Author Archives: Tony Lupo

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.   

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.

2027 Two Fisted Challenge IV and Record Day

SEPTEMBER 25 – 26, 2027

CLARK’S GYM AND REMOTE

ENTRY FEE – None.

WEIGH-INS – 8 A.M. both days.

AWARDS –   Certificates for male and female.

LIFTS –

  • All four fingers and thumb, on each hand; 
  • deadlifts by pairs of fingers, Index, middle, ring, and little.

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 remotely, you must enter by 10 p.m. on 21 September 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. 28 September 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.

RESULTS OF THE USAWA SECOND ONE TON CHALLENGE AND RECORD DAY

The results of the Second One Ton Challenge are now available. Let’s just say ‘challenge met’ as 15 lifters from five gyms across the nation took part and lifted nearly 11 tons of iron during the competition on the weekend of 10 – 11 October 2026. The lifting took place in person in Columbia, MO and remotely elsewhere. The meet was meant to produce big numbers and this year did not disappoint.

On the Women’s side, Clark’s Gym welcomed a new lifter, Brittany Kreisler, who works with Jeff Wenzel by day with the State of Missouri. Brittany set four records in her first meet and lifted over 1200 pounds to take the title on the Women’s side. She was quite impressive for a rookie with the USAWA, but she is no stranger to competitive weightlifting. Janet Thompson set records in all five events, hoisting more than 850 lb and finishing about 47 Lynch and Age points behind Brittany. Jessica Hopps from Frank’s Barbell Club finished third but was the second lifter on the Women’s side to throw up over 1000 lb in raw poundage and set four records of her own. Lisa Gore finished fourth needing only 23 lb to hit the 1000 pound mark, but she did set five records as well. Combined with a very impressive record day, the meet leaves her just four records short of being the first female lifter to post 400 records. Not to be outdone, RJ Jackson lifted more than 700 lb in spite of not having the equipment to do the Kennedy Lift. All the competitors in the Women’s Division did extremely well, but last year’s Champion, Allison Lupo, did not compete due to having to share her husband’s germs.

On the Men’s side, the competition was fierce as Jeff Wenzel added nearly 300 lb to last year’s total which was enough to hold off team mate Toby Ortega by just under nine Lynch and Age points. In spite of lifting more than 1.2 tons, Jeff only set two new records since he’s competing against himself generally for those. But, his record day lifts took him over the 400 lift mark all-time, only the 6th male to do so. Toby Ortega made his debut in this event and pushed up more than one ton himself. At a body weight of about 72 kg, this was mighty impressive as he set records in all five lifts. Jeff and Toby made some eyes pop out with a 755 lb and 655 lb Anderson Squat and Kennedy Lift, respectively. Riley Wenzel and Philip Marlin battled for third and fourth. Riley edged Phillip by lifting more than 1900 lbs, which was the same as last year in both poundage moved and final position. Philip was the most impressive on the day lifting more than 1.3 tons!! In spite of a 4th place finish, Philip was over the 700 lb mark on both the Anderson Squat and the Kennedy Lift. The battle for fifth and sixth was fought between Tony Lupo and Wade Marchand. Tony edged Wade this time but only by 34 Lynch and Age points. Wade pushed up nearly 1400 lb and set five records while Tony set four age and weight records. Dan Jones was only eight Lynch and Age points behind his team mate, and set three new records including a lift of 606 lbs in the Anderson Squat. Nils Larson and Sanjiv Gupta were close after Lynch and Age points were counted and both had a great day with four new records put into the books. Jerome Licini also competed, but with no referee, he was not able to put a few records in the books. But, with more than a half ton in weight lifted, it was another strong performance for him and like RJ Jackson probably lifted much more as their own loaders!

All in all, it was a great competition but we can’t finish this without a tip of the cap to Frank Ciavattone. While he did not compete, he did the Record Day portion and became only the third lifter in USAWA history to pass 500 records all-time. He joins fellow USAWA legends, Denny Habecker and Al Myers as members of elite 500 record club. Congratulations!

2nd One Ton Challenge Results

1 2 3 … 15