USAWA

In 2025, athletes were put to the test on their single arm movements. In 2026, athletes were tested with their weightlifting movements. The Clean & Press, Clean & Push Press, and Continental to Chest & Jerk are unforgiving on athlete’s shoulders but does allow demonstration of technical lifting.

Of (14) registered athletes, only (9) were able to complete the event. Four athletes in Colorado took up the challenge and another five athletes took up the challenge in Missouri. In addition to the usual suspects, Josh Williams joined us. Josh primarily trains powerlifting and bodybuilding, but learned the All-Round movements quickly.

Clean & Press – This is one of the original lifts in the Olympics and was contested from 1928 to 1972 but was removed due to difficulties in judging proper technique. In Colorado, we had no issues judging and even the heaviest lifts, did not come close to the 27 degree maximum allowed back angle. Jarrod had the top lift in Colorado at 165 pounds and Abe had the top lift overall at 185 pounds.

Clean & Push Press – This surprised me as the strongest lift among most athletes that showed a decline or only modest improvement when allowed to perform a jerk. Jarrod again had the top lift in Colorado at 185 pounds and Abe had the top lift overall at 185 pounds.

Continental to Chest & Jerk – This is the closest lift that USAWA has to a Clean & Jerk. The difference being that one can work the weight up prior to performing a jerk. I had to take advantage of this on my second attempt when I missed the clean, but caught it on my belly and then worked it up so that I could execute the jerk. Jarrod and new lifter Josh had the top lifts in Colorado at 165 pounds. Abe again had the top lift overall at 265 pounds.

Clark’s Gym had the most team points with 2,570 compared to 1,797 for the High Country Vigour crew.

None of the athletes in Colorado elected to do record session lifts. The die-hard crew in Missouri set fifteen records after the competition lifts were concluded.

Thank you to all the athletes that participated.

COMPLETE RESULTS:

Location: High Country Vigour, Lakewood, CO and Clark’s Gym, Columbia, MO
Meet Director: Sanjiv Gupta
Meet Scorekeeper: Sanjiv Gupta
Date: February 14, 2026

Officials: (1-Official System) Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes, Allison Lupo, Jeff Wenzel, Dave DeForest, Bill Clark

Lifts: Clean & Press, Clean & Push Press, Continental to Chest & Jerk

WOMEN’S DIVISION

MEN’S DIVISION

*No Official – Ineligible for Records

RECORD SESSION LIFTS

TONY LUPO. AGE – 59. BWT – 244
Deadlift – Fingers – index – 185
Piper squat – 180
Cheat curl – dumbbell left – 70
Cheat curl – two dumbbells – 2×50 – 100
Clean and press – alternate grip – 130

DAVE DeFOREST. AGE – 66. BWT – 183
Deadlift – Inch dumbbell left – 90
Middle fingers clean and press – 78
Clean and push press – two dumbbells – 2×50 – 100
Cont. to chest – 140
Cont. to chest – Fulton bar – 140

JEFF WENZEL. AGE – 50. BWT. – 231
Clean and press – 12-inch base – 150
Clean and press – alternate grip – 140
Clean and press – behind neck – 140
Clean and press – reverse grip – 140
Clean and press on knees – 165