Category Archives: USAWA Daily News

Nomination Time!

by Al Myers

The USAWA Awards Program was established last year with the first award winners being recognized at the 2010 USAWA National Meeting.  Well, it is time to make nominations for this years’ candidates.  The rules of this are the same as last year. 

  • You  must be a USAWA member to make a nomination or cast a vote
  • Nominated individuals must be a USAWA members to be eligible
  • Only one individual may be nominated per person per award
  • The awards are for the calendar year 2010
  • An individual may be nominated for more than one award

 Athlete of the Year – This award is for the individual who has accomplished the most athletically within the last year in the USAWA. Top placings at the Nationals and World Championships should figure in high. Also, participation in other National Competitions such as the Heavy Event Nationals or Team Nationals could factor in, along with the Gold Cup.

Leadership Award – This is for an individual that has shown exceptional leadership qualities within the USAWA during the past year. Things that should be looked at are: going above the level expected of an Officer position, promoting sanctioned events with emphasis being on promoting National or World Competitions, promoting the USAWA by developing a strong club, writing articles for publications about the USAWA, or through other means.

Sportsmanship Award – This goes to an individual who possesses and shows great sportsmanship within the USAWA. The act of sportsmanship may be by conduct at all events, or by an specific example of exceptional sportsmanship.

Courage Award – This goes to an individual who shows the courage to overcome an obstacle in order to return to competition. This may be a comeback from an injury, or just having to deal with difficult personal issues but still shows the courage to compete in the USAWA.

Newcomer Award– This award goes to an individual who in new to the USAWA or has become involved again. It doesn’t have to go to someone in their first year of being involved in the USAWA.

Please send your nominations to me (at amyers@usawa.com) by June 1st.  All nominations will be kept confidential.  The awards will be presented in conjunction with the awards ceremony at the USAWA National Championships in Kirksville, MO on June 25th.

USAWA Nationals: The AWARDS

Special awards for the USAWA Nationals for 2011 (purchased at pjtool.com)

by Thom Van Vleck

The USAWA Nationals for this year will have a unique award for the participants.  The Jackson Weightlifting Club (JWC) had long been defined by Grandpa Jackson’s Anvil.  For the last few years I have used these real anvils for awards.  Each award will come with a CUSTOMIZED plaque engraved by a Jim Spalding (Jim’s Gems) who is a local jeweler and also happens to be a 6 time Masters World Champion in Highland Games.   When the results are tabulated, we will write down you address and send you an engraved plate that will fit on the award with your placing and name.  How many personalized awards do you have in you trophy case?  I bet not many!  There will also be an 11lb Anvil for the overall best lifter.  Again, it’s a REAL anvil.

The “Original” JWC anvil will be present as well and used in the strongman show at the awards banquet.  We will take it outside and give anyone who wants a crack at lifting the anvil like Grandpa Jackson used to from the ground to overhead.  It is a 150lb Anvil and it’s very “doable”!  The real challenge is to lift it by the horn with one hand, pinch grip it by top or lift it by the neck.

Grandpa Jackson's Anvil - The Centerpiece of the Jackson Weightlifting Club

I will also have a 300lb anvil present….This is the MONSTER that so far has defied all who have tried to lift it overhead.  I want to see someone put that thing overhead!  But at the least, We will have the Whiskey Barrel there and the challenge is to lift the anvil onto the whiskey barrel.   Come on out, the USAWA Nationals will be more than just lifting weights…..we will try and make some history!

THE IRON MISTRESS

BY DAVE GLASGOW

DAVE GLASGOW SPENDING A LITTLE PLAY TIME WITH HIS "IRON MISTRESS"

I ALWAYS ENJOY MY TRIPS TO INDIANA.  IT NEVER FAILS TO CHARGE MY BATTERY JUST SPENDING TIME WITH MY BUDDY, LARRY (FLOYD) TRAUB.  DURING MY RECENT TRIP TO OFFICIATE THE USAWA SANCTIONED POWER MEET THERE, LARRY MADE A COMMENT THAT I CHEWED ON ALL THE WAY HOME.  HERE IS SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT COMMENT.

I MADE MENTION OF THE COMMENT ON LARRY’S ‘CREAKING’ SHOULDER (SEE ‘POWER IN SOUTHERN INDIANA’ ON THIS WEB PAGE).  ONE OF THE KIDS ASKED HIM IF HIS SHOULDER HURT WHEN HE BENCHED, TO WHICH HE SIMPLY SAID, “YES.” A LITTLE WHILE LATER, I SAID TO HIM, “DAMN IT, FLOYD, I TOLD YOU YEARS AGO TO QUIT BENCHIN’.” HE GRINNED, SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AND SAID, “IT’S WHAT I DO!”

EXACTLY RIGHT.  IT’S WHAT HE, AND ALL OF US “DO”.  I UNDERSTOOD INSTANTLY WHAT HE WAS SAYING. PAIN, INJURY, INCONVENIENCE, … YOU NAME IT. WE FIND A WAY TO GET AROUND IT. BECAUSE ‘NOT’ LIFTING IS NEVER AN OPTION.  IT’S A LOT LIKE THAT GIRL YOU USED TO GO OUT WITH. YOU KNOW THAT SHE’S NO GOOD FOR YOU, AND SHE WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK YOUR HEART. HOWEVER, YOU CONTINUE TO SPEND TIME WITH, AND MONEY ON, HER. TRY AS YOU MAY, YOU CAN NEVER END THE ONE WAY AFFAIR.  THERE IS NOT ONE OF US THAT HAS NOT MADE CONCESSIONS SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS WE LOVE. IT’S AN INDESCRIBABLE PULL, URGE, CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL. BUT, IT JUST WILL NOT GO AWAY.  I AM NOT SURE IT SHOULD EVER GO AWAY.

WELL, GOTTA GO. THE MISTRESS IS CALLING. HEY, IT’S WHAT I DO, TOO!!

USAWA Nationals: UPDATE

 by Thom Van Vleck

Private room at the Dukum Inn. This is where the banquet will happen after Nationals

Just an update on the USAWA Nationals.  I have ordered shirts.  They are POLO type shirts –  so better than your standard meet t-shirt!  They will have a stitched USAWA Nationals 2011 patch on them.  I have also ordered the awards.  These are like none you have ever received and I will be putting up a photo at a later time showing them.  Al Myer’s will be bringing his top notch equipment for the meet supplemented by my own.  If you ever wanted to lift on a set of York Hub plates or Jackson International Barbell plates, we will be using them in the meet!

I have recently confirmed reservations at the Armory and the Dukum Inn.  I recently attended a private party there and I was more than pleased.  The bar in the private room was built in 1938 and was the original bar that used to be downstairs.  There is a stage area opposite the bar that will offer a really nice podium for our awards ceremony.  You can see a big screen behind the bar and during the banquet we will scroll pictures of past and present USAWA meets and legends.  I highly recommend the onion rings at the Dukum….they are the best!

Outdoor Lifting: Time for Fresh AIR!

Phil Jackson lifting outdoors at the old JWC club

by Thom Van Vleck

I have a photo album full of old photos of the Jackson Weightlifting club in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s.  Many of the photos, maybe even more than half, are taken outdoors.  Back then, there was a very practical reason for lifting outside in the summer time….NO AIR CONDITIONING!  My Uncle’s told me they built a platform outdoors so they could get some fresh air and keep cool.  The JWC gym moved around several times and often was in an old unairconditioned building.  One of the favorite places of my Uncle Wayne of gym locations was on Jefferson Street near the old Kirksville  Railroad Depot.  Wayne said they rented an old store and they would lift in the store front during the winter.  There were large plate glass windows open to the street with a potbelly wood stove for heat and in the summer they would move the weights out back and lift right under the down town Water Tower.  The Water tower is still there but the store is long gone.  Sadly, not a single picture exists of the gym from that time.  Just the many great stories….including one of how my Aunt Linda would walk by there every day going home from work and see Wayne lifting…..and now they have been together for over 40 years!  She would stop and watch them workout with other girls…..she must have been impressed.

My Uncle Phil told me that lifting outside was also a benefit in other ways besides a cool breeze.  The bright sunshine helped get rid of the winter blues come spring and the fact that girls might walk by just motivated them to lift a little harder!   It might be a hassle to move the weights outdoors, but I think you’ll find a little lifting on a sunshiny day will boost your motivation and be a nice change of pace.

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