2026 USAWA AWARD WINNERS: Newcomer of the Year (Men)

We are at the end of the individual awards and by no means the least. The 2026 USAWA Newcomer of the year (Men) is Isaac Bankens, from Iron Sharpens Iron Weightlifting Club in Lake Charles, LA. Isaac is the latest in a string of young people winning this award. And it’s great to see young people joining our sport! Isaac was voted Lifter of the Month in February. He is a relatively quiet individual who does very well in school (way to go!), and when he’s not studying, he’s competing in all-around lifting and in grip sport! Isaac finished first in the junior men’s division of the 2026 Bayou Beast Bash. He’s a great sport as well as he puts up some big numbers but does not make a show of it. There’s even a great video of him doing a 435-pound Dinnie lift on his dad’s Facebook page, none other than Jeff “T-Rex” Bankens. Isaac is a chip off the old block, and in the coming years will give dad a run for his money! But, like his dad, he’s a fun guy to be around. Congratulations Isaac Bankens, the 2026 USAWA Newcomer of the year!    

Drug Enforcement Director – Jessica Hopps

Congratulations Jessica Hopps on being appointed Drug Enforcement Director for the USAWA.

Jessica has been competing in All-Round Weightlifting since 2013. She is the 2026 Leadership Award Winner and reigning Heavy Lift Champion.

Drug-free competition is a primary principal of USAWA. We look forward to her direction in drug testing to ensure drug free sport.

Lifter of the Month, August 2026, Wade Marchand

August featured the Repetition Rampage Record Day, USAWA Presidential Cup, Light Weight Decathlon, Ol’ Clark’s 94th Birthday Party and the IAWA World Postal.  It was a very busy month and there were several standout performances.

Wade Marchand earned Lifter of the Month with his outstanding Trap Bar Deadlift Repetition Record of 167 pounds (bodyweight) x 31 repetitions. 

Wade currently holds 157 records going back to 2020.  He has competed in postal events, record days, Heavy Lift Championship (2023 and 2026), IAWA Gold Cup (2024), and National Championship (2025).

Congratulations Wade!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as lifter of the month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at usawasec@gmail.com

2026 USAWA AWARD WINNERS: COURAGE (Women)

This year’s winner of the USAWA Courage Award (women) is Lisa Gore. Lisa joined Clark’s Gym about two years ago and has been wreaking havoc on the USAWA’s record book ever since then. With 363 age / weight or all records, she now ranks #1 all time. In fact there are many events where she has the heaviest lift ever among the women. When Lisa was growing up, she worked on her dad’s pig farm. She’s served in the Army Reserve Nurse Corps, retiring as Major. She had a prior career teaching posing and competing in Figure Competitions and lifted weights since her mid 20’s, was obsessed with the strong female physique, then and lifted in the gym before it was fashionable for women. Always made fun of by friends for being naturally strong, but it was also beginning 2020 when she was diagnosed with a herniated disc, leg weakness and severe pain. She was told surgery or stem cells would be the treatment. Luckily she was last patient to get stem cells from a doctor in Las Vegas during Covid and began a long rehab with physical therapy, spinal alignment, and allowing the stem cells to work. Covid ended up being a blessing with less of a patient load, she worked through healing times. She thought she would never be able to return to heavy weights, scared to push her limits. 

In April 2024 Allison and Tony Lupo introduced her to the USAWA in and she became addicted to our brand of all-around lifting. She’s been a valued member of Clark’s gym and brings fun and inspiration to our group. Lifting has helped her recover and brought her back to lifting the ‘Popeye Weights’ at Clark’s Gym (see picture below).  Lisa has also struggled with some other health issues with Meniere’s which affects balance in the inner ear, and is affected by intracranial pressure that could be serious enough that if she’s not careful, she won’t be able to compete again.

Like everyone in our sport, hearing from your doctor that you should or can no longer compete whether it’s for two months or ever again hits us hard. Late last year and early this year, she was told she needed to take a break, with a bought of Vertigo that she hadn’t had for 10 years. There was no real time frame given for her to return. Passing balance training at MU, she slowly started making her way back into the gym early this summer with some light lifting. Her doctor made her lose weight and was still freaking out over the amount of weight she lifts. Lisa tried worked within her doctor’s recommendations and by the end of August has made it back to her old form. She still needs to be careful with her health (depending on the lift) – but she’s dealing with it with a smile and good humor. Lisa believes in tenacity and fortitude and personal excellence, never giving up. In her day job, she works at the MU hospital as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, has her DNAP, runs her own Medspa business, and is active in local politics. Congratulations to this years Courage Award Winner (Women) Dr. Lisa Gore!    

Results from Ol’ Clark’s 94th Birthday Party and Record Day

It was a fun weekend at Clark’s Gym when Bill enjoyed a lifting doubleheader – a meet to celebrate his 94th birthday anniversary – and chance to say “thank you” to the members of Clark’s Gym who have survived 14 meets in the gym this past 12 months, along with the Show-Me State Games power meet for the 37th straight year – and the gym’s handling of the third USAWA national meet in the past four years.

The dinner was for the 20 gym members who have made it all happen, year after year, and now have had to survive a doubling of the gym rental to go along with all the lifting and  the associated duties that go along with 14 meets in a year’s time.  The gym would have closed had it not been for the actions of the members, Bill is quick to say.

It was also a time for Bill to establish an age group record. Only he has recorded an entry in the record list past the age of 90. He finished 18th among the 25 male lifters.

He also enjoyed the opportunity to lift in the same meet with Tony Cook of England. He and Cook co-founded the IAWA beginning in 1982 and finalized the details of the organization in December, 1986. Tony was joined by  five British lifters who are listed in the results here with  a note that they did not figure in the awards for the USAWA-sanctioned part of the competition – along with others from the community who Bill invited to join in the lifting just for the hell of it. Cook won the duel between the co-founders. He just turned 90 and finished 13th here.

A great time was had by all.

And it has been a long time since a meet drew 33 lifters that was not the USAWA postal.

Bill has sanctioned his 95th birthday bash for August 18, 2027, a date that will find him in a new age bracket – 95-99.

Results from Ol Clarks 94th Birthday Party

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