The Steve Schmidt Backbreaker Pentathon was held on December 6 – 7 at Clark’s Gym in Columbia, MO and remotely. This event has been held annually for over 30 years, and the name was inspired by the legendary Steve Schmidt, whose records in many of these lifts may never be broken.
This year we had entrants from two clubs outside of Columbia, Frank’s Barbell Club, and High Country Vigour. The competition was as spirited as the time of year, which is to say it was fervent and the results were close. In the Women’s Division, all three competitors totaled close to, or over, 2000 lbs in raw weight. When age and weight were considered Lisa Gore held on by 18 points to win the 2025 Women’s Division. Lisa Gore also set age and weight, and All records in each event. Janet Thompson finished second, getting records in two events and tying personal bests in two other events. Allison Lupo set four records as well. Some impressive individual performances can be acknowledged. Lisa Gore’s 1006 lbs in the Back Lift was 5th best in the USAWA Women’s Division. Allison Lupo’s 700 lb was commendable nearly doubling her previous best. Janet Thompson was the top competitor in the Neck Lift, and all three women lifted 600 or more pounds on the Harness Lift.
The men’s competition was close as well as Dan Jones lifted 216 lbs (only 3%) more than teammate Nils Larson in raw weight. But when age and weight were accounted, Nils Larson is the 2025 Men’s Division Champion and the only lifter to break the 6800-point level! Not only that, Nils set four age and weight records including an impressive 610 lb Neck Lift. Dan Jones finished second but also set two records. His Hand and Thigh lift of 1050 lb was best in the Men’s Division. At third and fourth place, Jeff Wenzel was the third competitor to lift more than 6000 lbs in raw weight, and Frank Ciavattone lifted more than 5500 lbs as well. However, with age and weight figured in, Frank Ciavattone finishes third, and his efforts were rewarded with four age and weight records missing the fifth by a mere 11 lb! This included a second best 380 lb Neck Lift. Thus, Frank’s Gym garnered the top three places among the men. Jeff Wenzel finished fourth, but put up some big numbers including the top Back Lift at 1855 lbs, and second in both the Harness Lift and Hand and Thigh lifts. Team Clark also featured David DeForest and Tony Lupo finishing fifth and sixth. Dave DeForest set two records, one being a second best 380 lb in the Neck Lift. Tony Lupo set two records this year, getting or tying personal bests in all but one lift. Wade Marchand finished seventh as he could not do the Neck Lift, but he still was impressive in setting three records! High Country Vigour’s Sanjiv Gupta contributed as well in spite of the lack of proper equipment, but he showed his mettle in the record day lifts with two different thumbless deadlifts at 300 lbs. These were among the most impressive record day efforts. Well done everyone!
Four amazing lifters took the platform to remember lifters of USAWA’s past and set or break (19) new records along the way. Denny and Barry have been competing since the early days of USAWA. Mike competed in the mid 1990’s, took a break and has been a frequent competitor in 2024 and 2025. Miles is a relative newcomer, but put up some of the most impressive lifts.
Mile is only the 9th USAWA athlete to set a record in the Pullover & Press with a Wrestler’s Bridge. His 155 pound effort is the 3rd highest all time behind Steve Schmidt (270 pounds) and Michael Rabich (177 pounds).
COMPLETE RESULTS:
Location: Habecker’s Gym, Lebanon, PA Meet Director: Denny Habecker Date: November 22, 2025
Results taken from communications with past USAWA Secretary (I will be catching up a few results that were missing this past summer based on available resources)
August 23, 2025 RT Health Company Elora, ON Meet Director: Chris Frappier Three Official System Used Officials: Joe Somfay, Chris Frappier, Jeremy Law, Tony Lupo, Clint Poore, Kyle Frappier Lifts: Hackenschmidt Floor Press, Bavarian Deadlift
The 2025 Gold Cup was a tremendous event by all accounts. USA Participants included Chad Ullom (Middle Fingers Straddle Deadlift), Denny Habecker (Peoples Deadlift), Al Myers (One Hand Fulton Barbell Deadlift (2″ Bar)), and LaVerne Myers (One Hand Fulton Barbell Deadlift (2″ Bar)).
This was a splendid display of strength by world class athletes who had to have already established an IAWA World Record to participate in the Gold Cup.
Denny Habecker completed the rare trifecta of attending the USAWA National Championship, IAWA World Championship and IAWA Gold Cup in the same year. For those of you who love numbers Albany is 665 miles from Lebanon, Belfast is 3284 miles from Lebanon and Derby is 3490 miles from Lebanon. That is commitment.
This is the inaugural installation of the High Country Vigour Cup. I originally wanted to do a simple record day to close out the season. With the excitement of the President’s Cup and the Gold Cup, it seemed like a fun idea for athletes to show off a special lift for themselves. The local athletes did not disappoint, and we had an incredible (20) remote lifters join in the fun.
I admired Nisha’s courage on the Steinborn Lift. After making 33 pounds and 44 pounds, she failed a 54-pound attempt.
Elijah shined with a third attempt on the pull up to get his chin over the bar with 20 pounds hanging from weight belt.
Kim’s Piper Lift seemed really solid at 80 pounds. I realized just how solid when I tried to do the lift.
Jarrod’s pulling power is just amazing. He held the 60-pound chin up to make sure he was clearly over the bar without any doubt.
It is harder for me to evaluate the remote lifters.
Columbia, Missouri had some amazing lifts. I have never performed a Back Lift or a Phumchaona Lift. Lisa (Backlift – 700 lb) is an ALL age record. Tony and Jeff improved their benchmarks on the Phumchaona and Travis Luther became the lightest athlete to set a record in the lift.
In a second batch of entries, Janet (Neck Lift – 155 lb), Allison Lupo (Carter Lift – 407 lb), Dave DeForest and Tim Market with Scott Lifts, Bill Clark with a phenomenal 200 lb Roman Chair Situp (the 5th highest lift ever recorded), Dave Beversdorf (Deadlift 12” Base – 450 lb), Riley Wenzel (Jefferson Lift, Fulton Bar – 320 lb) and Logan Wenzel (Back Extension – 50 lb).
In a final entry, John Carter recorded the highest all ages, all weight classes Phumchaona lift at 1,227 pounds.
Pennsylvania had some impressive lifts as well. The dumbbell cheat curl always puts a lot of strain on my biceps and Barry’s 45-pound effort is an improvement over his 2024 record at 40 pounds. Not to be outdone, Jerome’s 225 Fulton Bar Hack Lift broke a long-standing record and is the ALL ages heaviest lift in the 110kg class.
Massachusetts had a solid crew of athletes as well. Jessica Hopps, Dan Jones, Frank Ciavattone, Nils Larson and Wade Marchand decided to only perform record session lifts and did not offer a lift for the Cup. Unofficially, I was most impressed by Jessica’s Peoples Deadlift (209 lb.); Dan’s Bearhug (215 lb.); Frank’s Jefferson Lift, Little Fingers (115 lb.); Nils’ Bearhug (188 lb); and Wade’s Bearhug (188lb).
Best Junior Women – Nisha Gupta Best Junior Men – Elijah Conley Best Open Women – NA Best Open Men – Travis Luther Best Masters Women – Lisa Gore Best Masters Men – John Carter
Now for the extremely subjective declaration of the winner:
John Carter – 1,227 lb. Phumchaona Lift
Bill Clark – 200 lb. Roman Chair Situp
Jerome Licini – 225 lb. Hack Lift – Fulton Bar
Lisa Gore – 700 lb. Back Lift
Jarrod Fobes – 60 lb. Chin Up
COMPLETE RESULTS:
Location: High Country Vigour, Lakewood, CO and remote Meet Director: Sanjiv Gupta Dates: November 7, 2025
Officials: Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes, Nisha Gupta, Jerome Licini, Barry Pensyl, Bill Clark, Tony Lupo, Jeff Wenzel, Dave DeForest, Allison Lupo, Jessica Hopps, Dan Jones, Frank Ciavattone, Nils Larson, Wade Marchand
As USAWA rules and IAWA rules are different, no lifts will be submitted for IAWA records.
NISHA GUPTA, AGE – 16, BWT. – 85.4 pounds (40 KG Class) STEINBORN LIFT – 44 lb. Records: TEAM DEADLIFT (w/Sanjiv) – 315 lb.
ELIJAH CONLEY, AGE – 18, BWT. – 151.2 pounds (70 KG Class) PULL UP – 20 lb. Records: CHIN UP – 20 lb. HACK LIFT – 135 lb. REEVES DEADLIFT – 120 lb.
KIM VAN WAGNER, AGE – 58, BWT. – 126.6 pounds (60 KG Class) PIPER SQUAT – 80 lb. Records: HACK LIFT, FULTON BAR – 145 lb. REEVES DEADLIFT – 100 lb. CLEAN & PRESS, ALTERNATE GRIP – 65 lb. CLEAN & PRESS, BEHIND NECK – 60 lb.
JARROD FOBES, AGE – 48, BWT. – 220 pounds (100 KG Class) CHIN UP – 60 lb. Records: PULL UP – 40 lb. SWING, 2 DUMBBELLS – 100 lb. REEVES DEADLIFT – 281 lb. PIPER SQUAT – 155 lb.
SANJIV GUPTA, AGE – 54, BWT. – 214 pounds (100 KG Class) APOLLONS LIFT – 143 lb. Records: TEAM DEADLIFT (w/Nisha) – 315 lb. SNATCH, FULTON BAR – 103 lb. REEVES DEADLIFT – 280 lb. PIPER SQUAT – 115 lb.
ALLISON LUPO,AGE – 59, BWT. – 196 pounds (90 KG Class) CARTER LIFT – 407 lb. Records: BACK EXTENSION – 55 lb. ROMAN CHAIR SITUP – 60 lb. RECTANGULAR FIX, FULTON BAR – 30 lb. CLEAN & PRESS – 50 lb. CLEAN & SEATED PRESS – 40 lb.
DAVE DEFOREST,AGE – 65, BWT. – 184 pounds (85 KG Class) SCOTT LIFT – 150 lb. Records: DEADLIFT, FINGERS, INDEX – 136 lb. RIM LIFT – 255 lb. CLEAN & JERK, BEHIND NECK – 115 lb. CLEAN & JERK, FULTON BAR – 105 lb. CLEAN & PRESS, FULTON BAR – 105 lb.
BILL CLARK,AGE – 93, BWT. – 204 pounds (95 KG Class) ROMAN CHAIR SITUP – 200 lb. Records: ABDOMINAL RAISE – 25 lb.
TIM MARKET,AGE – 19, BWT. – 165 pounds (75 KG Class) SCOTT LIFT – 150 lb. Records: SAXON DEADLIFT – 70 lb. SAXON SNATCH – 50 lb. BACK EXTENSION – 65 lb. DEADLIFT, 3” BAR – 195 lb. DEADLIFT, 12” BASE – 215 lb.
DAVE BEVERSDORF,AGE – 60, BWT. – 300 pounds (125+ KG Class) DEADLIFT, 12” BASE – 450 lb. Records: PEOPLES DEADLIFT – 505 lb.
RILEY WENZEL,AGE – 20, BWT. – 150 pounds (70 KG Class) JEFFERSON LIFT, FULTON BAR – 320 lb. Records: PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, LEFT – 87 lb. PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, RIGHT – 87 lb. HOLDOUT, LOWERED – 65 lb. LATERAL RAISE, STANDING – 60 lb. SCOTT LIFT – 170 lb.
LOGAN WENZEL,AGE – 10, BWT. – 76 pounds (35 KG Class) BACK EXTENSION – 50 lb. Records: BENCH PRESS, ONE ARM, LEFT – 10 lb. BENCH PRESS, ONE ARM, RIGHT – 10 lb. BENCH PRESS, HANDS TOGETHER – 28 lb. BENCH PRESS, TWO DUMBBELLS – 20 lb. ABDOMINAL RAISE – 5 lb.
JOHN CARTER,AGE – 67, BWT. – 195 pounds (90 KG Class) PHUMCHAONA LIFT – 1,227 lb. Records: CARTER LIFT – 1,327 lb. WEAVER STICK, FRONT – 3 lb. WEAVER STICK, BACK – 5 lb.
Officials: Bill Clark, Tony Lupo, Jeff Wenzel, Dave DeForest, Allison Lupo
JEROME LICINI,AGE – 67, BWT. – 238 pounds (110 KG Class) HACK LIFT, FULTON BAR – 225 lb. Records: DEADLIFT, FULTON BAR – 250 lb. RECTANGULAR FIX, FULTON BAR – 43 lb. MAXEY PRESS – 43 lb. WEAVER STICK, FRONT – 2 lb. WEAVER STICK, BACK – 1 lb.
BARRY PENSYL,AGE – 77, BWT. – 125 pounds (60 KG Class) CURL, CHEAT, DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 45 lb. Records: KENNEDY LIFT – 255 lb. CURL, CHEAT – 76 lb.
Officials: Barry Pensyl, Jerome Licini
JESSICA HOPPS,AGE – 41, BWT. – 160 pounds (75 KG Class) NA Records: PEOPLES DEADLIFT – 209 lb. SNATCH, DUMBBELL, LEFT – 35 lb. SNATCH, DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 40 lb. PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, LEFT – 36 lb. PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, RIGHT – 38 lb.
DAN JONES,AGE – 41, BWT. – 174 pounds (80 KG Class) NA Records: CLEAN & SEATED PRESS, 2 DUMBBELLS – 111 lb. RH Dumbell Strict Curl – G21 – 40 lb.***Not a USAWA lift, ineligible for USAWA Records DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, LEFT – 134 lb. DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 124 lb. BEARHUG – 215 lb.
FRANK CIAVATTONE,AGE – 70, BWT. – 271 pounds (125 KG Class) NA Records: JEFFERSON LIFT, INDEX FINGERS – 170 lb. JEFFERSON LIFT, MIDDLE FINGERS – 155 lb. JEFFERSON LIFT, RING FINGERS – 155 lb. JEFFERSON LIFT, LITTLE FINGERS – 115 lb. BENCH PRESS, ALTERNATE GRIP – 125 lb.
NILS LARSON,AGE – 66, BWT. – 238 pounds (110 KG Class) NA Records: BEARHUG – 188 lb. DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, LEFT – 124 lb. DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 124 lb. CLEAN & SEATED PRESS – 110 lb. CLEAN & SEATED PRESS, 2 DUMBBELLS – 100 lb.
