Category Archives: USAWA Daily News

2026 USAWA AWARD WINNERS: Newcomer of the Year (Men)

We are at the end of the individual awards and by no means the least. The 2026 USAWA Newcomer of the year (Men) is Isaac Bankens, from Iron Sharpens Iron Weightlifting Club in Lake Charles, LA. Isaac is the latest in a string of young people winning this award. And it’s great to see young people joining our sport! Isaac was voted Lifter of the Month in February. He is a relatively quiet individual who does very well in school (way to go!), and when he’s not studying, he’s competing in all-around lifting and in grip sport! Isaac finished first in the junior men’s division of the 2026 Bayou Beast Bash. He’s a great sport as well as he puts up some big numbers but does not make a show of it. There’s even a great video of him doing a 435-pound Dinnie lift on his dad’s Facebook page, none other than Jeff “T-Rex” Bankens. Isaac is a chip off the old block, and in the coming years will give dad a run for his money! But, like his dad, he’s a fun guy to be around. Congratulations Isaac Bankens, the 2026 USAWA Newcomer of the year!    

Lifter of the Month, August 2026, Wade Marchand

August featured the Repetition Rampage Record Day, USAWA Presidential Cup, Light Weight Decathlon, Ol’ Clark’s 94th Birthday Party and the IAWA World Postal.  It was a very busy month and there were several standout performances.

Wade Marchand earned Lifter of the Month with his outstanding Trap Bar Deadlift Repetition Record of 167 pounds (bodyweight) x 31 repetitions. 

Wade currently holds 157 records going back to 2020.  He has competed in postal events, record days, Heavy Lift Championship (2023 and 2026), IAWA Gold Cup (2024), and National Championship (2025).

Congratulations Wade!

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

2026 USAWA AWARD WINNERS: COURAGE (Women)

This year’s winner of the USAWA Courage Award (women) is Lisa Gore. Lisa joined Clark’s Gym about two years ago and has been wreaking havoc on the USAWA’s record book ever since then. With 363 age / weight or all records, she now ranks #1 all time. In fact there are many events where she has the heaviest lift ever among the women. When Lisa was growing up, she worked on her dad’s pig farm. She’s served in the Army Reserve Nurse Corps, retiring as Major. She had a prior career teaching posing and competing in Figure Competitions and lifted weights since her mid 20’s, was obsessed with the strong female physique, then and lifted in the gym before it was fashionable for women. Always made fun of by friends for being naturally strong, but it was also beginning 2020 when she was diagnosed with a herniated disc, leg weakness and severe pain. She was told surgery or stem cells would be the treatment. Luckily she was last patient to get stem cells from a doctor in Las Vegas during Covid and began a long rehab with physical therapy, spinal alignment, and allowing the stem cells to work. Covid ended up being a blessing with less of a patient load, she worked through healing times. She thought she would never be able to return to heavy weights, scared to push her limits. 

In April 2024 Allison and Tony Lupo introduced her to the USAWA in and she became addicted to our brand of all-around lifting. She’s been a valued member of Clark’s gym and brings fun and inspiration to our group. Lifting has helped her recover and brought her back to lifting the ‘Popeye Weights’ at Clark’s Gym (see picture below).  Lisa has also struggled with some other health issues with Meniere’s which affects balance in the inner ear, and is affected by intracranial pressure that could be serious enough that if she’s not careful, she won’t be able to compete again.

Like everyone in our sport, hearing from your doctor that you should or can no longer compete whether it’s for two months or ever again hits us hard. Late last year and early this year, she was told she needed to take a break, with a bought of Vertigo that she hadn’t had for 10 years. There was no real time frame given for her to return. Passing balance training at MU, she slowly started making her way back into the gym early this summer with some light lifting. Her doctor made her lose weight and was still freaking out over the amount of weight she lifts. Lisa tried worked within her doctor’s recommendations and by the end of August has made it back to her old form. She still needs to be careful with her health (depending on the lift) – but she’s dealing with it with a smile and good humor. Lisa believes in tenacity and fortitude and personal excellence, never giving up. In her day job, she works at the MU hospital as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, has her DNAP, runs her own Medspa business, and is active in local politics. Congratulations to this years Courage Award Winner (Women) Dr. Lisa Gore!    

Old Time Strongman Championship – Venue & Date Change

Date: November 14, 2026
Where: Eastern Venue – Frank’s Barbell Club; Western Venue – High Country Vigour
Weigh Ins: 9:00
Rules/Warm-Up: 9:30
Lifting Starts: 10:00

Lifts:
-Apollons Lift (H3)
-Lurich Lift (H12)
-Hackenschmidt Floor Press (H9)
-Kennedy Lift (H11)

Entry Fee: $0. Register with either Jessica Hopps (jessicahopps1@gmail.com) or Sanjiv Gupta (sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com) no later than November 7, 2026.
Awards: None
Hybrid: Remote entries will NOT be accepted
MUST BE A USAWA MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE
Record day: Lifters can choose up to 5 USAWA/IAWA lifts to perform as records.

KCSTRONGMAN will not be hosting the Old Time Strongman Championship on September 5, 2026 as previously scheduled.

2026 USAWA AWARD WINNERS: COURAGE (Men)

There are powerful figures in the comics and movies, like Superman, Hulk, etc.. But, when I think of real-life powerful human beings, I think of Frank Ciavattone – this year’s USAWA Courage Award Winner. First, friend him on Facebook, you’ll see some amazing pictures of his physical power over the years. One of my favorites (below – from 1993) is Frank looking like he’s going to sink a 253 pound marble stone for a lay-up. Google his name, and you will find details for amazing feats of strength. For example, he is the first American to lift the Dinnie Stones and was inducted into Massachusetts Hall of Fame for wrestling. He is also in the USAWA Hall of Fame and now ranks 3rd all-time with more than 450 records. Frank may be known for his physical toughness, but you will find he is a person who displays toughness of character and spirit. This year has been particularly difficult for him – in a way that would knock down most people. In the past, he battled and survived some serious health issues. Through it all he maintains a kind and positive demeanor. This is another and more important reason to friend him as he is always posting words of wisdom, strength, and inspiration. He is loved by his family and friends. By day, Frank has his own business as a heavy equipment operator. He wrote a book about the difficulty of keeping Boston operating and then opening it up after the Blizzard of 1978. He founded and leads Frank’s Barbell Club in Walpole, MA – which is a group that is more like a family. But, even more important to him, you will find words like kindness, character, and generosity used to describe his personality. He is a true gentleman. Congratulations to one of the living legends in the USAWA as the 2026 Courage Award Winner!  

 

1 2 3 … 495