USAWA

UPDATED – 4/29/2026

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 26-28, 2026
Location:
DAY 1: Competition Events – Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School Gymnasium, Columbia, MO 65202
DAY 2: Record Day – Clark’s Gym and REMOTE
Weigh In: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Both Days
Rules Meeting: 9:30 AM Both Days
Lifting Begins: 10:00 AM Both Days

LIFTS:

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

4th attempts for records will be allowed on June 27
Record attempts will be allowed on June 27 and June 28
Entry Fee: $40 – Lifting Only
Entry Deadline: 5:00 PM, June 16, 2026

Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 26, doors open at 4:00 PM and seating is limited to 50. A buffet dinner with pulled pork, etc. will open the evening at 5:00 PM. Cost of the buffet is $30 per person. The bar is not included.

Entrants may pay both the meet entry fee and annual meeting dinner with one check.

Entry Form: 2026 USAWA Nationals Entry Form

Records will be allowed at remote sites with proper officials. Remote results must be received by 10 PM, Tuesday, June 30.

Contact:
Bill Clark
3906 Grace Ellen Drive, Columbia, MO 65202
Telephone – 573-474-4510
E-mail: yeoldclark@gmail.com

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

OCTOBER 31-November 1, 2026

CLARK’S GYM AND REMOTE.

ENTRY FEE – None.

WEIGH-INS – 8 a.m,  both days.

AWARDS – Certificates for male and female.

LIFTS – All deadlifts to include

• two-bars,
• Reeves, 
• Jefferson,
• heels together,
• hack,
• all four fingers,
• one-hand with each hand,
• one-hand thumbless with each hand.

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 27 October, 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 3 November, 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.