By Eric Todd
I was very excited today to receive 6 new membership applications! 2 were from Frank’s barbell club, and the other 4 were all new Canadian members. It is very exciting to see new blood in our organization. And Franks club has been a stalwart in our organization with no indications of slowing down soon. Hopefully we can continue to grow our presence in Canada. Welcome aboard, folks!!!
By Dan Wagman
(This is a series of national meeting items Dan Wagman is proposing that may be discussed at National Metting)
By Dan Wagman
This is the first part in a series of proposals from Dan Wagman that may be discussed at the national meeting.
Send queries to Send queries to <a href=”mailto:Wagman2022Agenda@icloud.com”>Wagman2022Agenda@icloud.com</a>
(e-mail address active until Juli 1, 2022)
In addressing a lifter’s foot placement, the current bench press rule (Rulebook XII.C.) reads:
“The feet must be flat on the floor and not braced against the bench during the lift. Any width of feet placement is allowed. No heel or toe rising is allowed during the lift.”
It is therefore not permissible to place plates, blocks, or any similar thing under a lifter’s feet to raise them off the floor. This, however, is essential for many shorter lifters, to include reasons other than just body height or limb length, and many judges have therefore allowed this, contravening the rules of performance for the bench press. It is therefore advisable to clarify the bench press rule via a sentence that allows lifters to elevate their feet off the floor. It is suggested to add this fourth sentence to the section addressing a lifter’s feet:
The use of plates, blocks, or any similar device under the lifter’s feet is permitted
in an effort to raise them off the floor.
Add the Jefferson Lift — Fingers to USAWA’s contested lifts in line with IAWA-UK. The proposed language for that lift is as follows:
Jefferson Lift — Fingers: The rules of the Jefferson Lift apply except that the lift will be executed with one of the same fingers on each hand.
By Eric Todd
Our president, Denny Habecker, is sanctioning the 10th installment of the Presidential Cup. The Presidential Cup is the granddaddy of all record days. It is to the USAWA what the Gold Cup is to the IAWA. In the nine years that it has been contested, there have been nine different Presidential Cup champions. The most recent was Beth Skwarecki with a 55 pound full-gardner in 2021. You will pick one lift to set or break a record in. If time allows, you can go for a record in a second lift, but only your first lift will be eligible for consideration for the Presidential Cup Championship.
The Presidential Cup will follow along some of the same guidelines as the Gold Cup, which is the IAWA meet which recognizes outstanding performances by lifters in the lift/lifts of their choosing. The Gold Cup started in 1991 under the direction of then-IAWA President Howard Prechtel. However there will be some differences in the guidelines of the USAWA Presidential Cup:
Date: August 6, 2022
Location: Habecker’s Gym-Lebanon, PA
Entry: None, but please let Denny know if you are coming.
By Bill Clark
Tony, who just turned 53, won is first major USAWA meet by blasting through the “rampage” to win the Easter Bunny Bench Press Decathlon, defeating teammate, Dave Beversdorf, for the title.
tony Hose-Bench press Decathalon Champ!
Tony, weighing a trim 226 pounds, broke a deadlock with the 56-year-old Beversdorf by using less to weigh more and clinch the title in the “rampage.”
Tony took only 90 pounds, but did 68 reps with the weight in the one-minute rampage time-span to log 6,120 pounds in a minute – over three tons. Dave, who weighed in at 300 pounds (age 56), did 47 reps with 125 pounds for a total of 5,875 pounds in a minute.
Third place went to Lucas Hardie, from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, who is a member of Clark’s Gym Team. Dave DeForest was 4th, Tony Lupo 5th and Nick Frieders 6th in what became strictly a gym meet.
Tony Hose’s total for the 10 lifts was exactly 8,000 pounds – four tons worth of benching.
Tony has been a gym member since June 15, 2006. Since his first few months 16 years ago, he has always added a large gift “to help cover the heating bill” and has been a huge help in keeping the gym open as the heat bills have soared.
It was good seeing him win in tough competition.
The results:
| Name | Age | Age Division | BW | weight class | Reg Park Bench Press | Bench Press roman Chair | Bench Press Feet in Air | Bench Press Alternate Grip | Bench Press Reverse Grip | Bench Press-Close Grip (not eligible for USAWA records because not an official lift) | Bench Press-Feet on Floor (not eligible for USAWA records because not an official lift) | Rampage Reps | Rampage total weight | Total pounds | Bodyweight adjustment | Age Adjustment | Place |
| Tony Hose | 53 | 50 | 226 | 105 | 230 | 65 | 300 | *275 | *270 | 200 | 300 | 68×90 | 6120 | 8000 | 2688.5 | 7624.83 | 1 |
| David Beversdorf | 56 | 55 | 300 | 275+ | *230 | *45 | *300 | *315 | *300 | 225 | 315 | 47×125 | 5875 | 7825 | 5679.4 | 6844.9 | 2 |
| Lucas Hardie** | 38 | open | 195 | 90 | *190 | 125 | 245 | 225 | 225 | 185 | 255 | 28×135 | 3780 | 6430 | 5879.15 | 5879.15 | 3 |
| Dave DeForest | 62 | 60 | 187 | 85 | *130 | *22 | 160 | *165 | *160 | 130 | 170 | 41×70 | 2870 | 3917 | 3637.7 | 4474.37 | 4 |
| Tony Lupo | 56 | 55 | 234 | 110 | *130 | *65 | *245 | *185 | *200 | 155 | 255 | 26×115 | 2990 | 4340 | 3637.4 | 4255.76 | 5 |
| Nick Frieders | 21 | open | 184 | 85 | *100 | *65 | 200 | 185 | 155 | 155 | 200 | 26×85 | 2210 | 3350 | 3504.1 | 3504.1 | 6 |
| Bill Clark | 89 | 85 | 203 | 95 | *44 | *33 | 65 | *65 | *65 | 55 | 65 | 10×45 | 450 | 886 | 785.1 | 1677.65 | 7 |
* All lifts marked with an asterisk are national records
**Lucas Hardie’s lifts are not eligible for records
The following lifters are not current members, but are from Canada, and are planning on joining prior to the 2nd quarter postal. Their lifts are not eligible for records. Please give them a warm welcome:
| Name | Age | Age Division | BW | weight class | Bench Press-1 arm-right | Bench Press-1 arm-left | Reg Park Bench Press | Bench Press roman Chair | Bench Press Feet in Air | Bench Press Alternate Grip | Bench Press Reverse Grip | Bench Press-Close Grip (not eligible for USAWA records because not an official lift) | Bench Press-Feet on Floor (not eligible for USAWA records because not an official lift) | Rampage Reps | Rampage total weight | Total pounds |
| Matt Macneil | 36 | open | 270 | 125 | 135 | 135 | 270 | 95 | 345 | 315 | 315 | 200 | 345 | 48×135 | 6480 | 9735 |
| Doug Sullivan | 63 | 60 | 180 | 85 | 95 | 95 | 200 | 135 | 245 | 235 | 235 | 185 | 265 | 39×135 | 5265 | 7065 |
| Robbie Baxter | 27 | open | 238 | 110 | 100 | 95 | 200 | 125 | 225 | 225 | 245 | 185 | 235 | 29×115 | 3335 | 3335 |
All records are in pounds. The three official system was used for everyone but Dave DeForest and Bill Clark with Dave and Bill being the judges. Bill judged Dave and Dave judged Bill in the 1 official system for their lifts.
| Dave DeForst record day | |
| Snatch on knees | 90 |
| Clean and Press on knees | 116 |
| Clean and seated press-behind neck | 105 |
| Deadlift-stiff legged | 280 |
| Habecker Lift | 250 |