USAWA

There are powerful figures in the comics and movies, like Superman, Hulk, etc.. But, when I think of real-life powerful human beings, I think of Frank Ciavattone – this year’s USAWA Courage Award Winner. First, friend him on Facebook, you’ll see some amazing pictures of his physical power over the years. One of my favorites (below – from 1993) is Frank looking like he’s going to sink a 253 pound marble stone for a lay-up. Google his name, and you will find details for amazing feats of strength. For example, he is the first American to lift the Dinnie Stones and was inducted into Massachusetts Hall of Fame for wrestling. He is also in the USAWA Hall of Fame and now ranks 3^rd all-time with more than 450 records. Frank may be known for his physical toughness, but you will find he is a person who displays toughness of character and spirit. This year has been particularly difficult for him – in a way that would knock down most people. In the past, he battled and survived some serious health issues. Through it all he maintains a kind and positive demeanor. This is another and more important reason to friend him as he is always posting words of wisdom, strength, and inspiration. He is loved by his family and friends. By day, Frank has his own business as a heavy equipment operator. He wrote a book about the difficulty of keeping Boston operating and then opening it up after the Blizzard of 1978. He founded and leads Frank’s Barbell Club in Walpole, MA – which is a group that is more like a family. But, even more important to him, you will find words like kindness, character, and generosity used to describe his personality. He is a true gentleman. Congratulations to one of the living legends in the USAWA as the 2026 Courage Award Winner!  

 

This year’s version featured three different lifts or variations of a lift from last year’s roster. As was the case last year, the idea was to choose lifts that are challenging, yet something most folks can perform. Also, we wanted lifts that typically don’t exceed 100 lbs. Five lifters hit that mark on the Jefferson Deadlift with Little Fingers, and three on the Ziegler lift, two on the Finger Lift Thumb, and one each on Side Press Dumbbell, Lateral Raise Lying, and Crucifix. That’s only 13 of the 160 lifts. Lifters who hit 100 lbs were Jeff Wenzel (4), Riley Wenzel, Dan Jones, and Frank Ciavattone (2), Toby Ortega, Nils Larson, and Tony Lupo (1). For Women, the equivalent mark would be 75 lb and Lisa Gore hit that mark in the Jefferson Lift. I have notes below for each lifter as to where you place overall, in your age category, in your weight category, for raw weight moved, and how many events each Women’s lifter finished 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd after Lynch and Age adjustment. For the Men’s, I noted 1^st through 5^th for each event.    

In spite of temperatures near 90 F and dewpoints from 75 – 80 F in Columbia of course, the turnout was fantastic. We had 16 lifters from five gyms compete. Two people emerged as the champions of a challenging two days – on the women’s side, Lisa Gore from Clark’s Gym was the repeat champion. On the men’s side, Jeff Wenzel (Clark’s Gym) knocked on the door last year. This year he kicked it in to win the Men’s title. On the Women’s side RJ Jackson and Jessica Hopps finished 2^nd and 3^rd, respectively, while on the Men’s side, Riley Wenzel and Toby Ortega finished 2^nd and 3^rd place.

Some interesting notes: Lisa Gore would place 3^rd of all 16 lifters when a gender adjustment was applied. Also, while the father and son team of Jeff and Riley Wenzel finished at the top, they also became the first M/M team to do the Anderson Press at 305 lb. Lifters who set records in every event were Lisa Gore (10), RJ Jackson (6), Toby Ortega (10), and Nils Larson (10). 

Some lifters who did the event last year saw some vast improvements due to more equipment and better health. Jarrod Fobes and Jerome Licini were up by 36% and 32%! Other lifters were up too. Lisa Gore was up 23%, Riley Wenzel 13%, Allison Lupo 8%. Toby Ortega and Jeff Wenzel were slightly up.     

Thank you to all who participated. The response was great. The weights may have been light, but there was a ton of fun and camaraderie. The results below showed that there was a lot of good lifting that took place from good lifters – including six male and female lifters who are top 10 on the Individual Records list. As we look down the road for the future, we will swap in some different lifts and take out a few to keep the list fresh. Additionally, we’ll look for a date that is further away from other meets, possibly during a cooler month.

Any suggestions for next year’s event will be welcome.

*USAWA Age/Weight Record, **USAWA ALL Record. NE = No equipment

WOMENS DIVISION

NAME	Age	Age Category	Weight lbs / (kg)	Weight (Class)	Lynch Factor	Age Concern
Lisa Gore	60	60	217.0 / 98.6	100	0.8536	1.21
RJ Jackson	64	60	102.0 / 46.4	50	1.4329	1.25
Jessica Hopps	42	40	158.0 / 71.8	75	1.0280	1.03
Kim Van Wagner	59	55	128.6 / 58.5	60	1.1842	1.20
Allison Lupo	60	60	200.0 / 90.9	95	0.8926	1.21
Crystal Diggs	39	ALL	176.0 / 80.0	80	0.9612	1.00

NAME	Side Press (H)	Jefferson Deadlift Little Fingers	Lateral Raise Lying	Thor’s Hammer	Pinch Grip Strict (H)
Lisa Gore	45R**	80**	44**	26**	41R**
RJ Jackson	35R*	45**	30*	NE	38R**
Jessica Hopps	30L**	55**	20	24.5**	42R**
Kim Van Wagner	30R**	26**	20	18	26R
Allison Lupo	27R**	32**	20t	16*	29R*
Crystal Diggs	30R**	61**	20	NE	31R**

NAME	Crucifix	Zeigler Clean and Jerk	Finger Lift Thumb	Rectangular Fix Fulton	Weaver Stick Forward
Lisa Gore	60**	71**	36R**	60**	3.0**
RJ Jackson	30*	0	33R**	NE	NE
Jessica Hopps	30t	45*	46L**	42**	3.25**
Kim Van Wagner	20	26**	38R**	35**	0.5*
Allison Lupo	20**	40**	26R**	30**	1.75**
Crystal Diggs	30	53**	23R**	NE	NE

NAME	Total Weight	Lynch Factor (Weight)	Age Concern	Rank
Lisa Gore	466.0	397.78	481.31	1
RJ Jackson	211.0	302.34	377.93	2
Jessica Hopps	337.8	347.21	357.62	3
Kim Van Wagner	239.5	283.62	340.34	4
Allison Lupo	241.8	215.79	261.10	5
Crystal Diggs	248.0	238.38	238.38	6

MENS DIVISION

NAME	Age	Age Category	Weight lbs / (kg)	Weight (Class)	Lynch Factor	Age Concern
Jeff Wenzel	51	50	232.0 / 105.5	110	0.8235	1.11
Riley Wenzel	21	ALL	150.0 / 68.2	70	1.0262	1.00
Toby Ortega	46	45	158.5 / 72.0	75	1.0262	1.07
Dan Jones	42	40	200.0 / 90.9	95	0.8926	1.03
Wade Marchand	57	55	163.0 / 74.1	75	1.0076	1.18
Frank Ciavattone	71	70	263.0 / 119.5	120	0.7733	1.38
Nils Larson	67	65	239.0 / 108.6	110	0.8112	1.30
Tony Lupo	60	60	244.5 / 111.1	115	0.8018	1.21
Jarrod Fobes	49	45	211.5 / 96.1	100	0.8655	1.10
Jermone Licini	67	65	230.3 / 104.7	105	0.8268	1.30

NAME	Side Press (H)	Jefferson Deadlift Little Fingers	Lateral Raise Lying	Thor’s Hammer	Pinch Grip Strict (H)
Jeff Wenzel	97R**	115	124	41	71R
Riley Wenzel	60Rt	105	70	41t	31R
Toby Ortega	65L**	105**	84*	41*	51L*
Dan Jones	60R	110**	70	44.5	55L**
Wade Marchand	40R*	77*	30*	26.5*	47L*
Frank Ciavattone	30R*	110*	50*	22*	50L**
Nils Larson	60R*	55*	70*	22*	50L*
Tony Lupo	101L**	70*	44	39	61R**
Jarrod Fobes	80R**	45	40	28*	58R
Jerome Licini	35R*	55**	16*	21.2*	33.7R*

NAME	Crucifix	Zeigler Clean and Jerk	Finger Lift Thumb	Rectangular Fix Fulton	Weaver Stick Forward
Jeff Wenzel	120*	121*	59R*	85*	5.0
Riley Wenzel	80	111**	42R**	70**	3.0
Toby Ortega	80*	55*	34R*	65*	3.0*
Dan Jones	70*	135**	71.5R**	68**	5.75**
Wade Marchand	70*	85**	71.5R*	85*	4.5
Frank Ciavattone	40	55*	132L**	85*	6.0t
Nils Larson	60*	70*	101R**	73*	4.75*
Tony Lupo	24	71*	51R*	60*	4.0*
Jarrod Fobes	45	45	78R**	45*	2.5
Jerome Licini	16	45*	37R*	55*	3.0*

NAME	Total Weight	Lynch Factor (Weight)	Age Concern	Rank
Jeff Wenzel	838.0	685.74	768.02	1
Riley Wenzel	613.0	651.74	651.74	2
Toby Ortega	583.0	598.27	640.15	3
Dan Jones	689.8	615.67	634.14	4
Wade Marchand	521.5	525.46	620.05	5
Frank Ciavattone	580.0	448.34	618.71	6
Nils Larson	565.8	458.94	596.62	7
Tony Lupo	525.0	420.95	509.34	8
Jarrod Fobes	466.5	403.76	444.13	9
Jerome Licini	317.0	262.10	340.72	10

Women’s Overall Champion: Lisa Gore

Crystal Diggs, 6^th overall, 1^st ALL, 1^st 80 kg, 3^rd Raw Weight, Events: 2^nd (Zeigler Clean), 3^rd (Jefferson DL), 4^th (1). Records: 5 ALL (of 7 events).

Jessica Hopps, 3^rd overall, 1^st 40 – 44 y, 1^st 75 kg, 2^nd Raw weight, Events: 1^st (Weaver Stick), 2^nd (2 – Thors Hammer, Pinch Grip), 3^rd (4), 4^th (2). Records: 7 ALL, 1 Age/WT, 1 tie.

Kim Van Wagner, 4^th overall, 1^st 55 – 59 y, 1^st 60 kg, 5^th Raw weight, Events: 2^nd (2 – Thumb lift, Rectangular Fix), 3^rd (3), 4^th (2). Records: 5 ALL, 1 Age/WT .

Lisa Gore 1^st 60 – 64 y, 1^st 100 kg, 1^st Raw weight, Events: 1^st (5), 2^nd (3 – Side Press, Lateral Raise, Weaver Stick), 3^rd (1), 4^th (1). Records: 10 ALL.

Allison Lupo, 5^th overall, 3^rd 60 – 64 y, 1^st 95 kg, 4^th Raw weight, Events: 3^rd (1  – Weaver Stick), 4^th (4). Records: 7 ALL, 1 Age/WT, 1 tie

RJ Jackson, 2^nd overall, 2^nd 60 – 64 y, 1^st 50 kg, 6^th Raw weight, Events: 1^st (4 – Side Press, Lateral Raise, Pinch Grip, Finger Lift Thumb), 2^nd (2). Records: 3 ALL, 3 Age/WT (6 events).      

Men’s Overall Champion: Jeff Wenzel

Riley Wenzel, 2^nd overall, 1^st ALL, 1^st 70 kg, 3^rd Raw weight, Events: 2^nd (2 – Thor’s Hammer, Ziegler Clean), 3^rd (3 – Jefferson, Little, Lateral Raise, Crucifix), 5^th (2). Records: 3 ALL, 2 tied

Dan Jones, 4^th overall, 1^st 40 – 44 y, 1^st 95 kg, 2^nd Raw weight, Events: 1^st (1 – Ziegler clean), 3^rd (2 – Thor’s Hammer, Weaver Stick), 5^th (4). Records: 6 ALL, 1 Age/WT

Toby Ortega, 3^rd overall, 1^st 45 – 49 y, 1^st 75 kg, 4^th Raw weight, Events: 1^st (1 – Thors Hammer), 2^nd (3 – Jefferson Little, Lateral Raise Lying, Crucifix), 3^rd (1 – Pinch Grip Strict), 4^th (1). Records: 2 ALL, 8 Age/WT

Jarrod Fobes, 9^th overall, 2^nd 45 – 49 y, 1^st 100 kg, 9^th Raw weight, Events:  3^rd (1 – Side Press), 4^th (2). Records: 2 ALL, 2 Age/WT.

Jeff Wenzel, 1^st overall, 1^st 50 – 54 y, 1^st 110 kg, 1^st Raw weight, Events: 1^st (3 – Lateral Raise, Pinch Grip Strict, Crucifix), 2^nd (1 – Side press), 3^rd (2 – Ziegler Clean, Rectangular Fix), 4^th (1), 5^th (2). Records: 1 ALL, 4 Age/WT

Wade Marchand, 5^th overall, 1^st 55 – 59 y, 2^nd 75 kg, 8^th Raw weight, Events: 2^nd (2 – Rectangular Fix, Weaver Stick), 3^rd (Finger Lift, Thumb), 4^th (2), 5^th (1). Records: 1 ALL, 8 Age/WT.

Tony Lupo, 8^th overall, 1^st 60 – 64 y, 1^st 115 kg, 7^th Raw weight, Events: 1^st (1 – Side Press), 2^nd (1 – Pinch Grip Strict), 4^th (1). Records: 2 ALL, 5 Age/WT  

Nils Larson, 7^th overall, 1^st 65 – 69 y, 2^nd 110 kg, 6^th Raw weight, Events: 2^nd (1 – Finger Lift Thumb), 4^th (3), 5^th (1). Records: 1 ALL, 9 Age/WT

Jerome Licini, 10^th overall, 2^nd 65 – 69 y, 1^st 105 kg, 10^th Raw weight. Records: 1 ALL, 8 Age/WT.

Frank Ciavattone, 6^th overall, 1^st 70 – 74 y, 1^st 120 kg, 5^th Raw weight, Events: 1^st (4 – Jefferson Little, Finger Lift Thumb, Rectangular Fix, Weaver Stick). Records: 2 ALL, 6 Age/WT, 1 tie

RECORD DAY AT CLARK’S GYM 

Jeff Wenzel     AGE 51                        WT 110 kg

Team Anderson Press                          305 lb

Side Press, DB Left                              87 lb

Pich Grip, Strict Left                            51 lb

Riley Wenzel   Age      21                    WT 70 kg

Team Anderson Press                          305 lb

Allison Lupo   Age 60                         WT 95 kg

Team Anderson Press                          205 lb

Side Press, DB Left                              22 lb

Pinch Grip Strict, Left                          29 lb

Finger Lift, Thumb Left                        26 lb

Weaver Stick, Backward                      2.0 lb

Tony Lupo       Age 60                         WT 115 kg

Team Anderson Press                          205 lb

Apollons Lift                                        145 lb

Pinch Grip, Strict Left                          46 lb

Finger Lift Thumb Left                         31 lb

Weaver Stick, Backward                      5.0 lb

Toby Ortega    Age 46                         WT 75 kg

Side Press, DB Right                            60 lb

Finger Lift, Thumb Left                        31 lb

Pinch Grip, Strict Right                        51 lb

Jefferson, Index                                   142 lb

Jefferson, Middle                                170 lb

Lisa Gore         Age 60                         WT 100 kg

Weaver Stick, Backward                      3.0 lb

Pinch Grip Strict Left                           31 lb

Finger Lift, Thumb Left                        21 lb

Officials, Clark’s Gym:

Bill Clark, Allison Lupo, Tony Lupo, Jeff Wenzel

RECORD DAY AT FRANK’S BARBELL CLUB

Frank Ciavattone        Age 71             WT 120 kg

Lateral Raise, Standing                        40 lb

Seated Press, DB, 2H                           44 lb

Clean and Press, Behind Neck            20 lb

Bench Press, 2 DB                               80 lb

Continental to the Chest                     155 lb

Nils Larson                  Age 67             WT 110kg

Bench Press Reflex                              225 lb

Bench Press, One Arm Right               51 lb

Bench Press, 2 DB                               130 lb

Bench Press, DB Left                           70 lb

Bench Press, DB Right                         70 lb

Wade Marchand        Age 57             WT 75 kg

Anderson Squat                                   315 lb

Bench Press Reflex                              115 lb

Clean and Jerk, 2 DB                           80 lb

Clean and Jerk, Behind Neck              100 lb

Clean and Jerk, Fulton Bar                  103 lb

Dan Jones                   Age 42             WT 95 kg

Finger Lift, Thumb, Left                       61 lb

Pinch Grip, Strict R                              55 lb

Bent Press DB Left                              60 lb

Jessica Hopps             Age 42             WT 75 kg

Pinch Grip, Strict Left                          40 lb

Finger Lift Right Little                          40 lb

Finger Lift Right Ring                           67 lb

Finger Lift Right Middle                      77 lb

Finger Lift Right Thumb                       46 lb

Officials:

All five lifters are certified officials.

RECORD DAY IN COLORADO

Jarrod Fobes   Age 49                       WT 100 kg

Finger Lift, Left Little                        78 lb x 3 R        218.71

Finger Lift, Left Ring                         78 lb x 10 R     729.05

Finger Lift, Left Middle                     103 lb x 10 R    962.71

Finger lift, Left Index                         78 lb x 24 R      1749.71

Finger Lift, Left Thumb                     58 lb x 4 R        216.84

Colorado Officials:

Kim Van Wagner

RECORD DAY IN TEXAS

Crystal Diggs      Age 39 y                               WT 80 kg

Leg Press, Self Loaded                                    51 lb

Pullover and Press, Wrestler’s Bridge        10 lb

James Lift                                               33 lb

Squat, Overhead                                              45 lb

Shoulder Drop                                                 33 lb

RJ Jackson           Age 64 y                            WT   50 kg

Abdominal Raise, Roman Chair                   30 lb

Pull up                                                           26 lb

Chin up                                                          36 lb

Deadlift, Ciavattone, No Thumbs R            106 lb

Rim Lift                                                       176 lb   

Texas Officials:

Each refereed the other

I had a chance to visit the oldest gym in North America while taking a trip to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. William “Bill” Oliphant Sr was born in 1893 and founded the gym in 1913. His grandfather was a strongman and Bill was interested in Physical Culture since boyhood.

The gym has a wonderful blend of modern and vintage equipment. The vintage equipment includes fixed weight Milo Barbells, a blend of vintage dumbbells and benches. It is supplemented with modern dumbbells, bumper plates, functional trainer and barbells. The decor sets it apart with drawings of the classic strongmen and performers of the time.

Nisha and I had a great workout with some bench press, cleans, seated rows, back extensions, pull-ups and alternating dumbbell curls.

One of the trainers Andrew was kind enough to share a few stories including how women were allowed to train at Oliphant’s when no other facility would let them train. All were welcome and life outside the gym was checked at the door. Judges and criminals could lift side by side. I also discovered a neck strengthener of a fashion I had never seen before.

The gym which is now a non-profit run by the members for the members preserves the history of physical culture in North America as the United States All-Round Weightlifting Associations preserves the history of the original forms of weightlifting.

Have you had any interesting physical culture experiences lately? Consider drafting an article and submitting to usawasec@gmail.com for publication on the website. Accomplishing our mission of preserving the history of the original forms of weightlifting depends on all of us.