by Dale Friesz
"This picture is of myself, the one and only Bob Hoffman, and my youngest daughter, Pam age 4. This picture was taken in 1972 at the Junior Nationals Olympic Lifting Competition, just outside of Washington D.C." - Dale Friesz
Results of the Eastern Open Postal Meet
by Al Myers
The month of March was the first of the USAWA’s Quad Postal Series. John Wilmot is again the Meet Director for these Postal Meets, and through his hard work, put together one of the most participated Postal Meets to date. Thirteen lifters turned in results for this competition, and several placings were very close. The lifts John chose were easy to do which I think helped in the turnout of lifters. John went to the work of sending out nice certificates to the winners, which is more than expected in a meet where you don’t have to pay an entry fee. I want to point out that you do not need a Certified USAWA Official to participate in these Postal Meets – but you do need someone to “unofficially judge” your lifts. You also must be a current USAWA member to participate. Of course, it is best to have Certified Officials judge your lifts as that is mandatory for any lifts to count as records. The USAWA allows the “One Official System” to be used for records, but IAWA (World Records) require the “Three Official System” to be used. This is specified on the results sheet so the Records Chairmen of the USAWA and the IAWA will know which lifters are eligible for records.
Congratulations to the Best Lifters and thanks to everyone who participated. Your continually support of these Postal Meets is what is needed to keep them going!
RESULTS:
Eastern Open Postal Meet
March 1-31, 2010
Meet Director: John Wilmot
Lifts: Clean and Press – 2 Dumbbells, Heels Together, Continental to Belt, Deadlift – 2 Dumbbells
Officials for lifters using 3 official system:
Al Myers – Chad Ullom, Mark Mitchell, Scott Tully
Chad Ullom – Al Myers, Mark Mitchell, Scott Tully
Jesse Landes – Al Myers, Chad Ullom, Scott Tully
Scott Tully – Al Myers, Chad Ullom, Mark Mitchell
Mark Mitchell – Al Myers, Chad Ullom, Scott Tully
Joe Ciavattone Sr. – Frank Ciavattone Jr., Mike O’Brien
Frank Ciavattone Jr. – Joe Ciavattone Sr., Mike O’Brien
Mike O’Brien – Joe Ciavattone Sr., Frank Ciavattone Jr.
Joe Ciavattone Jr. – Frank Ciavattone Jr., Joe Ciavattone Sr., Mike O’Brien
Officials for lifters using 1 official system:
Kohl Hess – Denny Habecker
Lifters using an individual to judge who is not a Certified USAWA Official:
Orie Barnett
John Wilmot
Denny Habecker
| Lifter | Age | BWT | Cls | DB Press |
Con to Belt |
DB DL |
Total | Points |
| Al Myers |
43 | 250 | 115 | 170 | 424 | 578 | 1172 | 967.18 |
| Chad Ullom |
38 | 235 | 110 | 170 | 402 | 490 | 1062 | 869.88 |
| Joe Ciavattone Jr. |
16 | 212 | 100 | 140 | 350 | 400 | 890 | 846.94 |
| Orie Barnett |
49 | 230 | 105 | 160 | 350 | 402 | 912 | 831.15 |
| Joe Ciavattone Sr. |
41 | 245 | 115 | 180 | 375 | 410 | 965 | 788.92 |
| Mark Mitchell |
49 | 365 | 125+ | 210 | 363 | 424 | 997 | 779.64 |
| Jesse Landes |
30 | 238 | 110 | 150 | 308 | 490 | 948 | 771.29 |
| Denny Habecker |
67 | 184 | 85 | 110 | 242 | 275 | 628 | 752.53 |
| Mike O’Brien |
27 | 145 | 70 | 80 | 275 | 310 | 665 | 724.25 |
| Scott Tully |
34 | 352 | 125+ | 200 | 308 | 490 | 998 | 709.48 |
| Frank Ciavattone Jr. |
55 | 285 | 125+ | 60 | 335 | 410 | 805 | 694.56 |
| John Wilmot |
63 | 211 | 100 | 100 | 225 | 280 | 605 | 650.80 |
| Kohl Hess |
15 | 283 | 125+ | 110 | 220 | 341 | 672 | 577.17 |
BWT is body weight in pounds. Cls is bodyweight class. Total is total pounds lifted. Points are adjusted points for bodyweight and age.
BEST LIFTERS:
Junior – Joe Ciavattone Jr.
Senior (20-39 age) – Chad Ullom
Master (40-44 age) – Al Myers
Master (45-49 age) – Orie Barnett
Master (55-59 age) – Frank Ciavattone Jr.
Master (60-64 age) – John Wilmot
Master (65-69 age) – Denny Habecker
Master Overall – Al Myers
Overall Lifter – Al Myers
by Al Myers
It is exciting to be able to announce the start of the USAWA Awards Program. Discussion on the development of this Awards Program happened on the USAWA Discussion Forum, with everyone showing overwhelming support. These awards will be given out the USAWA National Meeting which occurs at the same time as the National Championships over the weekend of June 26th and 27th. Nominations must be sent to me by April 30th. The two individuals receiving the most nominations will be listed as the candidates for the awards, with voting done by May 15th by the membership. You must be a USAWA member to make a nomination or cast a vote. Only one individual may be nominated per person per award. The awards are for the year 2009. An individual may be nominated for more than one award. The award categories are as follows:
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.
All nominations are to be sent to me at amyers@usawa.com by the 30th of April. I will keep the nominations confidential. The voting will end by May 15th to give me time to have the awards made. The USAWA Discussion Forum will be the place to discuss reasons why a certain candidate should be voted on, or for individuals to make the pitch why their candidate nominated should receive the award.
by Thom Van Vleck
Chad Ullom, Tedd & Thom Van Vleck, & Al Myers have a good time after a meet
I grew up in Schuyler County, Population about 3500. We had a weekly newspaper (long since gone) that often was filled with social items. There was this one lady that wrote about the gatherings and she would talk about who came, what they ate, and what they talked about…..big news where I came from. To be honest, I kinda miss that kind of news over the stuff we deal with now! At any rate, she would end her column with “…..and a good time was had by all”. That kind of became a “catch phrase” in my family for social gatherings.
Recently, Chad and Al came up for a contest I put on. Al’s Dad came along, too. As is usual, we all ended up at a “get together” at my place after meet. And, as usual, we ended up telling stories until the wee hours of the morning…and maybe a liquid refreshment or two. My wife went to bed at a reasonable hour (we did not!) and commented the next day, “Al sure laughs loud!!!”. The point is, we all laughed and we laughed a lot!
The next day, when we went to the Deanna meet, Al and I talked about this part of almost every meet and contest we have been to over the years. Al commented later that his dad told him, “I finally understand why you like to do these meets”. While I enjoy the challenge of competing and I have many memorable moments of contests, I have just as many stories about the trips to, and from, and the get together’s that happen afterwards. It’s all part of the fun.
I hopefully have many more contests to come in my life time, and win or lose, I will do my best to make sure they all end with “….and a Good Time was had by All!
by Thom Van Vleck
Wayne Jackson & Bill Clark in front of "Clark's Championship Gym" in Columbia, Missouri.
Recently, Al and I went to Clark’s Gym to compete in the Deanna Meet with Joe Garcia. My Uncle Wayne Jackson came along. It has been some time since he had seen Bill and along the way we talked about him and Bill’s relationship.
It was in 1962 Wayne told me they first met, it was hard for him to believe that it had been nearly 50 years! It was a 3 hour round trip for us and during that time Wayne shared many stories of taking trips with Bill back in the day. Some were pretty long and believe me, I’m going to write these down. But a couple of short one’s:
One time Bill gave Wayne, Phil Jackson, and Bill Fellows a ride to a meet in Kansas. Bill had an old hearse that he used as his personal vehicle. On the way back, the lights went out and they stopped at a truck stop but could not get them to work again. So Bill talked a trucker in to letting them tailgate him all the way from Kansas City to Columbia. As they left and the next 100 miles revolved around Bill staying glued to the back bumper of this truck…..Wayne said him and Phil got to laughing as they contemplated the irony of being killed in a HEARSE.
Another time, Wayne shared a the story of a write up that Clark did on him in the forerunner of the USAWA newsletter, the MO Valley Lifting News. Wayne had broke the state record in the clean and press and the age of 18 and Bill wrote, “Look out Russians, here comes Wayne Jackson”. Wayne’s brother Phil was excited about the headline, Wayne has always been a modest person and said he was actually embarrassed by it!
Wayne and Bill go way back, and Wayne got Bill’s newsletter from 1962 until the last one and read it religiously. In a way, it almost seemed like a chance to say goodbye for Wayne as his health has not been the best and if that is the case, I’m glad he came…..but I don’t think guys as tough as Bill and Wayne ever give up the ghost quite so easily!!!!!