USAWA

THE DIAMOND JUBILEE – A ONE-MAN CELEBRATION 

It wasn’t meant to be such – but it was. After all, it was hybrid with no reason not to  enter since lifts were accepted by the meet director, with or without officials – and there  was no entry fee. None entered. 

So Ol’ Clark kept the event alive by doing what seemed to be token lifts – but weren’t.  They were the postings of a soon-to-be 93-year-old who hadn’t done anything other  than a couple of record days in the past year. 

THE SECOND ANNUAL DIAMOND JUBILEE CHAMPIONSHIPS APRIL 26, 2025 

CLARK’S GYM, COLUMBIA, MO. 

Bill Clark. Age 92. Bwt – 197. 

Deadlift – heels together – 150. 

Deadlift – Fulton Bar – no thumbs (a non-USAWA lift) – 125. 

Jefferson Lift – Fulton Bar – 150. 

Bench press – reverse grip – 45. 

Bench press – close grip – 45. 

Seated press behind neck – from rack – 22. 

Total – 537. 

Adjusted total – 873.13. 

RECORD DAY 

HIGH VIGOUR GYM (Colorado) 

The team – Diya is 17 and weighed in at 97.2 lbs; her sister, Nisha, is 16 and weighed  86.2 lbs. Their five team lifts have no equal in the USAWA. 

Team deadlift – one arm, left – 105. 

Team Zercher lift – 85. 

Team Scott lift – 115. 

Team squat-lunge – 95. 

Team curl – cheat – 85. 

Their next team lift will be an unsupported leg press. That truly will be an event. Interesting what happens when kids have the opportunity to be kids and not compared  to the adults. I hope all under-20 USAWA members will join Clark’s Gym in its hybrid  competition – the Stars of Tomorrow on Parade – which has as its goal the Teenage  National Championships on a day not a part of being secondary to the Over-20 crowd – with separate titles for boys and girls. 

FROM CLARK’S GYM 

Janet Thompson. Age – 67. BWT. – 163. Deadlift – dumbbell – left – 80. 

Deadlift – dumbbell – right – 101. 

Deadlift – dumbbells – 2×70 – 140. 

Deadlift – vertical bar – two inch – right – 61. Deadlift – vertical bar – two bars – two inch – 2 x 71 – 142.  

Allison Lupo. Age – 59. Bwt – 194.  

Bench press – two dumbbells – 2×20 – 40. 

Deadlift – two dumbbells – 2 x 80 – 160. 

Roman chair bench press – 15. 

Team Jefferson lift – male/female – 336. 

Team heels together deadlift – male/female – 422. 

Dave DeForest. Age – 65. Bwt – 176 

Neck lift – 375. 

Deanna Lift – 400. 

Deadlift – three-inch bar – 245. 

Kennedy lift – 430. 

Lurich lift – 385. 

Tony Lupo. Age – 59. Bwt – 239. 

Thor’s hammer – 41. 

James Lift – 40. 

Ciavattone lift – Fulton Bar – 230. 

Team Jefferson lift (male/female) – 336. 

Team heels together deadlift (male/female) – 422. 

Bill Clark. Age – 92. Bwt. – 197. 

Deadlift – dumbbell – left – 100. 

Deadlift – dumbbell – right – 101. 

Deadlift – two dumbbells – 2×80 – 160. 

Deadlift – vertical bar – 2-inch – right – 86. 

Deadlift – vertical bar – 2 bars – 2×61 – 132. 

Logan Wenzel. Age – 10. Bwt. – 72.  

Peoples deadlift – 145. 

Lurich lift – 165. 

Kennedy lift – 165. 

Deadlift – vertical bar – 2-inch – left – 46. 

Deadlift – vertical bar – 2-inch – right – 46.  

Riley Wenzel. Age – 20. Bwt – 150. 

Press from rack – 120.  

Jackson press – 120.

Hackenschmidt floor press – 215. 

Lateral raise – sanding – 2×25 – 50. Deadlift – Fulton Bar – Ciavattone grip – 230. 

Jeff Wenzel. Age – 50. Bwt – 246. 

Piper squat – 300. (Most by anyone – ever). Foot press – 1705 (Most by anyone – ever). Lateral raise – lying – 2×61 – 122. 

Bench press – left hand – 125. 

Bench press – right hand – 140.

2025 USAWA Grip Championships

May 3, 2025

Small but Enthusiastic Field

Three USAWA masters athletes and one junior took the platform to contest the 2025 USAWA Grip Championships held at High Country Vigour in Lakewood, Colorado.  Weigh-ins and rules briefings were conducted, and the meet was contested using the one official system, Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes and in training was Nisha Gupta.

We started with Pinch Grip, Strict which is a classic lift that has been contested numerous times at the Grip Championship.  This was contested with 1990’s York Plates.  Ben and Jarrod tied with a top lift of 125 pounds.  However, Jarrod lifted first and established the record in the 100kg 45-year-old age class.  Nisha’s 36-pound lift was also good for a record.

The next lift was the Deadlift, Inch DB, One Arm.  This was contested with Nemesis Grips Loadable Handles.  This is a relatively newer lift, but everybody put up great numbers.  This time, Ben had the top lift at 121 pounds.  This was good enough to beat the record in the 100kg 45-year-old.  Nisha’s 41-pound lift was also good for a record.

Then there was the 2-inch vertical bar.  This lift has been contested quite frequently, but the slick surfaces on the competition handles (Custom fabricated by Fat Bastard Barbell Company) made for some uncertainty.  Nisha came through with a third attempt 80 pounds which was nearly her body weight and good for 206 Age-Gender-Adjusted Lynch points and put her in first place overall after three lifts.  Sanjiv lifted a solid 140 pounds, beating his previous 130-pound record.  Jarrod made the unfortunate decision to open at 145 pounds and missed all 3 attempts, essentially taking him out of the competition.  Ben followed successful lifts at 140 and 170 pounds with an unsuccessful 200-pound attempt.  Therefore, Chad Ullom retains his 195-pound record.

Finally, it was time for the Hack Lift, Fulton Bar.  This was contested on the equally slick Apollon’s Axle, but lifts were still impressive.  Nisha established a record, Sanjiv extended his previous record set last year.  Ben had the best lift at 303 pounds establishing the 100kg 45-year-old age class record, but still a far cry from Joe Ciavattone Jr.’s 357 all age record at 100kg.

This final lift put Ben (Dino Gym) in first place and he has the option to host the 2026 Grip Championship.  If Ben defers, the meet will again be hosted by High Country Vigour in 2026.

Total Weight rankings:

1. Ben Edwards – 719 pounds
2. Sanjiv Gupta – 569 pounds
3. Jarrod Fobes – 449 pounds
4. Nisha Gupta – 230 pounds

Lynch/Age/Gender Points:

1. Ben Edwards – 673 points
2. Nisha Gupta – 595 points
3. Sanjiv Gupta – 566 points
4. Jarrod Fobes – 418 points

Podium Picture

Overall Champion’s Award

Complete Results:

USAWA Grip Championship

High Country Vigour

Lakewood, Colorado 

May 3, 2025

Meet Director: Sanjiv Gupta

Scorekeeper: Sanjiv Gupta

Officials: (1-official system) Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes, Nisha Gupta (in training)

The Lifts:  Pinch Grip, Strict; Deadlift, Inch Dumbbell, One Arm; Vertical Bar, 1 Bar, 2”; Hack Lift, Fulton Bar

Bodyweight and Lifts in Pounds

WOMENS DIVISION

Lifter	Age	Body-weight	Pinch	Inch DB	V-Bar	Hack	Total	Points
Nisha Gupta	16	86.8	36	41 (R)	80 (R)	83	230	595

MENS DIVISION

Lifter	Age	Body-weight	Pinch	Inch DB	V-Bar	Hack	Total	Points
Ben Edwards	49	216.8	125	121 (R)	170 (R)	303	719	673
Sanjiv Gupta	53	208.2	95	101 (L)	140 (L)	233	569	566
Jarrod Fobes	48	215.7	125	101 (R)	0 (R)	223	449	418

No 4^th attempts for records were successful

Record Session:

Jarrod Fobes

Scott Lift – 135 pounds

Clean & Press, Middle Fingers – 95 pounds

Sanjiv Gupta

Clean & Press, Alternate Grip – 105 pounds

Side Press, Dumbbell, Left – 52 pounds

Side Press, Dumbbell, Right – 62 pounds

Road Warrior Award (while supplies last for athletes traveling to Colorado)

(alongside the Bench Press Heptathlon)

RECORD DAY – APRIL 12-13, 2025

CLINT POORE.  AGE – 51.  BWT – 241. 

Peoples deadlift – 515.

Deadlift – Ciavattone – left – 185.

Deadlift – 3-inch bar – 251.

Curl, cheat -dumbbell – left – 50.

LYNNE HOMAN.  AGE – 62.  BWT – 131.

Holdout – lowered –   28.

Holdout – raised – 28.

Curl, strict – 48.

Bench dip – 70.

Bench press – two dumbbells – 90.

JEFF WENZEL.   AGE – 50.  BWT – 236.

Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell – right – 127.

Deadlift – Inch dumbbell – left – 117.

James lift – 120.

Squat – overhead – 165.

Bear hug – 266.

RILEY WENZEL.  AGE – 20.  BWT – 152.

Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell – right – 67.

Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell -left – 67.

Deadlift – two Inch Dumbbells – 2×67 – 134.

Deadlift – three-inch bar – 245.

Bear hug – 236.

LOGAN WENZEL.  AGE 10.  BWT – 72 LBS.

Deadlift – Inch dumbbell – right – 22.

Deadlift – Inch dumbbell – left – 22.

Deadlift – Inch dumbbell – both – 2×19.5 – 39 lbs.

Roman chair bench – 5 lbs.

Bearhug – 51.

WILL HOSE.   AGE – 21.  BWT – 165.

Vertical bar – one-inch – right – 127.

Vertical bar – one inch – left – 127.

Vertical bar –  two-inch – right – 145.

Vertical bar – two-inch – left – 145.

Vertical bar – two inch – both – 2×120 -240.

LISA GORE.  AGE – 59.  BWT – 216.

Deadlift – Inch dumbbell – left – 77.

Deadlift – Inch dumbbell – right – 77.

Deadlift – Inch dumbbell – both – 2 x 77 – 154.

Pinch grip – 60.

Bear hug   – 115.

DAVE DEFOREST.     AGE – 65.  BWT – 173.

Vertical bar – 0ne inch – left – 157.

Vertical bar – one inch – right – 157.

Vertical bar – one inch – two hands – 2 x 133 – 266.

Press from rack behind neck – 90.

Press from rack – 105.

TONY LUPO.  AGE – 59.  BWT – 237.

Middle fingers clean and jerk – 70.

Middle fingers press – 80.

Pinch grip – left – 111.

Pinch grip -strict – left – 56.

Deadlift – Inch dumbbell – left – 92.