howard Prechtel, John Monk

Lifts: 1-Arm Snatch, 2-Barbell Deadlift, Hand and Thigh, 1-Arm Hack, Clean and Press heels together, Steinborn, 2-hand Anyhow with Barbell and Dumbbell

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. John Monk, Pennsylvania
2. Abe Smith, Missouri
3. Joe Garcia, Missouri
4. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania
5. Bob Geib, Hawaii
6. Al Springs, Missouri
7. Dennis Mitchell, Ohio
8. Dave DeForest, Missouri
9. Rex Monahan, Colorado
10. Art Montini, Pennsylvania

Women: Top Two Placings
1. Amorkor Ollenuking, Missouri
2. Noi Phumchaona, Ohio

Best Lifter Awards:
Women Open – Amorkor Ollennuking
Women Master – Noi Phumchaona
Men Open – John Monk
Men Master – Joe Garcia
Men Junior – Abe Smith