USAWA

When you visit the Boston, MA area, the Cradle of Liberty, you think of American history and some of the best seafood you can find. In sports, you think of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. In the USAWA, and beyond, we think of Frank’s Barbell Club in Walpole, MA. Nestled between Boston and Providence, RI, they are the easternmost organization of the USAWA and the 2025 USAWA Runner-up for gym of the year (see picture below). The criteria for this award are membership (Frank’s is one of the largest clubs), members competing in USAWA Nationals and IAWA Worlds (check), and sanctioning events (which they’ve done since last year – including a cross country OSTM event in May). They are certainly an active group. They have a record day coming up on Saturday 16 August which is listed on the Upcoming Events calendar! But, their members are more than a club, together they are like family. As their members will attest, the veterans help and give advice to the newer members with both lifting and life. They clearly enjoy competing together and their club is an important part of their lives. Led by Frank Ciavattone himself, part of the team was able to come to nationals in July 2025 and did very well. They are pictured below from left to right, Dan Jones, Frank Ciavattone, Jessica Hopps, Wade Marchand, and Nils Larson. Congratulations to Frank’s Barbell Club!    

The Minutes from the first EB meeting of 27 July were posted on the Facebook site and I’d like to include them here. A thank you to the outgoing EB for their work of the last two years. This is an all volunteer organization and it take a lot of work to make it go. The goals of the new EB are included in here and are short or long term goals. In the meantime contact us! We’d like to hear from you. The new EB is: Clint Poore – President, Joe Garcia – Vice President, Bill Clark – Treasurer, Kyle Frappier – Member-at-Large, and myself at Secretary now.

EXEC BOARD MINUTES

Today we’ll begin featuring the 2025 USAWA Award Winners. The first would normally be athlete of the year, but we’ll call this first one “All in the Family”! The 2025 Athlete of the Year was chosen in a close vote. Jeff Wenzel received the award for the first time. Jeff is a member of Clark’s Gym in Columbia, MO, joining the team after spotting in the Bench Press Decathlon a few years ago. Jeff embodies the description of the award accomplishing the most athletically within the last year. Not only does he compete in meets across the USAWA, but he’s tried about every lift in the book from Abdominal Raise to the Zeigler Clean. In his time as a member of the USAWA he’s amassed over two hundred records, including top lifts of all time in the Piper Squat and the Foot Press. He’s become a level one USAWA referee as well. Jeff is a fierce but gracious competitor. He’s won several meets including his 50th Birthday Bash in Clark’s Gym By day he works for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The 2025 Newcomer of the Year – Runner up is Logan Wenzel. At the tender age of 10 years, he’s a chip off the old block. He became interested in lifting watching his his older brother take on the record book. He has participated in all he can joining the Century Club two records ahead of his older brother! He has a bright future in lifting, finishing 2nd at the Stars of Tomorrow meet in June at Clark’s Gym. He is pictured below sporting his USAWA Award alongside dad after winning two gold medals (bench press and deadlift) on 26 July 2025 in Missouri’s Show Me Games. Congratulations to both of you!