Category Archives: USAWA Events

Bayou Beast Bash 2026

Name of meet: Bayou Beast Bash 2026
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Location: Westlake, LA

Weigh–In time: 8AM
Lifting begins: 8:30AM
The Lifts:

  • H13. Peoples Deadlift
  • H7. Dumbbell to Shoulder
  • D28. Two Hands Anyhow

How to enter: Fill-out the entry form & contact Jeff Bankens by January 24, 2026

Record day: – N/A
Remote lifting: Yes – submit lifts by end of day, Sunday, February 8, 2026
Memberships: Must be a member of USAWA
Awards: T-shirts & certificates for those present / in-person
Contact: Jeff Bankens (Iron Sharpens Iron Weightlifting Club) / 337-884-5406 / trexpowerevents1@gmail.com

2026 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

Clark’s Championship Gym will be hosting the 2026 National Championship in Columbia, MO. This will be the 6th time Bill Clark has promoted the National Championship in Columbia, MO. Lebanon, PA is the only other city that has hosted the National Championship 6 times. This is the premier event on the USAWA calendar and we hope everyone can attend to compete, officiate, and support the event as volunteers and spectators.

2026 USAWA National Championship
Meet Director: Bill Clark
Date: June 27, 2026
Location: American Legion Hall, Columbia, MO (back up location Silverthorn Arena)
Weigh In: TBD
Rules Meeting: TBD
Lifting Begins: TBD
LIFTS:

  • Deadlift – No Thumbs, Overhand Grip (B11)
  • Clean and Press – Heels Together (A14)
  • Lateral Raise – Lying (E14)
  • Jefferson Lift (B19)

No Record Session will be included and 4th attempts for records may be limited based on number of entries.
Entry Fee: $50 ($100 per family, for immediate family of two or more) – Lifting Only
Entry Deadline: TBD
Annual General Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, June 26 with full details and cost information to be provided.
Contact:
Bill Clark
3906 Grace Ellen Drive, Columbia, MO 65202
Telephone – 573-474-4510
E-mail: yeoldclark@gmail.com

NEW YEARS EVE RECORD BREAKER

Frank’s Barbell Club will be hosting the New Year’s Eve Record Breaker 2025. This will be the 5th year in a row that Walpole has rang in the new year with some All-Round Weightlifting.

Meet Details:
Frank’s Barbell Club New Year’s Eve Record Breaker 2025
Date: December 31, 2025
Location: Frank’s Barbell Club, Walpole MA and remote
How to enter: To compete remotely, please let Jessica Hopps know no later than 12/23/2025 of plans to compete. Please submit remote results to jessicahopps1@gmail.com no later than January 2, 2026. If lifting remotely, please include the names of officials present to be considered for records.
Record Day: Lifters can choose to contest up to 5 USAWA/IAWA lifts to compete for record attempts.
Contact: For any questions, contact Jessica Hopps at jessicahopps1@gmail.com

MEMORIAL RECORD DAY (LEBANON, PA)

Denny Habecker has sanctioned the Memorial Record Day. This meet was originally started to replace Art’s Birthday Bash. The 2017 installment was sanctioned as the John Vernacchio Record Day. Since 2019 it has been sanctioned as the Memorial Record Day. The meet honors our former USAWA members who have passed over the years including Dennis Mitchell, Dean Ross, John McKean, Wilbur Miller and many others.

Date: November 22, 2025

Location: Habecker’s Gym, Lebanon, PA

Please contact Denny in advance if you plan on attending to remember those great people and set or break some USAWA records. You can email him at liftingliar@comcast.net

Steve Schmidt Backbreaker Pentathlon and Record Day, Columbia, MO

DECEMBER 5-6, 2026

CLARK’S GYM AND REMOTE.

ENTRY FEE – None.

WEIGH-INS  – 8 a.m. each day.

AWARDS – Certificates for male and female.

LIFTS –

  • Back lift,
  • neck lift;
  • harness lift;
  • hip lift;
  • hand-and-thigh lift.

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. To compete remote, you must enter by 10 p.m. on Tuesday 1 December 2026 or your results will not be accepted. You must send all results to Bill Clark via e-mail only at yeoldclark@gmail.com not later than 10 p.m. on Tuesday 8 December 2026.

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.

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