Zercher’s Zercher Lift Record Broken!
by Al Myers
Art Montini breaking Ed Zercher's USAWA record in the Zercher Lift.
Often when someone’s record is broken, it just “disappears into obscurity” and no one really cares or thinks about it anymore. All the attention goes to the one who BROKE the record. But something historic happened recently when it comes to “broken records” that I think needs pointed out to everyone. At the 2011 IAWA World Championships in Australia, Art Montini broke Ed Zercher’s record in the Zercher Lift. I mention this because this was the LAST USAWA RECORD held by Ed Zercher in the Zercher Lift, the lift named after him. In 1988 at the Zercher Strength Classic, Zercher did a 160 pound Zercher lift in the 80 plus age group, 90 kilogram weight class. Art broke his record with a fine lift of 176 pounds. This act removed an All-Round lifting legend from the USAWA Record List! Lately, Art has broken several of Ed’s records which have been “on the books” for over 20 years, but none as meaningful as this one. Art now owns 10 age group/wt class records in the Zercher Lift, which is a record in itself.
I still have not seen a picture of Ed Zercher performing his signature lift. But at least now I have a picture of THE MAN who broke Ed’s Zercher Lift record. I predict someday Art Montini will have legendary All-Round lifting status equal to or above that of Ed Zercher, and this picture will be worth BIG BUCKS!