USAWA Business
Reminder. At-Large board member letters of interest and 2026 National Championship bids are due this Friday, November 14th.
Author Archives: Sanjiv Gupta
For Women Only
Results taken from Clark’s Gym Newsletter – Vol. XXXIV, No. 10
(I will be catching up a few results that were missing from this past summer based on available resources)
June 23, 2025
FOR WOMEN ONLY – AND RECORD DAY.
Lisa Gore has mostly recovered from a knee problem and defeated two fellow members of Clark’s Gym as other USAWA women – both remote and hybrid – chose not to rise and shine in a meet designed – like the Olympics and every other sport of value in the world – to showcase the ability of girls’ and women’s sports.
The meet, the first offered for women only, was an effort to build the strong foundation for a national women’s championship and encourage women and girls to succeed on a stage designed for them only.
Gore led a trio of veterans who have long served the non-lifting Columbia community. Lisa, 59, is an operating room nurse; Janet Thompson (67) is in her fourth term as one of three Boone County commissioners; Allison Lupo, also 59, is a longtime employee of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Columbia.
Interestingly, Lisa is the current chair of the county Republican party and Janet is a longtime leader of the Democratic Party. Lisa has long been a leader in women’s fitness; Thompson has long been a rider and driver of show horses at the national level.
Allison Lupo was dragged to the gym by her husband and now is the family leader in the number of USAWA national records. She is the only one of three who is a registered USAWA official.
They would love to be joined by the other women of like interest in strength and competition.
Clark’s Gym plans to sanction “For Women Only” again in 2026.
Now – the results from a busy weekend.
FOR WOMEN ONLY
Weekend of June 21-22, 2025
Sponsored by Clarks’ Gym
First – Lisa Gore. Age – 59. Bwt – 222.5
Bench press – feet up – 75.
Swing -right hand – 40.
Deadlift – right hand – 155.
Push press behind neck – 80.
Hack lift – 185.
Total – 575.
Adjusted total – 584.22.
Second – Janet Thompson. Age – 67. Bwt. – 164,
Bench press – feet up – 75.
Swing – right hand – 30.
Deadlift – right hand – 110.
Push press behind neck – 35.
Hack lift – 120.
Total – 370.
Adjusted total – 475.59.
Third Place – Allison Lupo.
Bench press – feet up – 72.
Swing – right hand – 30.
Deadlift – right hand – 130.
Push press behnd neck – 50.
Hack lift – 105.
Total – 377.
Adjusted total – 406.86.
OFFICIALS: Bill Clark, Tony Lupo, Dave DeForest, Jeff Wenzel.
RECORD DAYS
From Ontario:
Joe Somfay. Age – 79. Bwt. – 192.2.
Rectangular fix – 59.
Clean and seated press – two dumbbells – 60.
Hack lift – Right hand – 85.
Vertical bar – two bars – two inch – 130.
Dinnie Deadlift – 272.
Chris Frappier. Age – 60. Bwt – 215.2.
Rectangular fix – 70.
Clean and seated press – two dumbbells – 80.
Hack lift – right hand – 95.
Vertical bar – two bars – two-inch – 200
Saxon deadlift – 110.
Officials: The two lifters.
From Clark’s Gym:
Janet Thompson. Age -67. Bwt. – 164.
Swing – left hand – 30.
Deadlift – left hand – 110.
Dinnie Lift – 200.
Tim Market. Age – 18. Bwt. – 156.
Bent over row – 120.
Continental to belt – 120.
Continental to chest – 100.
Anderson press – 75.
Roman chair bench press – 45.
Dave DeForest. Age – 65. Bwt. – 181.
Holdout – lowered – 45.
Holdout – raised – 45.
Clean and press behind neck – 90.
Clean and press – alternate grip – 95.
Clean and seated press – two dumbbells – 2×30 – 60.
Jeff Wenzel. Age – 50. Bwt. – 235.
Clean and press – Fulton bar – 175.
Bent over row – 285.
Continental to chest – 201.
Anderson press – 225.
Clean and press on knees – 130.
Allison Lupo. Age – 59. Bwt. -196.5.
Deadlift – left hand – 105.
Deadlift – right hand – 105.
Dinnie lift – 245.
Two hands anyhow – 35.
Deadlift – stiff-legged – 165.
OFFICIALS: Bill Clark, Tony Lupo, Allison Lupo, Dave Deforest, Jeff Wenzel.
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.