USAWA

Here are the results from the 3rd Annual Two Fisted Challenge held on 19 – 20 September 2026. This meet was held in Columbia, MO and open to remote competition. There were 13 lifters from four different clubs involved in this meet. In spite of the unique name, the results were settled with iron, and of course, brought out some of the competitive tendencies in USAWA lifters where the prizes were “skinned fingers”. Makes one think of the Garth Brooks song, “Rodeo”.

On the Women’s side, three familiar competitors entered the contest. RJ Jackson put up some great numbers and after weight and age were considered, she posted more than 1300 points as the top mark. But, she did not have a referee available and could not add to her prodigious overall record total. Lisa Gore lifted a total of more than 1000 lb and set age weight records and ALL records across all 14 events. Allison Lupo lifted more than 860 lbs herself, and also set records in every event, four of which were ALL records. All three lifters certainly had a spectacular weekend. Lisa and Allison both had 80+ pound efforts on two individual digits, while all three lifters had finger deadlifts greater than 100 lb. Lisa Gore got 152 lb on the deadlift middle finger and Allison Lupo posted a 120 lb effort in the same event.

The Men’s competition boiled down to a battle between Frank’s Barbell Club and Clark’s Gym. The top six positions were members of these two clubs, and Frank Ciavattone walked away as the champion this year. He posted an astounding one ton total in raw weight, but after age and weight were considered, he finished with over 2100 points which was nearly 300 ahead of the next competitor! His efforts resulted in 12 new records six of which were ALL records. Veteran lifter John Carter finished second overall with over 1500 lb total in raw weight and 1850 points. He showed that he’s still a formidable force with age and weight records in eight events. Third and fourth produced the closest outcome with Nils Larson lifting one pound more than Jeff Wenzel. When you’re talking 1750 lbs, that is basically a tie. But their age difference resulted in Nils taking 3rd and finishing just 7.5 points off second place. Nils set age weight records in 12 events, while Jeff racked up nine records of his own. The difference between these two were emblematic of the entire top six. Frank’s Barbell Club dominated the single digit lifts (Frank and Nils topping the list) while Clark’s were tops in the two finger deadlifts. Jeff took first in the finger deadlift category in terms of raw weight and was one of two lifters to get more than 200 lb in a finger deadlift event. Fifth and sixth also produced a tight finish with Wade Marchand grabbing fifth (no pun intended). Wade set six age and weight records and had an impressive day on the two finger deadlifts finishing third overall in those four events in raw poundage. Tony Lupo finished sixth overall and was the other lifter to top 200 lb in a finger deadlift event. In seventh place was Bill Clark, who was the only male lifter to set 14 age and weight records. At 94 years young, it was quite a show to watch him work for 763 lb and almost 1300 points after age and weight. In eighth place was Jarrod Fobes, but his finish does not tell the whole story. He put up an impressive 1145 lb participating in only 10 events having had to bow out of the two finger deadlifts due to injury. Given his pace he would have clearly finished in the top four as he finished fourth considering age and weight, but third in raw weight, in the single digit events. This included seven age and weight records which were ALL records as well. He even tied one of his previous records. Jerome Licini and Sanjiv Gupta also participated in the competition and had pretty good days themselves by lifting nearly 5% more than the previous year. This is significant since as we age, the ability to keep up with the previous year is not a guarantee. Sanjiv also set eight age and weight records as well. Congratulations to all 13 lifters who combined for more than 100 records and countless skinned digits!

3rd Annual Two Fisted Challenge

This year, the points were so close between two clubs, I chose to just award co-Clubs of the year rather than pick a winner and runner-up or flip a coin. For the first club, when you think of the Denver Colorado area, you think of outdoor activities, skiing, the Colorado Rockies (beautiful mountains and baseball), the Avalanche, Nuggets, and Broncos. One certainly can’t get lost when the mountains are to the west! And the area is famous for Denver omelets, Coors beer, and good Mexican style food. This is the home of High Country Vigour, a club led by Sanjiv Gupta, our 2026 Leadership Award winner. High Country Vigour has become our western hub as they’ve volunteered to be a location for the USAWA Heavy Lift Championships. They’ve revived some older events such as the Team Lift Championship and proposed some new events as well (e.g., ground-to-Overhead Challenge, Carnival in the Cul-de-Sac). They participate in remote meets and allow remote competition in their own meets. Some of their members have proposed new lifts, and they are active in generating interest in the team and repetition lifts. Pictures from their meets show they enjoy competing together.  Congratulations to a relatively new club High Country Vigour as the 2026 co-Club of the Year winner. They certainly live up to the name!

The second club is one that has been with the USAWA for a long time. And when you think of Lebanon, PA, you think of the beautiful rolling terrain of the Appalachians, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and Ivy League universities. It is not far from Philadelphia, the ‘Cradle of Liberty’. You think of Philly steak sandwiches and Hershey PA (Ok, maybe I’m the one that thinks of food). It is the home territory of the Phillies, Eagles, 76ers, and Flyers. But, you also should think of Habecker’s Gym, which is led by one of the great Hall-of-Famers in the USAWA, Denny Habecker. Denny sits atop the USAWAs all-time individual record list. He served the USAWA as president for many years and has been in charge of designing and compiling the quarterly postal competitions. He has many members of his club spread across Pennsylvania and has even attracted some new members from my old stomping grounds, Upstate New York! Denny is the original USAWA ‘road warrior’, frequently making meets across the USAWA. Habecker’s Gym members participate in remote competitions as well and they will be the host of the IAWA World Championship in less than two weeks. Congratulations to Habeckers’ Gym as the 2026 co-Club of the Year winner!