The 2025 Gold Cup was a tremendous event by all accounts. USA Participants included Chad Ullom (Middle Fingers Straddle Deadlift), Denny Habecker (Peoples Deadlift), Al Myers (One Hand Fulton Barbell Deadlift (2″ Bar)), and LaVerne Myers (One Hand Fulton Barbell Deadlift (2″ Bar)).
This was a splendid display of strength by world class athletes who had to have already established an IAWA World Record to participate in the Gold Cup.
Denny Habecker completed the rare trifecta of attending the USAWA National Championship, IAWA World Championship and IAWA Gold Cup in the same year. For those of you who love numbers Albany is 665 miles from Lebanon, Belfast is 3284 miles from Lebanon and Derby is 3490 miles from Lebanon. That is commitment.
This is the inaugural installation of the High Country Vigour Cup. I originally wanted to do a simple record day to close out the season. With the excitement of the President’s Cup and the Gold Cup, it seemed like a fun idea for athletes to show off a special lift for themselves. The local athletes did not disappoint, and we had an incredible (20) remote lifters join in the fun.
I admired Nisha’s courage on the Steinborn Lift. After making 33 pounds and 44 pounds, she failed a 54-pound attempt.
Elijah shined with a third attempt on the pull up to get his chin over the bar with 20 pounds hanging from weight belt.
Kim’s Piper Lift seemed really solid at 80 pounds. I realized just how solid when I tried to do the lift.
Jarrod’s pulling power is just amazing. He held the 60-pound chin up to make sure he was clearly over the bar without any doubt.
It is harder for me to evaluate the remote lifters.
Columbia, Missouri had some amazing lifts. I have never performed a Back Lift or a Phumchaona Lift. Lisa (Backlift – 700 lb) is an ALL age record. Tony and Jeff improved their benchmarks on the Phumchaona and Travis Luther became the lightest athlete to set a record in the lift.
In a second batch of entries, Janet (Neck Lift – 155 lb), Allison Lupo (Carter Lift – 407 lb), Dave DeForest and Tim Market with Scott Lifts, Bill Clark with a phenomenal 200 lb Roman Chair Situp (the 5th highest lift ever recorded), Dave Beversdorf (Deadlift 12” Base – 450 lb), Riley Wenzel (Jefferson Lift, Fulton Bar – 320 lb) and Logan Wenzel (Back Extension – 50 lb).
In a final entry, John Carter recorded the highest all ages, all weight classes Phumchaona lift at 1,227 pounds.
Pennsylvania had some impressive lifts as well. The dumbbell cheat curl always puts a lot of strain on my biceps and Barry’s 45-pound effort is an improvement over his 2024 record at 40 pounds. Not to be outdone, Jerome’s 225 Fulton Bar Hack Lift broke a long-standing record and is the ALL ages heaviest lift in the 110kg class.
Massachusetts had a solid crew of athletes as well. Jessica Hopps, Dan Jones, Frank Ciavattone, Nils Larson and Wade Marchand decided to only perform record session lifts and did not offer a lift for the Cup. Unofficially, I was most impressed by Jessica’s Peoples Deadlift (209 lb.); Dan’s Bearhug (215 lb.); Frank’s Jefferson Lift, Little Fingers (115 lb.); Nils’ Bearhug (188 lb); and Wade’s Bearhug (188lb).
Best Junior Women – Nisha Gupta Best Junior Men – Elijah Conley Best Open Women – NA Best Open Men – Travis Luther Best Masters Women – Lisa Gore Best Masters Men – John Carter
Now for the extremely subjective declaration of the winner:
John Carter – 1,227 lb. Phumchaona Lift
Bill Clark – 200 lb. Roman Chair Situp
Jerome Licini – 225 lb. Hack Lift – Fulton Bar
Lisa Gore – 700 lb. Back Lift
Jarrod Fobes – 60 lb. Chin Up
COMPLETE RESULTS:
Location: High Country Vigour, Lakewood, CO and remote Meet Director: Sanjiv Gupta Dates: November 7, 2025
Officials: Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes, Nisha Gupta, Jerome Licini, Barry Pensyl, Bill Clark, Tony Lupo, Jeff Wenzel, Dave DeForest, Allison Lupo, Jessica Hopps, Dan Jones, Frank Ciavattone, Nils Larson, Wade Marchand
As USAWA rules and IAWA rules are different, no lifts will be submitted for IAWA records.
NISHA GUPTA, AGE – 16, BWT. – 85.4 pounds (40 KG Class) STEINBORN LIFT – 44 lb. Records: TEAM DEADLIFT (w/Sanjiv) – 315 lb.
ELIJAH CONLEY, AGE – 18, BWT. – 151.2 pounds (70 KG Class) PULL UP – 20 lb. Records: CHIN UP – 20 lb. HACK LIFT – 135 lb. REEVES DEADLIFT – 120 lb.
KIM VAN WAGNER, AGE – 58, BWT. – 126.6 pounds (60 KG Class) PIPER SQUAT – 80 lb. Records: HACK LIFT, FULTON BAR – 145 lb. REEVES DEADLIFT – 100 lb. CLEAN & PRESS, ALTERNATE GRIP – 65 lb. CLEAN & PRESS, BEHIND NECK – 60 lb.
JARROD FOBES, AGE – 48, BWT. – 220 pounds (100 KG Class) CHIN UP – 60 lb. Records: PULL UP – 40 lb. SWING, 2 DUMBBELLS – 100 lb. REEVES DEADLIFT – 281 lb. PIPER SQUAT – 155 lb.
SANJIV GUPTA, AGE – 54, BWT. – 214 pounds (100 KG Class) APOLLONS LIFT – 143 lb. Records: TEAM DEADLIFT (w/Nisha) – 315 lb. SNATCH, FULTON BAR – 103 lb. REEVES DEADLIFT – 280 lb. PIPER SQUAT – 115 lb.
ALLISON LUPO,AGE – 59, BWT. – 196 pounds (90 KG Class) CARTER LIFT – 407 lb. Records: BACK EXTENSION – 55 lb. ROMAN CHAIR SITUP – 60 lb. RECTANGULAR FIX, FULTON BAR – 30 lb. CLEAN & PRESS – 50 lb. CLEAN & SEATED PRESS – 40 lb.
DAVE DEFOREST,AGE – 65, BWT. – 184 pounds (85 KG Class) SCOTT LIFT – 150 lb. Records: DEADLIFT, FINGERS, INDEX – 136 lb. RIM LIFT – 255 lb. CLEAN & JERK, BEHIND NECK – 115 lb. CLEAN & JERK, FULTON BAR – 105 lb. CLEAN & PRESS, FULTON BAR – 105 lb.
BILL CLARK,AGE – 93, BWT. – 204 pounds (95 KG Class) ROMAN CHAIR SITUP – 200 lb. Records: ABDOMINAL RAISE – 25 lb.
TIM MARKET,AGE – 19, BWT. – 165 pounds (75 KG Class) SCOTT LIFT – 150 lb. Records: SAXON DEADLIFT – 70 lb. SAXON SNATCH – 50 lb. BACK EXTENSION – 65 lb. DEADLIFT, 3” BAR – 195 lb. DEADLIFT, 12” BASE – 215 lb.
DAVE BEVERSDORF,AGE – 60, BWT. – 300 pounds (125+ KG Class) DEADLIFT, 12” BASE – 450 lb. Records: PEOPLES DEADLIFT – 505 lb.
RILEY WENZEL,AGE – 20, BWT. – 150 pounds (70 KG Class) JEFFERSON LIFT, FULTON BAR – 320 lb. Records: PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, LEFT – 87 lb. PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, RIGHT – 87 lb. HOLDOUT, LOWERED – 65 lb. LATERAL RAISE, STANDING – 60 lb. SCOTT LIFT – 170 lb.
LOGAN WENZEL,AGE – 10, BWT. – 76 pounds (35 KG Class) BACK EXTENSION – 50 lb. Records: BENCH PRESS, ONE ARM, LEFT – 10 lb. BENCH PRESS, ONE ARM, RIGHT – 10 lb. BENCH PRESS, HANDS TOGETHER – 28 lb. BENCH PRESS, TWO DUMBBELLS – 20 lb. ABDOMINAL RAISE – 5 lb.
JOHN CARTER,AGE – 67, BWT. – 195 pounds (90 KG Class) PHUMCHAONA LIFT – 1,227 lb. Records: CARTER LIFT – 1,327 lb. WEAVER STICK, FRONT – 3 lb. WEAVER STICK, BACK – 5 lb.
Officials: Bill Clark, Tony Lupo, Jeff Wenzel, Dave DeForest, Allison Lupo
JEROME LICINI,AGE – 67, BWT. – 238 pounds (110 KG Class) HACK LIFT, FULTON BAR – 225 lb. Records: DEADLIFT, FULTON BAR – 250 lb. RECTANGULAR FIX, FULTON BAR – 43 lb. MAXEY PRESS – 43 lb. WEAVER STICK, FRONT – 2 lb. WEAVER STICK, BACK – 1 lb.
BARRY PENSYL,AGE – 77, BWT. – 125 pounds (60 KG Class) CURL, CHEAT, DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 45 lb. Records: KENNEDY LIFT – 255 lb. CURL, CHEAT – 76 lb.
Officials: Barry Pensyl, Jerome Licini
JESSICA HOPPS,AGE – 41, BWT. – 160 pounds (75 KG Class) NA Records: PEOPLES DEADLIFT – 209 lb. SNATCH, DUMBBELL, LEFT – 35 lb. SNATCH, DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 40 lb. PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, LEFT – 36 lb. PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, RIGHT – 38 lb.
DAN JONES,AGE – 41, BWT. – 174 pounds (80 KG Class) NA Records: CLEAN & SEATED PRESS, 2 DUMBBELLS – 111 lb. RH Dumbell Strict Curl – G21 – 40 lb.***Not a USAWA lift, ineligible for USAWA Records DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, LEFT – 134 lb. DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 124 lb. BEARHUG – 215 lb.
FRANK CIAVATTONE,AGE – 70, BWT. – 271 pounds (125 KG Class) NA Records: JEFFERSON LIFT, INDEX FINGERS – 170 lb. JEFFERSON LIFT, MIDDLE FINGERS – 155 lb. JEFFERSON LIFT, RING FINGERS – 155 lb. JEFFERSON LIFT, LITTLE FINGERS – 115 lb. BENCH PRESS, ALTERNATE GRIP – 125 lb.
NILS LARSON,AGE – 66, BWT. – 238 pounds (110 KG Class) NA Records: BEARHUG – 188 lb. DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, LEFT – 124 lb. DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 124 lb. CLEAN & SEATED PRESS – 110 lb. CLEAN & SEATED PRESS, 2 DUMBBELLS – 100 lb.
Al Myers needs no introduction. He was the long-term Secretary of the USAWA and was the driving force behind all the wonderful content on the website. His articles are a constant inspiration to me when I try to type something clever to make sure the USAWA remains a friendly, welcoming organization for strength athletes and fans of historic physical culture.
Al has not been one for self-promotion. His 2016 induction into the Hall of Fame has no biography. He was awarded the Ciavattone Award in 2019 without much fanfare. He was the second winner of the Prechtel Contribution Award in 2016.
Randy Smith made the nomination for a Lifetime Membership by simply stating that “Al put a tremendous amount of time and energy into bettering the USAWA and keeping it going for years. The large number of excellent articles penned by Al on a regular basis made the website truly awesome. Plus his incredible support hosting meets, and traveling to run or help run meets that he did not host. I could go on and on
I do not believe that the USAWA would still be in existence if Al had not put the time and effort into it for the multiple years that he did”
Al holds (537) individual records stretching back to 2002. He shares (83) team lift records going back to 2007.
Al’s Dino Gym was named after Brooks Kubik’s “Dinosaur Training.” I had the pleasure of visiting the Dino Gym in 2024 and it is truly an homage to All-Round Weightlifting and physical culture. You will find York Deep Dish plates, globe dumbbells, a wall of history and countless awards and trophies. You will also see some amazing self-fabricated pieces as Al’s pursuit of strength would not be held back by the availability of commercial equipment. The Dino Gym Challenge could be considered a 9th championship.
On the topic of Championships, Al was the long-time host of the Grip Championship and won the event in 2011, 2012 and 2018. He has also hosted the Team Lift Championship and was on the winning team for 10 consecutive years from 2007-2016.
In addition to announcing and scorekeeping, Al promoted the National Championship in 2021, 2018, 2012, 2009, and 2006. As an athlete, he won the National Championship (9) times between 2006 and 2019.
He promoted the Gold Cup in 2016 and earned the Prechtel Award for best lift in 2019, 2015 and 2013.
He promoted the IAWA World Championship in 2019 and 2012, has (12) top ten finishes and was the overall winner in 2006.
His first USAWA position was as Vice President in 2007 and then Secretary/Treasurer from 2010-2021. He has been on the IAWA Technical Committee since 2012. He was the President of the IAWA from 2012 to 2024.
A point of order is that without all of the history and archiving Al performed, none of these accolades could be properly researched. They would be lost to stories, e-mails and newsletters. By my estimation, Al has posted 1,603 of 2,638 posts on the website.
This is only the 2nd Lifetime Membership awarded by the USAWA. The first was to Bill Clark in 2011 as part of a Lifetime Achievement Award. On behalf of the United States All-Round Weightlifting Association in recognition of his long-term contributions to the organization and guidance through its 35th Anniversary and beyond, we wish to present Al Myers the Lifetime Membership Award on November 1st, 2025.
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.
