2026 HERMANN GOERNER DEADLIFT DOZEN +1 RESULTS

It’s been a long and busy week, but the results are in. This is one of the more challenging meets in the USAWA pantheon of meets. Nonetheless, the meet attracted lifters from across the nation. There were five clubs and 16 lifters who competed and set records. The results were strong with more than 13 tons of iron moved in the competition alone. That’s a rate of one ton per event.

On the women’s side, newcomer Brittany Kreisler led the way, winning her second straight event and by a large margin! She was impressive as she lifted over 2,000 lb in raw weight. She really put on a clinic setting nine new records, including all four finger deadlifts, and tying for another. This included a 300 lb lift in both the Jefferson and Heels together deadlift. Finishing second was Allison Lupo who set six new age / weight records, though for many she’s competing with herself. She was close to 1500 points after age and weight are factored in, a strong total in spite of some “dings and dents”. Her best left was a 125 lb middle finger deadlift. RJ Jackson was equally impressive as she lifted just about the same amount of raw weight as Allison, in fact getting one pound more. Kim Van Wagner finished fourth in spite of not getting all the lifts in, and set records in five of the 11 events in which she competed. Jessica Hopps entered by doing the finger lifts, setting records in three of four events in spite of not being at 100% health. She is also competing with herself in many of these records. Jessica set some impressive bench press records as well and hopefully she’ll be back at 100% soon!

On the men’s side, the results were closer and Jeff Wenzel held off teammate and USAWA Hall of Famer, John Carter. Jeff won by just 57 age and weight adjusted points, as he and John finished above 3,000 points. That’s a margin of 1.8% at that level! But, unfortunately with weights, unlike elections, a recount cannot happen. Seriously, Jeff was the only lifter to pass 3,000 pounds in raw weight and in three events topped 400 lb. In second place, the ageless John Carter threw up more than 2,500 lb setting four age and weight records and tying another. John was strong across the board, though his thumbless one arm deadlifts were very impressive. Third, fourth, and fifth resulted in an interesting battle between Wade Marchand, Nils Larson, and Tony Lupo. Wade finished third putting up some impressive lifts in the Reeves Deadlift as well as the finger deadlifts to finish about 240 points ahead of his teammate. Nils then edged Tony Lupo for fourth and he was equally impressive with the Reeves and finger deadlifts. Nils set five new records as well. Tony Lupo finished 5th and his best left was a 205 lb middle finger deadlift (similar to Allison – maybe not a surprise for a pair of native New Yorkers). Sanjiv Gupta finished his day with more than 2,000 lb lifted. He was impressive with five new records including three finger lift records. Jerome Licini also finished the day with a strong total about equal to last year’s which is really a win! Riley Wenzel and Dan Jones both could not finish their days due to work. Dan finished seven lifts setting records in four of these, including an age weight and ALL record in the Reeves Deadlift. This was the best lift of the meet in the Reeves event. Riley got eight lifts in and he was impressive in the Jefferson and heels together deadlifts, finishing second in the latter event only to his dad!

Check out the record day results as well. There were some unique but impressive lifts done.

2026 Hermann Goerner Deadlift Dozen + 1 Results

USAWA CLASS OF 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: BARRY PENSYL

Our fourth honoree admitted to the USAWA Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class is Barry Pensyl who joined Abe Smith, David DeForest, and Dave Glasgow. Barry had to wait until the IAWA World meet in Lebanon, PA and received his plaque after that due to the illness of Tony Lupo. Barry has been part of the USAWA’s pantheon of lifters for the better part of four decades. Barry holds more than 230 USAWA records, which is good for 17th on the list of individual records all-time. Barry has competed in a number of USAWA National and IAWA World Championship meets. He’s finished in the top 10 in eight of these meets, including four top five finishes. Barry has competed in many USAWA events and recently became a certified USAWA official.

Barry has had a long career in lifting before the modern USAWA being part of a group called the Twin Cities Weightlifting Team. He was also part of the York Lifters and is described by a colleague as an excellent Olympic lifter! Additionally, he was part of the USAWA Valley Forge Club with fellow Hall of Famer John Vernacchio. More recently, Barry has been a proud member and regular at Habecker’s Gym and is a valued member of the organization. A common trait that all our HOF members have is that they are very willing to share their experience about lifting and the USAWA with newcomers. Barry is no different as he has reached out to help new lifters feel at home as a lifter and in Habecker’s Gym. Gym members describe him as a true gentleman!   

In his life outside the gym Barry lives in Easton, PA and lives with his family after working for the Water Department in Harrisburg, PA. The 2026 USAWA class welcomes Barry Pensyl on his induction to the Hall of Fame! Congratulations to Barry Pensyl.   

2027 Heavy Lift Championship

This year the heavy lift championship will be at Frank’s Barbell Club.  This has been a multivenue event in 2025 and 2026, but with declining entries west of the Mississippi, USAWA is returning to a single venue format for 2027.

Meet name: Heavy Lift Championship

Date: May 15, 2027

Location: 204 East Street, East Walpole, MA 02032 (Frank’s Barbell Club)

Promoter: Jessica Hopps, Frank’s Barbell Club

Sanctioned by: USAWA-membership is required of all lifters

Lifts: Neck Lift, Hand and Thigh, Hip Lift

Cost: $35 (payment (check, PayPal or Venmo to Jessica Hopps – please email for payment details – jessicahopps1@gmail.com)

Entry Deadline: April 17, 2027

Awards: There will be awards for the lifters

This is a drug tested event. Please only enter if you know you can pass a drug test!

2026 3rd Quarter Postal

22 Lifters competed in this postal, 16 men and 6 women. Randy Smith was the leader among the men and Sylvia Stockall led the woman’s field this quarter.

July 1 thru September 30. All lifts and BDWTS are in pounds . Records are marked with an*. One hand lifts are right hand unless marked with an L.

Lifters with no certified officials- Randy Smith, Sylvia Stockall, Barry Pensyl, and Jerome Licini.

Lifts: Snatch – From Hang, Pullover and Push, Deadlift – Dumbbell, One Arm

NameAgeBDWTCLASSSnatchP & PDLTotalPoints
Randy Smith7120195100195252-L547672.50
Jeff Wenzel51233110140*260323723665.54
Dan Jones4219790130*226311667618.99
Barry Bryan68173.68093.69176.36180450576.72
Denny Habecker84173.88055.11143.29163*361.41574.93
Riley Wenzel2115170115200221536567.62
Tony Lupo60243.5115110155231*561545.29
Nils T. Larson6724011090*222205*517544.73
Wade Marchand571637580*157*214*451537.13
Jarrod Fobes49217100136*225209-L570535.77
Sylvia Stockall68153.47066.1154.3100320.4521.05
Travis Luther3316880110155221-L486480.46
Barry Pensyl78121.9604299110251472.25
Sanjiv Gupta55205.995110140191-L441450.02
Jessica Hopps42160.7756286140-L288402.92
Logan Wenzel11874022*33*116*171382.08
Kim Van Wagner59129.36045*55109-L209378.19
Jerome Licini68230.61056173190324353.78
Lisa Gore6121810070*100*166*336348.96
Janet Thompson69164753060103193345.41
Frank Ciavattone71268.912545*100170*315331.93
Allison Lupo601999530*60*83173249.12

Hermann Goerner Deadlift Dozen (Plus One) and Record Day, Columbia MO

OCTOBER 30 – 31, 2027

CLARK’S GYM AND REMOTE.

ENTRY FEE – None.

WEIGH-INS – 8 a.m, both days.

AWARDS – Certificates for male and female.

LIFTS – All deadlifts to include

  • two-bars,
  • Reeves, 
  • Jefferson,
  • heels together,
  • hack,
  • all four fingers,
  • one-hand with each hand,
  • one-hand thumbless with each hand.

OPEN TO THE WORLD – All competition in Clark’s Gym is hybrid. You may compete in your local gym or in the friendly confines of Clark’s Gym in Columbia, Mo. To compete remote, you must enter by 10 p.m. on Tuesday 26 October 2027 or your results will not be accepted. You must send all results to Bill Clark via e-mail only at yeoldclark@gmail.com not later than 10 p.m. on Tuesday 2 November 2027.

Included on the reporting form must be the name of the official(s) involved. DO NOT send your remote results to the USAWA. They must be approved by the meet director first. If you have no officials, your results will be included in the final tabulation of the competition and be eligible for meet awards – but not records. Your honesty is the key to all competitions.

OFFICIALS – Must accompany remote results to be eligible for records.

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