by Ben Edwards
"This is Bob Burtzloff's double overhand deadlift of 305 pounds on a 2" bar at the 2002 SuperGrip Challenge at Kevin Fulton's farm in Nebraska. It was a great contest and a great group of people." - Ben Edwards
Written and Compiled by Dale Friesz
There has been 15 Deanna Springs Memorial Meets. Joe Garcia owns this meet – he has won 9 of these meets. He participated in two others – 2003 and 1997. Amazingly he failed to total in 2003 and 1997. In 2003, he was unable to do a Hand and Thigh Lift and in 1997 he failed in the Hip Lift. He could not do the Hand and Thigh Lift in 2003 as he had been kicked by his own horse! In 1997, his choice of weight in the Hip Lift was too heavy. That amounts to 9 wins in 11 contests. My hat is off to Joe!!
Deanna and Al Springs, performing a 2-person Cheat Curl
The following is from the USAWA Strength Journal, Vol. VI-7 11/25-1995:
Deanna Springs Dies in Auto Crash
by Kerry Clark, a national USWF titlist like Deanna, contributed the following eulogy for her close friend.
On October 5, 1995, Deanna Springs was killed in a car accident at the age of 45. Deanna was the wife of Al Springs of Dearborn, Missouri. Deanna met Al when she came to his fitness center for rehabilitation for shoulder and wrist problems. She lifted in her first USAWA meet at Steve Schmidt’s in 1992, and although she continued to battle back and arm problems she developed into an excellent and enthusiastic lifter over the last few years. Al and Deanna were rightfully proud of her record-making marks of 600 pounds in the Hand and Thigh and 1100 pounds in the Hip Lift. But more than a devoted lifter, Deanna Springs was a wonderful person. She and Al came to all of our meets at Clark’s Gym. Deanna was always the friendliest and most supportive person in the room. She worked hard to become a better lifter herself and she always gave out encouragement, even to her competitors. I always looked forward to our meets because I knew that Deanna would be there. At her funeral, the minister spoke of Deanna’s accomplishments in the USAWA and her National Championship medal was placed in the casket with her. I felt glad to know that Deanna cared so much about the USAWA because I know that my experience in this organization was enriched by her presence. Deanna Springs was a great lifter, supporter of the USAWA, and a friend. She was also Al’s greatest booster. Her death was an unexpected blow and she will be greatly missed.
Past Winners of the Deanna Springs Memorial Meet:
| DATE | WINNER | AGE | BWT | TOTAL | POINTS |
| 2010 – 3/28 |
JOE GARCIA |
56 | 215 | 3770 | 3611.64 |
| 2009 – 3/28 |
JOE GARCIA |
55 | 240 | 3950 | 3711.88 |
| 2008 – 4/06 |
AL MYERS |
42 | 239 | 3525 | 2948.17 |
| 2007 – 3/25 |
ABE SMITH |
25 | 171 | 3610 | 3534.55 |
| 2006 – 3/26 |
JOE GARCIA |
52 | 245 | 4035 | 3655.85 |
| 2005 – 4/02 |
ABE SMITH |
23 | 165 | 4105 | 4111.98 |
| 2004 – 4/04 |
JOE GARCIA |
50 | 231 | 3980 | 3650.87 |
| 2003 – 4/06 |
STEVE SCHMIDT |
47 | 215 | 3940 | 3654.37 |
| 2002 – 4/07 |
JOE GARCIA |
48 | 241 | 4120 | 3627.67 |
| 2001 – 3/31 |
JOE GARCIA |
47 | 242 | 3195 | 2783.60 |
| 2000 – 3/26 |
JOSH PEMBERTON |
24 | 209 | 2960 | 2581.12 |
| 1999 – 3/28 |
JOE GARCIA |
45 | 241 | 4525 | 3876.54 |
| 1998 – 3/28 |
JOE GARCIA |
44 | 229 | 4140 | 3608.4 |
| 1997 – 4/12 |
JOHN CARTER |
39 | 226 | 4245 | 3553.07 |
| 1996 – 3/30 |
JOE GARCIA |
42 | 223 | 2550 | 2210.98 |
| DATE | WINNER | AGE | BWT | TOTAL | POINTS |
| 2004 – 4/04 |
JESSICA TODD |
28 | 188 | 1850 | 1712.18 |
| 2001 – 3/31 |
ANGELA McBRIDE |
22 | 132 | 2140 | 2490.32 |
| 1996 – 3/30 |
AMORKOR OLLENNUNKING |
33 | 175 | 1875 | 1810.50 |
Notes: BWT is bodyweight in pounds. Total is total pounds lifted. Points are bodyweight and age adjusted.
LIFTS:
1996 – Cheat Curl, Zercher Lift, Crucifix, Jefferson Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift
1997 – Cheat Curl, Crucifix, Jefferson Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift, Hip Lift
1998 to present – Crucifix, Cheat Curl, Deanna Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift, Hip Lift
LOCATIONS:
1996 – Springs’ Garage Gym (Dearborn, Missouri)
1997 to present – Clark’s Championship Gym (Columbia, Missouri)
by Al Myers
An autographed photo of Steve Stanko, which is displayed in the Dino Gym, courtesy of Dale Friesz.
I have been collecting pictures for a long time – and if you have been to the Dino Gym you have seen my collection covering the gym walls. There are now over 100 photographs lining the walls of the gym! I find that these photos of lifters, some famous and some just lifters that I have great respect for, inspire me to train harder. I can’t really explain why – it’s just that when I look at these pictures during a workout and KNOW the hard work and dedication that each one of these athletes put into working out – it is INSPIRATIONAL to me. It makes me want to workout even harder! Most all of my pictures in the gym have a story behind them. I didn’t just didn’t pick them out random and throw them up on the wall for a little gym decoration!
My favorite photos are the ones that have been autographed. So far, some of my autographed pictures include great lifters such as Wilbur Miller, Norbert Schemansky, Bruce Wilhelm, Joe Dube, Bill Pearl, John Grimek and Terry Todd. I also have autographed pictures of great throwers such as Al Oerter, Al Feuerbach, John Godina, and Brian Oldfield. Among others are great athletes including Vince Young, the “best Highland Games athlete of All-Time” Bill Anderson, Jesse Marunde, and Tom Manno. I probably have some more that I didn’t mention here. I am not the only one that has this fascination with inspirational photos. Thom Van Vleck has more pictures in the JWC Training Hall than he has weightlifting plates (and he has TONS of plates). I have been in Thom’s gym several times and each time I notice a photo that I hadn’t seen before. When I attended the USAWA Club Challenge this spring hosted by the Ambridge VFW Barbell Club, I noticed the many pictures they have lining the staircase as you descended into the dungeon of iron that is known as the Ambridge VFW BBC. By just looking at their photograph display, you are motivated to lift before you even enter the gym!
This is one on the many reasons why I prefer small club gyms over commercial gyms. You very rarely see pictures on the walls of commercial gyms – instead you see promotional posters trying to sell you something. Inspirational photos give a private club gym the “personal touch” that you don’t get in a big commercial gym – and this results in a better workout!
by Dale Friesz
Paul Anderson training the Neck (photo courtesy of Glenda Anderson, Paul Anderson Youth Home, Vidalia, Georgia)
“This is a picture of Paul Anderson doing a Neck Lift with a side to side swinging motion. I find this very interesting. I also have an old VHS video tape that shows him do a Neck Lift with a 360 degree continuous swing.” – Dale Friesz
(Webmaster’s comment – I sure would like to see that tape!!)
by Thom Van Vleck
Thom Van Vleck hoists his reward, a free beer at the Inver Inn in Scotland after hoisting the Inver Stone
We all lift for a variety of reasons. And at some time we’ve probably had someone question our sanity for the things we do! I mean, really, why would a grown man travel half way around the world just to put on a kilt, and lift a 265lb Stone, just to get a free beer? I must mention that there is a tradition that if you lift the Inver Stone, you get a free beer and so far I know of at least 4 USAWA members who have done it. Why would someone travel across the country, or even across the ocean….just to do a Bent press and maybe win a small award of some type.
I should point out that I also competed in the Master World Championships in Highland Games in that trip in Inverness…..but I don’t know if that makes my trip any more sane. All I got for that was a medal and two shot glasses (although, they have come in handy!)
Some people lift, or compete in athletics, because of money. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that….I might have done the same thing had I been good enough. Some people do it for the personal challenge and could care less who sees them break a record. Some do it for glory. Some do it for attention (I’ve been accused of that a time or two). There are probably many more reasons. Often, the reasons change over the years.
My point is that it seems when I have my priorities straight, when I have a goal, and when I know what my reward will be…..I seem to make greater progress. Having that clear image of the reward can help with great gains. My Uncle Phil Jackson used to say to me that the only time Success comes before Work is in the dictionary.
That free beer meant a lot to me. What’s your reward?