The team championships are returning to the USAWA championship roster! Here are Sanjiv’s highlights on this tradition, followed below by the meet announcement.
USAWA has a long history of team lifting with records dating back to 1989 with Joe McCoy and Bill Drybread. Since then, the popularity of team lifts has ebbed and flowed with a handful of records set every year at record sessions and the Gold Cup.
A turning point was the 2005 Deadliest Duo Meet. This meet had (5) different teams contesting the Team Deadlift and Team Clean & Jerk. This success was quickly followed by Team Nationals which had been a staple from 2007-2021. 39 different lifts were officially contested during Team Nationals
During those Team Nationals Al Myers and Chad Ullom slowly piled up records in 39 different lifts and still retain the top spot with the most team records. Most unusual was the Team Trap Bar Deadlift (2010 Al/Chad). Team One Arm Dumbbell Press, Right (2012 Rudy/Mike) is a close second. Note that athletes would have to face each other to pull off this lift.
While no team records were set in 2022 or 2023, there has been a resurgence since 2024. The power couple of Allison and Tony Lupo have set records in (16) different team lifts and show no signs of slowing down. New meets in Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Canada the past two years have also featured team lifts as part of the record day.
The Lifts: Team Clean & Press (A10) & Team Deadlift, Ciavattone Grip (B3)
Entry Deadline: December 6, 2025
Entry Fee; $10 per 2-person team
Officials: Must accompany Hybrid results to be eligible for records
USAWA Membership Required
Awards: Overall award to the best team as determined by gender-age-Lynch adjusted total (1.16 will be applied to M/F teams). Certificates for all entrants.
Special Event Team “Freestyle” – Teams are encouraged to select a 3rd USAWA Lift as their Freestyle entry. This lift must be video captured and submitted to the meet director. Best Team Lift based on Originality, Degree of Difficulty and Execution. Award to be determined.
Freestyle has historic roots going back to the 1904 Olympic Games as Freestyle was the tenth weightlifting event and was weighted heavily enough to override the outcome of the other nine lifts.
USAWA MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED: Memberships are required for all participants prior to the meet. Please go USAWA.COM to purchase your memberships prior to the meet.
AWARDS: BEST LIFTER AWARD to the overall champion & medals for all lifters. Each lifter will receive a competition T-shirt to be worn during the HomeGymCon Push/Pull & Record Day. I must know your shirt size two weeks prior to meet.
RECORD DAY SESSION – will follow the HomeGymCon Push/Pull competition, we will be having the Thomas Inch Dumbbell World Record Challenge. All Record Day lifts are time permitting & at the discretion of the meet director. More Record day lifts may be added upon request & meet director approval prior to the Record Day event.
HOTEL – There are many hotels to choose from in Louisville. There is no specific meet hotel, but a quick online search will find plenty of great options.
USAWA HOMEGYMCON PUSH/PULL SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN STANDARD TIME
You may check in the night before, by coming to the Convention Center until approximately/before 6 PM, but you must contact the meet director to set up a time.
WEIGH-INS BEGIN 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
LIFTING BEGINS 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
IRON PALACE PODCAST 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
RECORD DAY 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
CLEAN UP & LOAD TRUCK 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Please keep in mind the schedule may change depending on how long each segment lasts.
This will be a very exciting event with music, laser lights, banners, & heavy weights being lifted.
This is a great opportunity for the USAWA and I hope you will join us at the
How to enter: OPEN TO THE WORLD – All competition in Clark’s Gym is hybrid. You may compete in your local gym or in the friendly confines of Clark’s Gym in Columbia, Mo. You must send all results to Clark’s Gym via e-mail only at yeoldclark@gmail.com not later than 10 p.m. 1 July 2025.
Included on the reporting form must be the name of the official(s) involved. DO NOT send your remote results to the USAWA. They must be approved by the meet director first. If you have no officials, your results will be included in the final tabulation of the competition and be eligible for meet awards – but not records. Your honesty is the key to all competitions.
OFFICIALS – Must accompany remote results to be eligible for records.
Record day: You can enter up to five record lifts.
Remote lifting: To compete remote, you must enter by 5:00 pm 21 June 2025 or your results will not be accepted.
Memberships: You must be a USAWA Member, membership applications will be accepted at the meet.
Awards: There will be a best lifter award for men and women.
