Author Archives: Sanjiv Gupta

Diaper Day Meet and Record Day

Clark’s Championship Gym is hosting a new meet to celebrate a milestone for one of their members. The meet is a celebration of the birth of the first child for Travis Luther and his wife which is scheduled for April 25. The lifts included are patterned after the various lifts required by the newborn.

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Address: Clark’s Championship Gym and Remote
Weigh-Ins: 8:00 AM
The Lifts:
– Full Gardner (D13) – Getting up and down with the newborn – but at arm’s length here
– Holdout, Raised (D17) – As if holding a full diaper at arm’s length
– Habecker Lift (H10) – A common lift to gather up a baby in your arms
– Goerner Stroll (H8) – The common practice of slowly walking a baby to quiet the whimpers – more or less
Entry Fee: A box of diapers if lifting at Clark’s, no entry fee if Remote
Meet Director: Bill Clark, contact by phone 573-4764-4510 or email yeoldclark@gmail.com
USAWA Membership Required
Awards: Certificates; The last place finisher will be awarded a dirty diaper

Lifts may be done on-site or remote and records may be established only with at least one registered official in attendance. If lifting remotely, entry must be received by the meet director via e-mail or telephone not later than April 22.

This meet creates and interesting doubleheader withe this meet dedicated to the newborn and the Diamond Jubilee open only to those 70 and older. A record day is being held with each competition – so you can do 10 records regardless of your age by entering both.

Lifter of the Month, January 2026, Stacy Todd

January was a slow month, and the results of the Ed Zercher Memorial Strength Classic have yet to be published. However, Stacy Todd earned Lifter of the Month for January with her top finish in the 2025 Postal Series. Her fourth quarter performance was good for not only the highest female total but also records in all three lifts.

Stacy has been competing in USAWA since 2021 with participation primarily in the postal events. She placed 4th in the 2024 National Championship and won the 2024 Grip Championship. Finally she is a member of the Century Club.

This is the first time Stacy is being recognized as lifter of the month.

Congratulations Stacy!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as lifter of the month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at usawasec@gmail.com

Lebanon Valley Record Day

Habecker’s Gym will again be promoting the Lebanon Valley Record Day. I tried to dig through the archives and this is at least the 8th one (previously held in 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025).

Date: June 13, 2026
Location: Habecker’s Gym, Lebanon, PA
Weigh-in: 9:30 AM
Lifting Starts: 10:00 AM
Contact: Denny at liftingliar@comcast.net or 717-272-5077 or 717-450-6648

Lifter of the Month Program

The lifter of the month program was established by Al Myers in April 2012 and Chad Ullom was the first recipient.  Al wrote that “…every month I see great performances in the USAWA and I would like to have some way of honoring these performances by our membership.  The selection of this award will be based on my judgement alone, and will take in factors such as outstanding performances, great lifts, participation, records set, and meets won.  I sure don’t mind if someone makes recommendations to me either for someone they think should be the recipient of it for the month.”

The program has ebbed and flowed and was taken over by the Secretary/Treasurer and then the Secretary.

I have tried to maintain the original intent when I was nominating athletes to the USAWA secretary and selecting athletes as acting USAWA secretary.  Without fail, an athlete finds a way to stand apart.  Sometimes it is a Junior, sometimes a Master, sometimes pushing the bounds of a lift, sometimes by participating in a record session after a twelve-lift meet.  Sometimes participation is traveling to compete live, sometimes participation is competing in a full series of meets.

  • Outstanding Performances – Meet, series, IAWA events, etc.
  • Great Lifts – During competition or Record Session
  • Participation – Some athletes are competing 3 times in a month, locally and traveling
  • Records Set – Age/Weight Class, ALL Ages, and highest ever
  • Meets Won – With priority given to USAWA and IAWA championships

Leadership, Sportsmanship, Courage, Newcomer status is not directly considered, but I have found that recognized athletes often shine not only as athletes, but also as people.

Since 2012, 67 athletes have been honored as Lifter of the Month

13 women – Repeat winners included

  1. RJ Jackson (6)
  2. Beth Skwarecki (4)

54 men – Top 11 as follows, 7 are Hall of Famers

  1. Chad Ullom (7) – HOF
  2. Denny Habecker (6) – HOF
  3. Al Myers (5) – HOF
  4. Eric Todd (5) – HOF
  5. Dan Wagman (4)
  6. Randy Smith (4) – HOF
  7. James Fuller (3)
  8. Barry Bryan (3)
  9. Art Montini (3) – HOF
  10. Dave Glasgow (3)
  11. Frank Ciavattone (3) – HOF

See all of the past Lifters of the Month

Heavy Lift Championship (MA, MO and CO)

Since 2017, the Heavy Lift Championships have been held exclusively by two clubs, Frank’s Barbell Club and KCSTRONGMAN. In 2025, both gyms held the event simultaneously, to open the event to more lifters.


This year, we are happy to announce we will be offering the Heavy Lift Championship at 3 venues, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Colorado!

Meet name: Heavy Lift Championship
Date: May 2, 2026
Midwest Location: 10978 SW Pueblo Dr, Turney, MO (KCStrongMan)
Northeast Location: 204 East Street, East Walpole, MA 02032 (Frank’s Barbell Club)
Western Location: Lakewood, CO, 80235 (High Country Vigour)
Promoter: Jessica Hopps, Frank’s Barbell Club
Sanctioned by: USAWA-membership is required of all lifters
Lifts: Neck Lift, Hand and Thigh, Hip Lift
Cost: $35 (payment (check, PayPal or Venmo to Jessica Hopps- please email for payment details)
Entry Form
Awards: There will be awards for the lifters
This is a drug tested event. Please only enter if you know you can pass a drug test!

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