Author Archives: Sanjiv Gupta

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, OCTOBER 2025, DENNY HABECKER

October featured the IAWA World Championship, Q3 Postal Results and the Herman Goerner Deadlift Dozen.  Denny Habecker earned lifter of the month with his massive 105kg Straddle Deadlift in the IAWA World Championship.  Combined with impressive lifts across the board, Denny was the top USA finisher and 15th overall.

Denny is a 1997 Hall of Fame inductee and this is his 6th time being recognized as lifter of the month.  He had been the long running president of the USAWA and is on the IAWA Technical Committee and serves as USA Vice President to the IAWA.  He stands alone with over 600 records set in the 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and 80 age groups including 17 ALL age class records and 23 NAT records.  He is a regular on the United States and International circuit and a gentleman on and off the platform.

He has been promoting the Postal league, Memorial Record Day and President’s Cup.  In 2026 he will be promoting the IAWA World Championship.

Congratulations Denny!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as a future Lifter of the Month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com

Stars of Tomorrow

Results taken from Clark’s Gym Newsletter – Vol. XXXIV, No. 9
(I will be catching up a few results that were missing this past summer based on available resources)

June 19, 2025
CONGRATULATIONS TO NISHA AND SPENCER —
The winners of the Second Annual Stars of Tomorrow contest.
Both were defending their 2024 titles – successfully.

For Spencer – it was a busy spring. He was a double graduate in May., receiving diplomas from both Battle High School in Columbia and an associate degree from Moberly Area Community College, allowing him enroll as a junior in the fall at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. – the home of the Churchill Museum and the home of a section of the Berlin Wall. He will major in psychology.

Spencer’s closest competition came from his 10-year-old soccer-playing brother, Logan, one of five Wenzels rising through the USAWA ranks.

Dad Jeff has taken his place among the USAWA’s elite lifters as a 50-year-old, and Riley, a high school pole vaulter, has now turned his attention toward the USAWA and, at age 20, saw action this weekend in the record day session.

The fifth member of the Wenzel crew made her debut – unofficially – during this weekend. Her name is Dylan and you’ll find her unofficial results listed below. She is six years old.

Nisha Gupta is not only a rising lifter, she is the youngest certified meet official in the USAWA. She recently passed her written exam and, at 16, takes her place in a referee’s chair. Congratulations.

On to the meet results:

STARS OF TOMORROW CHAMPIONSHIPS
June 14-15, 2025
Clark’s Gym – Columbia,. Mo. – and remote.

GIRLS’ DIVISION

1st – Nisha Gupta. Age – 16. Bwt – 88.
Bench press – feet in air – 48.
Jerk from rack – 45.
Anderson squat – 90.
Deadlift – heels together – 105.
Clean and press – heels together – 35.
Total – 323.
Adjusted total – 568.48.

2nd – Diya Gupta. Age – 18. Bwt. – 100.
Bench press – feet in air – 51.
Jerk from rack – 50.
Anderson squat – 100.
Deadlift – heels together – 105.
Clean and press – heels together – 40.
Total – 346.
Adjusted total – 509.62

BOYS DIVISION

1st – Spencer Wenzel. Age – 18. Bwt – 125.
Bench press – feet in air – 140.
Jerk from rack – 95.
Anderson squat – 315.
Deadlift – heels together – 235.
Clean and press – heels together – 80.
Total – 865.
Adjusted total – 1075.01

2nd – Logan Wenzel. Age 10. Bwt – 74
Bench press – feet in air – 29.
Jerk from rack – 22.
Anderson squat – 150.
Deadlift – heels together – 95.
Clean and press – heels together – 21.
Total – 316.
Adjusted total – 798.55.

3rd – Tim Market. Age – 18. Bwt – 156.
Bench press – Feet in air – 100.
Jerk from rack – 85.
Anderson squat – 205.
Deadlift – heels together – 160.
Clean and press – heels together – 85.
Total – 635.
Adjusted total – 677.8

Officials:
Colorado – Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes, Kim Van Wagner.
Clarks’ Gym – Jeff Wenzel, Tony Lupo, Allison Lupo, Dave DeForest, Bill Clark.

RECORD DAY – WEEKEND OF JUNE 13-15, 2025

From Colorado:

Sanjiv Gupta. AGE – 54. BWT. – 213.5 LBS.
Deadlift – three-inch bar – 255.

Jarrod Fobes. AGE – 48. BWT. 217.8 LBS.
Pinch – strict – left – 60.
Pinch – strict – right – 60.
Clean and jerk, one arm – left – 82.
Dumbbell press, one arm – left – 72.
Deadlift, one leg – left – 115.

Officials – Fobes, Gupta and Kim Van Wagner.

From Ontario, Canada.

Joe Somfay. Age – 79. Bwt – 192.6.
Hackenschmidt floor press – 155.
Bavarian deadlift – 235.
Trap bar deadlift – 255.

Jeremy Law. Age – 44. Bwt – 268.
Hackenschmidt floor press – 245.
Bavarian deadlift – 400.
Trap bar deadlift – 435.

Chris Frappier. Age – 60. Bwt. – 214.8.
Hackenschmidt floor press – 185.
Bavarian deadlift – 501.
Trap bar deadlift – 456.

Kyle Frappier. Age – 22. Bwt – 215.8.
Hackenschmidt floor press – 175.
Bavarian deadlift – 280.
Trap bar deadlift – 255.

Officials were all four lifters.

Clark’s Gym, Columbia, Mo.

Dave DeForest. Age – 65. Bwt – 180.
Curl – strict – 80.
Snatch – dumbbell – left – 60.
Swing – dumbbell – left – 60.
Snatch – dumbbell – right – 60.
Kenndy lift – 460.

Riley Wenzel. Age – 20. Bwt – 150.
Anderson squat – 405.
Clean and press – Fulton bar – 125.
Bent over row – 185.
Back extension – 100.
Lunge – 200.

Logan Wenzel. Age – 10. Bwt – 74.
Lunge – 28.
Trap bar deadlift – 105.
Clean and jerk – two dumbbells – 2×10 – 20.
Clean and press – two dumbbells – 2×10 – 20.
Thor’s hammer – 7 lb.

Jeff Wenzel. Age – 50. Bwt – 234.
Press from rack – 180.
Lunge – 241.
Phumchaona lift – 1115.
Carter lift – 1175.
Apollon lift – 175.

Dave Beversdorf. Age – 60. Bwt – 300.
Trap bar deadlift – 415.
Peoples deadlift – 455.

Tony Lupo. Age – 59. Bwt. -245.
Pinch grip deadlift – 303.
Deadlift – thumbless – 325.
Deadlift – stiff-legged – 325.
Clean and press – middle fingers – 80.
Press behind neck – from rack – 130.

Allison Lupo. Age – 59. Bwt – 196.
Jerk from rack – 45.
Phumchaona lift – 355. First female to set a record in this lift since Noi performed it two decades ago.
Carter lift – 363.
Deadlift – stiff-legged – 145.
Deadlift – thumbless – 160.

Plus – we had a special lifter who was not registered, but no doubt, will be soon. She follows a family path.

Dylan Wenzel. Age 6. Bwt – 47 lb.
Deadlift – dumbbell right – 20.
Deadlift – dumbbell right – 20.
Rectangular fix – 10.
Deadlift – two hands – 28.
Curl – two dumbbells – 2 x 3 – 6 lbs.

Officials at Clark’s gym – Jeff Wenzel, Tony Lupo, Allison Lupo, Dave DeForest, Bill Clark.

Hermann Goerner Club

As we await the results of Hermann Goerner Deadlift Dozen Plus One, I wanted to revisit the Hermann Goerner Club. Al Myer’s dubbed the Hermann Goerner Club in 2011 for athletes that met Goerner’s standard of a 308.5-pound middle fingers deadlift.

As of an update in 2019, only (5) athletes had made the list:

Kevin Fulton 400 pounds – 1999 SuperGrip Challenge
Dan Wagman 316 pounds – 2017 Iron Warrior RD
Ben Edwards 315 pounds – 2016 USAWA Grip Championships
Chad Ullom 310 pounds – 2019 Dino Gym Challenge
Bill DiCiccio 309 pounds – 1994 IAWA Gold Cup


Since 2019, no new names have been added to the list. The highest recorded records by year are as follows:


2020 – Female – Amorkor Ollennuking (105 lb); Male – Lance Foster (205 lb)
2021 – Female – NA; Male – Bill Clark (75 lb)
2022 – Female – NA; Male – Chad Ullom (325 lb; moving up the list to #2)
2023 – Female – NA; Male – Jeff Wenzel (225 lb)
2024 – Female – Lisa Gore (75 lb); Male – Dan Wagman (316 lb)
2025 – Female – Lisa Gore (150 lb); Male – Denny Habecker (134 lb)


Personally, I am not a big fan of finger deadlifts. I respect the strength and pain tolerance required to perform these lifts, especially at a world class standard. My personal best middle fingers deadlift is a meagre 85 pounds.


Regarding Female lifters, the USAWA adopted the 1.33 gender adjustment at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. Taking 308.5/1.33 = 232.0-pound female equivalent of Hermann Goerner’s mighty feet. The highest recorded USAWA female middle fingers deadlift is 230 pounds by Mary McConnaughey in 2005. Had she known about the club and had the benefit of gender adjustment, I am certain she would have gone for 232 pounds.

Do you have a favorite lift or historic benchmark that deserves attention? Consider submitting an article to Sanjiv for publication on the website.

2025 IAWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – BELFAST

Ruby, Beata, Emily , Dolores, Chloe, Natalie and Amy

Steve, Denny, Sam, Stanley, David, Brandon, George, Leo and Paul

Joshua, Mark, Sanjiv, Steve, Paul, Matt

Overall Podium: Chloe, Mark and Josh

155kg Straddle Deadlift

I was very fortunate to be able to go to Belfast, NI for the 2025 IAWA World Championship.  22 athletes from the USA, England and Northern Ireland converged on the Resurgence Training Facility in Lurgan for 2 days of competition.  Stevie Shanks was an amazing host and everything ran smoothly.   Several folks had travel woes with Storm Amy (an extratropical cyclone) impacting ferry service, flights and even rail service.  Everybody eventually made it to the venue on time to weigh-in and lift.

Lifting started at 10:00 AM both days and was wrapped up at 4:30 PM Day One and 3:00 PM Day Two.  This was accomplished by Steve Gardner announcing, Paul Barette keeping score, Simon Truesdale and Michael Wilson loading and everybody helping with officiating.  The meet was organized into (3) flights with women in the first flight, up to 90kg men in the second flight and 95kg and up men in the third flight.

Day 1 featured the One Hand Clean & Jerk; Clean & Push Press; Pullover and Press; and the Straddle Deadlift.  There were several impressive lifts.  The following are the top lifts for the day

  • Chloe Brennan – 47.5kg Right Hand Clean & Jerk
  • Matt Jones and Joshua Davidson – 65kg Right Hand Clean & Jerk
  • Chloe Brennan – 80kg Clean & Push Press
  • Mark Haydock – 105kg Clean & Push Press
  • Chloe Brennan – 75kg Pullover & Press
  • Mark Haydock – 135kg Pullover & Press
  • Chloe Brennan – 175kg Straddle Deadlift
  • Mark Haydock – 260 kg Straddle Deadlift

Day 2 featured the Continental Snatch; Vertical Bar Lift – 2” Rod; Zercher.    The following are the top lifts for the day

  • Chloe Brennan – 70.5kg Continental Snatch
  • Joshua Davidson – 85kg Continental Snatch
  • Dolores McGuckin – 70kg Vertical Bar Lift – 2” Rod
  • Stanley Hamilton – 125kg Vertical Bar Lift – 2” Rod
  • Chloe Brenna – 150kg Zercher
  • Joshua Davidson – 192.5kg Zercher

Chloe is the defending IAWA World Champion.  Dolores is new to all-round weightlifting but put in an amazing performance.  Mark is a long-time competitor and has dominated the master’s men in international competition.  Joshua is an open lifter who takes technical expertise to the next level.  Stanley is a relative newcomer to all-round but has competed in grip sport and likely has the strongest grip in Ireland.

Stevie Shanks did a record day lift setting the All-Time record for any age or weight class in the 2 x 1” vertical bar lift.  I think the support of his family helped a lot.  His Mother, Father and brother were in attendance.  His Father, Jack Shanks, was the first person since Donald Dinnie to lift the Dinnie stones.  Mark Haydock became the most recent hoisting them on Monday following the competition.

Dolores and June did a record day lift setting a record in the Team Deadlift.

Personally, I went 19 for 21 with (4) personal records.  I was most proud of my 155kg Straddle Deadlift.

Top 5, Award Winners and USA Athletes:

  • 1st – Chloe Brennan – Overall and Top Open Women
  • 2nd – Mark Haydock – Top Masters Men
  • 3rd – Joshua Davidson – Top Open Men
  • 4th – Steve Sherwood
  • 5th – Dolores McGuckin – Top Masters Women
  • 10th – Emily Haydock – Top Junior Women
  • 13th – Leo Moss – Top Junior Men
  • 15th – Denny Habecker (top USA finisher)
  • 17th – Sanjiv Gupta

Travel to Lurgan was a little tricky, fortunately my wife joined me for the trip.  We flew from Denver to Detroit (2 hours) and then Detroit to Dublin (6 hours).  From Dublin we rented a car and drove on the left-hand side of the road to Lurgan (2 hours).  The facilities and staff at the Ashburn hotel were very nice. 

The awards banquet was held at the Courthouse Bar which offered excellent food served by an amazing staff.  Stevie invited a friend of his to perform and she had an amazing voice to go along with her guitar playing.

Ireland and Northern Ireland offered some great site-seeing.  We visited Trinity College in Dublin, Great Causeway in Northern Ireland and my wife took in Belfast during day one of competition.  I enjoyed the food and the people were really friendly.  The area has a rich history with castles and vistas.  There has also been political strife which is still evident if you know what to look for.  Fortunately, all-round weightlifting is kind of like the Olympics where everybody can come together to celebrate sport.

On the way home, I heard the unfortunate news that Stevie Shanks suffered a heart attack following the banquet.  He was rushed to the hospital and a stent was put in.  He was allowed visitors, is recovering well and looking forward to training and competing soon.

2025 World Champs 4th & 5th October Lurgan NIDownload

IAWA WORLD COUNCIL MEETING

Held at 5pm on 4th October 2025 at RTF Lurgan, Northern Ireland
Present:
International Secretary: Steve Gardner –Recorded the Meeting
International President: Paul Barette – Chaired the Meeting
IAWA Members: Sanjiv Gupta, Denny Habecker – USA; Chloe Brennan, Matt Jones, Paul Hallam, Josh Davidson – UK

Reports:
USA IAWA Vice President Sanjiv Gupta gave a report on the situation in the USAWA, supported by Vice President Denny Habecker.  A general discussion took place where concerns and observations were made, and Sanjiv was thanked for his report and all best wishes were given for the future of the USAWA.

In the absence of a UK Vice President, Steve Gardner as UK President, gave a report. Steve informed those present that the UK division of IAWA had been enjoying an amazing year where all events have been well attended and eagerly contested, with many new as well as existing members in action. The number of female and Junior athletes has been outstanding, and once again the disability Championships had been a success. Steve wa thanked by the meeting for his report.

Paul Barette said a few words about his first year in office as IAWA International President, and he was thanked by those present for all of his continued hard work and efforts.

Steve Gardner said he had been in contact a few times recently with John Mahon, Australian Vice President, and that all seemed well down under, they continue to support IAWA events and are looking forward to the Old Time Strongman in December.

Technical Committee Business

As Technical Committee Chairman, Steve Gardner informed the meeting that we were due to vote on the acceptance or otherwise, of the new lift: E39 The Two Man Turkish Get Up. The lift was first proposed by Matt Jones and Josh Davidson and was submitted at the World Council Meeting in 2024 supported by IAWA (UK). The two had given a demonstration of the lift at the 2024 World Championships. Twelve months later he reported the IAWA Technical Committee were in favour of supporting and accepting the new lift. A vote took place and the lift was voted in Unanimously. It will now be added to the rule book and World Records lists.

E39 TWO PERSON TURKISH GET UP

The Rules of the Turkish get up will apply, except that two lifters will be lifting the weight together, the weights will be loaded onto a regular lifting bar, as a dumbbell or a kettle bell cannot be used in this version of the lift for obvious reasons. Causes for Failure remain the same.

Causes for Failure:

  1. Starting to lift before the referees signal.
  2. Failure to maintain the arm straight and locked throughout the lift.
  3. Any contact of the equipment with the lifting surface during the lift.
  4. Failure to achieve the finished position, the implement locked out at arms-length, overhead.
  5. Lowering/replacing the bar before the referees signal.

IAWA Internationals 2026, 2027 and 2028

Those present were reminded that the International events for 2026 and 2027 are already agreed upon and in place.

2026 Worlds – Lebanon, PA, USA – Promoter: Denny Habecker (Lifts proposed and accepted)
Day 1: Snatch From Hang; Clean & Press Behind Neck; Pullover and Push; One Hand Deadlift
Day 2: Two Hands Ciavattone Deadlift; Straight Arm Pullover; 2 x 1″ Vertical Bars (18″)
2026 Gold Cup – Eastbourne, England – Promoter: Paul Barette
2027 Worlds – Perth, Western Australia – Promoters: John Mahon and Peter Phillips
2027 Gold Cup – Denver, CO, USA – Promoter: Sanjiv Gupta
Bids were received and accepted unanimously for 2028:
2028 Worlds – Eastbourne, UK – Promoter: Paul Barette
2028 Gold Cup – Derby, England – Promoters: Josh Davidson and Matt Jones
The IAWA President reflected that the organisation is in good hands for the next three years for our main Internationals.

International Postal Events:

The Old Time Strongman World Postal Championships:
Clint Poore had stepped down from his role as organiser and it will now continue under the care of organiser: Steve Gardner. For this year’s event on Saturday 13th December, lifts are: Hackenschmidt Floor Press (H9), Dumbbell to Shoulder (H7), People’s Deadlift (H13)
Lifting hubs will be Derby in the UK, Belfast in Northern Ireland, Perth in Western Australia, Colorado and Pennsylvannia in the USA and hopefully a venue in Canada…..

The Andy Goddard World All Round Postal Championships:
This event takes place in August each year and usually comprises of Day One lifts of the forthcoming World Championships. As per tradition this event is coordinated by the IAWA International President. Paul Barette ran his first event this year and he reported on it’s success, and was congratulated by those present!

IAWA Presidential Award of Merit – The highest Honour that can be bestowed in IAWA

As a past President of the organisation, Steve Gardner brought it to the attention of those present that he had been in discussions during 2025 with Past President Al Myers, and current President Paul Barette, and they had agreed that Dennis Mitchell from OHIO USA is a deserving candidate to receive the award. Dennis was our International Technical Secretary for 25 years and carried out his duties seamlessly, he also attended very many international IAWA events wherever they were held around the World. Having stood down in 2024 due to very poor health, it was agreed it was right to recognise his work and efforts on behalf of IAWA. Unfortunately before this could be organised Dennis sadly passed away. Steve suggested this award could and should still be presented to Dennis’s widow Flossy. It was agreed this will be done, and Steve said he and Stevie Shanks (promoters of this year’s World Championships) would cover the cost of the Award and postage. All agreed this was a great idea and should certainly go ahead. Steve Gardner agreed to see it is done.

Other news:

…a short discussion took place where Paul Barette advised those present about the work he is currently undertaking to digitise the complete record of all of IAWA’s lifts. It is a mammoth task and taking him a long time, he estimates it is about 20,000 entries, and he has completed over 4,000 so far. When it is completed anyone will be able to look up the complete history of any of our lifts, who held it from day one, then who broke it and when etc. through to present day. This will be an amazing record of our records at our fingertips. Matt Jones suggested that maybe video footage can be attached to those records of the lifts being performed, where available. All agreed this was a great idea, and Paul was thanked by all present for the hard work he is undertaking on our behalf.

There being no other business – at 6.20pm the Meeting was concluded

Date and Place of Next IAWA World Council Meeting – First Saturday in October 2026 following the lifting on Day One of the World Championships in Pennsylvania USA

IAWA Officers:

There was no voting of Officers as the election is every 4 years, so with three years to go the officers remain in position:

IAWA President – Paul Barette: iawa@metamorfit.co.uk
IAWA General / Technical Secretary – Steve Gardner: stevegardneruk@gmail.com
(The IAWA General Secretary shall maintain a list of all International Officials – and the IAWA General Secretary shall also be the competition Secretary for the World Championships)
IAWA Vice Presidents
Sanjiv Gupta, USA – Denny Habecker, USA
Steve Andrews, UK – Graham Saxton, UK
Johan Mahon, Australia – Peter Phillips, Australia


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