Author Archives: Sanjiv Gupta

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, NOVEMBER 2025, LISA GORE

November featured the IAWA Gold Cup, High Country Vigour Cup and Memorial Record Day.  Lisa Gore earned Lifter of the Month for November thanks to her amazing 700-pound Back Lift.

Despite only competing since April of 2024 and never leaving the friendly confines on Columbia, MO, Lisa has crept up the records leaderboard and at 293 records is second behind RJ Jackson on the women’s leaderboard. 

Besides setting records, Lisa has won competitions outright including the 2025 Bench Press Heptathlon, Tony Lupo Lightweight Decathlon, Q2 Postal and Goerner Deadlift Dozen Plus One.

Congratulations Lisa!

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

14th Edition of Rule Book Available

The 14th Edition of the Rulebook is now available for download from the website and purchase from Amazon.

  • New Lift – Reflex Bench Press – A38
  • Drug Test Appeal change
  • Wrist wrap/Knee wrap thickness removed
  • Leg coverings added
  • Provisional membership clause removed
  • Special Assignment Director – Social Media Director added

The authors wish to thank everybody who contributed ideas to this rulebook. Thanks go to Kerry Clark, who did the editing and design on the original rulebook and the first revision in 2003. Also, I want to thank everyone who contributed pictures to this rulebook. This includes Denny Habecker, Tim Piper, Mary McConnaughey, Jim Malloy, Scott Schmidt, the late Joe McCoy and many others. I especially want to thank the late Tom Ryan, who did the proof reading of many prior Rulebooks to make them as error-free as possible. Thanks to Beth Skwarecki, who made the 2024 updates. Finally, thanks to Jessica Hopps for proof reading the 14th edition.

Final Two Championship Events of 2025

This is the first time since 2019 that all (8) championships will be contested.  The promoters were distributed around the country giving most athletes a chance to compete.

  • Club Championship – Promoted by High Country – April 5th – Winner – Clark’s Championship Gym
  • Grip Championship – Promoted by High Country – May 3rd – Winners – Ben Edwards & Nisha Gupta
  • Heavy Lift – Promoted by KCSTRONGMAN and Frank’s May 10th – Winners – Chad Ullom & Jessica Hopps
  • National Championship – Promoted by Buffville – July 19th – Winners – Larry Traub & Beth Skwarecki
  • Presidential Cup – Promoted by Habecker’s – August 2nd – Winner Beth Skwarecki
  • OTSM Championship – Promoted by KCSTRONGMAN – September 6th – Winner Chad Ullom
  • Team Championship – Being promoted by High Country – December 20th – register by December 6th
  • Postal Championship – Being promoted by Postal Director Denny Habecker – December 31st – Winners will be determined by the Q4 Postal.  Through the first three quarters, Stacy Todd is leading with (20) points, Lisa Gore in second with (18) points and Lilly Todd in third with (16) points.  On the men’s side, Abe Smith leads with (74) points, Barry Bryan is in second with (71) points and Dan Jones & Jeff Wenzel are tied for third with (65) points each.

Looking ahead to 2026:

  • Club Championship – February 28th promoted by Clark’s Gym, remote entries will be accepted
  • Grip Championship – Save the Date – April 18th High Country will be submitting a meet sanction
  • Heavy Lift – TBD – This was a dual-venue meet in 2025
  • National Championship – June 27th promoted by Clark’s Gym
  • Presidential Cup – TBD
  • OTSM Championship – TBD, typically the first weekend in September at KCSTRONGMAN
  • Team Championship – TBD
  • Postal Series – Quarterly.  The lifts have typically been announced in early January by the Postal Director, Denny Habecker

2026 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

UPDATED – 4/29/2026

Clark’s Championship Gym will be hosting the 2026 National Championship in Columbia, MO. This will be the 6th time Bill Clark has promoted the National Championship in Columbia, MO. Lebanon, PA is the only other city that has hosted the National Championship 6 times. This is the premier event on the USAWA calendar and we hope everyone can attend to compete, officiate, and support the event as volunteers and spectators.

2026 USAWA National Championship
Meet Director: Bill Clark
Date: June 26-28, 2026
Location:
DAY 1: Competition Events – Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School Gymnasium, Columbia, MO 65202
DAY 2: Record Day – Clark’s Gym and REMOTE
Weigh In: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Both Days
Rules Meeting: 9:30 AM Both Days
Lifting Begins: 10:00 AM Both Days

LIFTS:

  • Deadlift – No Thumbs, Overhand Grip (B11)
  • Clean and Press – Heels Together (A14)
  • Lateral Raise – Lying (E14)
  • Jefferson Lift (B19)

4th attempts for records will be allowed on June 27
Record attempts will be allowed on June 27 and June 28
Entry Fee: $40 – Lifting Only
Entry Deadline: 5:00 PM, June 16, 2026

Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 26, doors open at 4:00 PM and seating is limited to 50. A buffet dinner with pulled pork, etc. will open the evening at 5:00 PM. Cost of the buffet is $30 per person. The bar is not included.

Entrants may pay both the meet entry fee and annual meeting dinner with one check.

Entry Form: 2026 USAWA Nationals Entry Form

Records will be allowed at remote sites with proper officials. Remote results must be received by 10 PM, Tuesday, June 30.

Contact:
Bill Clark
3906 Grace Ellen Drive, Columbia, MO 65202
Telephone – 573-474-4510
E-mail: yeoldclark@gmail.com

NEW YEARS EVE RECORD BREAKER

Frank’s Barbell Club will be hosting the New Year’s Eve Record Breaker 2025. This will be the 5th year in a row that Walpole has rang in the new year with some All-Round Weightlifting.

Meet Details:
Frank’s Barbell Club New Year’s Eve Record Breaker 2025
Date: December 31, 2025
Location: Frank’s Barbell Club, Walpole MA and remote
How to enter: To compete remotely, please let Jessica Hopps know no later than 12/23/2025 of plans to compete. Please submit remote results to jessicahopps1@gmail.com no later than January 2, 2026. If lifting remotely, please include the names of officials present to be considered for records.
Record Day: Lifters can choose to contest up to 5 USAWA/IAWA lifts to compete for record attempts.
Contact: For any questions, contact Jessica Hopps at jessicahopps1@gmail.com

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