Heavyweights Battle it out in Postal Challenge

By Thom Van Vleck

Two teams participated in the challenge and the Dino Gym pulled out the victory.  This meet was a new concept for a USAWA meet and we will see if it catches on.  The idea being there would be no formulas used, the winners decided on who lifted the most weight…period.  I proposed the idea of the “straight weight” meet to get some of the bigger guys to come out and participate and as a result, some big boys showed up.  The Dino Gym had a combined weight that was a “Big Al Bacon n’Eggs style breakfast” short of a half ton at 991lbs.  The JWC was a relatively svelte 915lbs.  The average weight of the lifters involved was 318lbs!  I can only guess what that weight would have been had Al not had to replace his original team member, Mark Mitchell, who had to withdraw with a back injury!  Al’s paltry 255lbs brought the average way down!!!

I hope this meet was taken as intended:  Just another alternative and one that the Big Boy’s could embrace as their own.  I know my guys had fun doing it and hopefully it will motivate them to do some more USAWA lifting!  Oh, and one more thing, I calculated the age and weight factors just to see the outcome….and the Dino Gym doesn’t want to know those results!

Full Meet Results:

Officials for Dino Gym Team:  Al Myers and Scott Tully

Official for JWC:  Thom Van Vleck

Dino Gym Team: Al Myers (44 yrs, 255lbs), Scott Tully (34 yrs, 344lbs) John Conner (25 yrs, 392lbs)

Jackson Weightlifting Club: Thom Van Vleck (46yrs, 295lbs), John O’Brien (42 years, 285lbs), Josh Hettinger (29yrs, 335lbs)

Push Press – From Rack

1. John Conner 380lbs
2. Josh Hettinger 335lbs
3. John O’Brien 300lbs, Scott Tully 300lbs, Al Myers 300lbs
4. Thom Van Vleck 255lbs

DG: 980lbs & JWC: 890lbs

Vertical Bar Deadlift – 2 bars, 1″

1. John Conner 500lbs
2. Scott Tully 420lbs
3. Josh Hettinger 400lbs, Al Myers 400lbs
4. John O’Brien 380lbs
5. Thom Van Vleck 280lbs

DG: 1320lbs & JWC: 1060lbs

Continental to Chest

1. John Conner 385lbs
2. John O’Brien 335lbs
3. Al Myers 325lbs, Scott Tully 325lbs
4. Thom Van Vleck 315lbs
5. Josh Hettinger 275lbs

DG: 1085lbs & JWC: 925lbs

Cheat Curl

1. John Conner 250lbs
2. John O’Brien 235lbs
3. Thom Van Vleck 215lbs, Josh Hettinger 215lbs
4. Al Myers 201lbs
5. Scott Tully 181lbs

JWC: 665lbs & DG: 632lbs

Shoulder Drop

1. John O’Brien 95lbs, Josh Hettinger 95lb
2. Thom Van Vleck 85lbs
3. John Conner 45lbs, Al Myers 45lbs
4. Scott Tully 30lbs

JWC:  275lbs & DG:   120lbs

Totals: 1^st Place: Dino Gym 4087lbs, 2^nd Place: JWC 3835lbs