USAWA

by Clint Poore

A mighty day of strength to you!

We are now a short 5 weeks away from the 2025 USAWA Nationals in Albany, Kentucky. I wanted to pass along a massive THANK YOU to all the lifters who are attending this year’s Nationals. It will be a great event and a lot of fun. As of today, all registered lifters for the 2025 USAWA have current memberships… THANK YOU. This is always a huge burden for any meet director and having all the lifters have current memberships will make things go smoothly. Here are a few items I would like to share bout the upcoming 2025 USAWA Nationals.

1. We currently have the largest USAWA Nationals field since 2003 with 27 lifters(see roster below). We lost a couple of lifters for various reasons. A breakdown of the lifters shows we currently have lifters from 10 states and 2 countries, this should be very exciting. If you know of anyone who would like to lift at the 2025 USAWA Nationals please have them register ASAP. The entry deadline is July 1^st and will be enforced. I would love to see this meet go over 30 lifters. We are heading the right direction and let’s keep moving forward. 

2. CALL FOR REFEREES! If you are interested in refereeing at the 2025 USAWA Nationals please let me know ASAP. All referees will be required to wear a blue polo while officiating, shorts or pants are fine. The blue polos do not have to have a logo on them, just be blue for uniformity of officials. We want this to be as professional as possible. Referees will not be lifting in the flights they are officiating. This will help streamline the meet. Please let me know ASAP if you want to referee at nationals and THANK YOU!

3. There will be over 40 chairs available to sit in at the meet location, but if you want to bring your own chair, please feel free to do so. 

4. The local newspaper, the Clinton County News, will be doing a pre-Nationals and post-Nationals article about the 2025 USAWA Nationals! Also, if you would like to have your hometown/local news paper do an article about your participation at the 2025 USAWA Nationals, please let me know. I will make you sound great and write a flattering article for your paper or have your local newspaper give me a call @ 606 688-2600 and we can do an interview about your tremendous lifting at Nationals! 

5. On Friday, July 18, the Southern Kentucky Distillery Tour is set for 2 pm and the national meeting is set for 5:30 pm at Angie’s Family Restaurant. Please let me know if you are attending the national meeting and distillery tour so we can have an accurate head count, thank you.

The next update will include flights and award divisions. At the moment, awards will be given in weight classes and age group winners. The Men’s & Women’s Overall Best lifter will be awarded as well. Men’s & Women’s Overall Master and Junior Best Lifter will be recognized as well. All lifters will be receiving medals for lifting at the USAWA Nationals.

   Updated Roster for the 2025 USAWA Nationals

    27 confirmed lifters

• Chris Frappier
• Kyle Frappier
• Jerry Wilson
• Jeff Bankens
• Isaac Bankens
• Clint Poore
• Ashley Stearns
• Randy Richey
• Jarrod Gaddis
• Beth Skwarecki
• Sanjiv Gupta
• Nisha Gupta
• Diya Gupta
• Lisa Gore
• Allison Lupo
• Tony Lupo
• Randy Smith
• David DeForest
• Chad Ullom
• Toby Ortega
• Frank Ciavattone
• Dan Jones
• Jessica Hopps
• Wade Marchand
• Nils Larson
• Dennis Habecker
• Larry Traub

    BE STRONG

    Clint Poore

The Stark Center has been on my list of attractions for quite some time. The family was teasing me as it was my Disneyland. I was recognizing pictures, people and pointing things out wherever I could.

It is housed at the University of Texas at Austin in the football stadium. Entering the stadium and taking an elevator to the 5th floor, visitors are greeted by the Warren Lincoln Travis dumbbell and a large main room with a stein display and large paintings. To the right is the library and research archives. To the right are the exhibits.

As I cannot do justice or organize my thoughts, I will just do a photo dump with my pictures and why they jumped out to me.

I did talk to Patty at the research center, and she is familiar with the USAWA and has several of Bill’s Strength Journals as Terry Todd was a subscriber.

Warren Lincoln Travis’ Dumbbell

Warren Lincoln Travis’ exhibition barbell from Coney Island

Bob Peoples’ stone loaded wooden barbell. The height seems similar to a standard barbell.

Sig Klein’s 160 pound stage barbell. The stage and splendor of strongman and odd lifting should not be forgotten.

Barbell made by Terry Todd and used by Mark Henry to train for 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic. It was neat to see equipment made from what could be found in the oil field.

George Jowett’s Anvil. Anvils have never been part of USAWA. It would be a challenging opportunity as the shape of every anvil is unique.

Basque Lifting Stone. I need to do some homework on this.

Jan and Terry Todd with some of his collection. Love the Iron Man plates.

Terry Todd earning his PhD in 1966. His interest led him to a doctorate degree.

Ironhistory Forum founder Joe Roark. I am subscriber and love the content.

Louis Cyr and his dumbbell.

Doug Hepburn holding a 45 pound plate at arm’s length by his little finger

1950’s picture of Marvin Eder with some grippers

Tommy Kono and Pete George with a 375 pound Team Clean & Jerk

Tommy Kono entertaining the crowd

1991 National Powerlifting meet. I am a Purdue grad and love seeing the support for women’s competition.

Her story chalkboard with Diya’s current claim to fame

Katie Sandwina

Richard Sorin’s 1991 close of the #3 Gripper

Cool statue in the library

Stein Collection

Frank Zane in a vacuum, Lou Ferrigno in a front double bicep and myself in overhead hands out double biceps. These paintings were just cool.

by Clint Poore

A mighty day of strength to you! 

      Thank you to everyone who has registered so far, it looks like the 2025 USAWA Nationals is going to be an exciting and memorable National Championship! Please check to list below for the current roster.            

1. We are less than 2 months away from the 2025 USAWA Nationals and the ROOM BLOCK will be closing soon! If you do not reserve a room before JUNE 8TH, you may not be able to get one. The price will change after the room block is released. Please use the information provided to reserve your room today.

HOTEL – BAYMONT INN  phone #(606) 387-7238. You must call the Baymont Inn to receive the group rate. You will not receive the group rate if you book online through a third party.

Group code is USAWA

The Baymont Inn has a block of 20 rooms for the USAWA for 139 dollars per night plus tax, more rooms can be added if necessary. 

You must call the Baymont Inn to make a reservation with the group code. This is peak season for Lake Cumberland and Dale Hollow Lake, meaning the rooms will only be held until JUNE 8TH! After June 8, the group code will no longer be available. Due to being the peak season for travelers, each reservation must be for a minimum of two nights, Friday & Saturday night. This is a destination location for travelers and you must book before the deadline of June 8th. If you wait to the last minute you may not get a room.

2. The entry deadline is July 1st, please make sure you get registered and signed up before then. Late entries will not be accepted. Don’t wait to register, because its going to be a fantastic meet!

3. I have been asked if the Mighty Buffville Stones will be available to lift! Yes, they will be available on Friday, the day before Nationals and Sunday after Nationals. For anyone interested in etching their name in history by lifting the Mighty Buffville Stones, please let me know and we will set up a time for you to earn your t-shirt and hoist the Mighty Buffville Stones!

Here is the current roster for the 2025 USAWA Nationals

26 confirmed lifters from 10 states and 2 countries!

Chris Frappier

Kyle Frappier

Jerry Wilson

Jeff Bankens

Isaac Bankens

Clint Poore

Ashley Stearns

Aaron Rains

Randy Richey

Jarrod Gaddis

Beth Skwarecki

Sanjiv Gupta

Allison Lupo

Tony Lupo

Randy Smith

Helen Kahn

David DeForest

Chad Ullom

Toby Ortega

Frank Ciavattone

Dan Jones

Jessica Hopps

Wade Marchand

Nils Larson

Dennis Habecker

Larry Traub 

Here is the inventory we currently have left in stock. Upon getting rid of this inventory, we will look at another method by which to sell USAWA Merchandise. Here is what we have left:

$15 Blue Official’s polo shirt: 1-3X

$8 each Black short sleeve T-shirts: 2 Large

$8 each Gray short Sleeve T-shirts: 3 -large, and 3- 3X

$10 each Black Long Sleeve T-shirts: 1- Large, 5- XL, 2 -XXL, 1- XXXL

$10 each Gray Long Sleeve T-shirts: 1 -medium, 3- XL, 1- XXXL

$15 Gray Hooded Sweatshirts: 1- small, 1 -XXL, 1 -XXXL

Black hooded sweatshirts are SOLD OUT!

Copious amounts of the old blue patches and water bottles. I will throw some in for free on any order. Order multiple shirts and I will cut you a deal. Just send me an email at Sal Guimino@yahoo.com. Let me know what you want, and I will let you know what kind of a deal we can cut. The more you order, the sweeter the deal will be.