It was a fun weekend at Clark’s Gym when Bill enjoyed a lifting doubleheader – a meet to celebrate his 94th birthday anniversary – and chance to say “thank you” to the members of Clark’s Gym who have survived 14 meets in the gym this past 12 months, along with the Show-Me State Games power meet for the 37th straight year – and the gym’s handling of the third USAWA national meet in the past four years.
The dinner was for the 20 gym members who have made it all happen, year after year, and now have had to survive a doubling of the gym rental to go along with all the lifting and the associated duties that go along with 14 meets in a year’s time. The gym would have closed had it not been for the actions of the members, Bill is quick to say.
It was also a time for Bill to establish an age group record. Only he has recorded an entry in the record list past the age of 90. He finished 18th among the 25 male lifters.
He also enjoyed the opportunity to lift in the same meet with Tony Cook of England. He and Cook co-founded the IAWA beginning in 1982 and finalized the details of the organization in December, 1986. Tony was joined by five British lifters who are listed in the results here with a note that they did not figure in the awards for the USAWA-sanctioned part of the competition – along with others from the community who Bill invited to join in the lifting just for the hell of it. Cook won the duel between the co-founders. He just turned 90 and finished 13th here.
A great time was had by all.
And it has been a long time since a meet drew 33 lifters that was not the USAWA postal.
Bill has sanctioned his 95th birthday bash for August 18, 2027, a date that will find him in a new age bracket – 95-99.
This year’s version featured three different lifts or variations of a lift from last year’s roster. As was the case last year, the idea was to choose lifts that are challenging, yet something most folks can perform. Also, we wanted lifts that typically don’t exceed 100 lbs. Five lifters hit that mark on the Jefferson Deadlift with Little Fingers, and three on the Ziegler lift, two on the Finger Lift Thumb, and one each on Side Press Dumbbell, Lateral Raise Lying, and Crucifix. That’s only 13 of the 160 lifts. Lifters who hit 100 lbs were Jeff Wenzel (4), Riley Wenzel, Dan Jones, and Frank Ciavattone (2), Toby Ortega, Nils Larson, and Tony Lupo (1). For Women, the equivalent mark would be 75 lb and Lisa Gore hit that mark in the Jefferson Lift. I have notes below for each lifter as to where you place overall, in your age category, in your weight category, for raw weight moved, and how many events each Women’s lifter finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd after Lynch and Age adjustment. For the Men’s, I noted 1st through 5th for each event.
In spite of temperatures near 90 F and dewpoints from 75 – 80 F in Columbia of course, the turnout was fantastic. We had 16 lifters from five gyms compete. Two people emerged as the champions of a challenging two days – on the women’s side, Lisa Gore from Clark’s Gym was the repeat champion. On the men’s side, Jeff Wenzel (Clark’s Gym) knocked on the door last year. This year he kicked it in to win the Men’s title. On the Women’s side RJ Jackson and Jessica Hopps finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, while on the Men’s side, Riley Wenzel and Toby Ortega finished 2nd and 3rd place.
Some interesting notes: Lisa Gore would place 3rd of all 16 lifters when a gender adjustment was applied. Also, while the father and son team of Jeff and Riley Wenzel finished at the top, they also became the first M/M team to do the Anderson Press at 305 lb. Lifters who set records in every event were Lisa Gore (10), RJ Jackson (6), Toby Ortega (10), and Nils Larson (10).
Some lifters who did the event last year saw some vast improvements due to more equipment and better health. Jarrod Fobes and Jerome Licini were up by 36% and 32%! Other lifters were up too. Lisa Gore was up 23%, Riley Wenzel 13%, Allison Lupo 8%. Toby Ortega and Jeff Wenzel were slightly up.
Thank you to all who participated. The response was great. The weights may have been light, but there was a ton of fun and camaraderie. The results below showed that there was a lot of good lifting that took place from good lifters – including six male and female lifters who are top 10 on the Individual Records list. As we look down the road for the future, we will swap in some different lifts and take out a few to keep the list fresh. Additionally, we’ll look for a date that is further away from other meets, possibly during a cooler month.
Any suggestions for next year’s event will be welcome.
*USAWA Age/Weight Record, **USAWA ALL Record. NE = No equipment
WOMENS DIVISION
NAME
Age
Age Category
Weight lbs / (kg)
Weight (Class)
LynchFactor
AgeConcern
Lisa Gore
60
60
217.0 / 98.6
100
0.8536
1.21
RJ Jackson
64
60
102.0 / 46.4
50
1.4329
1.25
Jessica Hopps
42
40
158.0 / 71.8
75
1.0280
1.03
Kim Van Wagner
59
55
128.6 / 58.5
60
1.1842
1.20
Allison Lupo
60
60
200.0 / 90.9
95
0.8926
1.21
Crystal Diggs
39
ALL
176.0 / 80.0
80
0.9612
1.00
NAME
Side Press (H)
Jefferson Deadlift Little Fingers
Lateral Raise Lying
Thor’s Hammer
Pinch Grip Strict (H)
Lisa Gore
45R**
80**
44**
26**
41R**
RJ Jackson
35R*
45**
30*
NE
38R**
Jessica Hopps
30L**
55**
20
24.5**
42R**
Kim Van Wagner
30R**
26**
20
18
26R
Allison Lupo
27R**
32**
20t
16*
29R*
Crystal Diggs
30R**
61**
20
NE
31R**
NAME
Crucifix
Zeigler Clean and Jerk
Finger Lift Thumb
Rectangular Fix Fulton
Weaver Stick Forward
Lisa Gore
60**
71**
36R**
60**
3.0**
RJ Jackson
30*
0
33R**
NE
NE
Jessica Hopps
30t
45*
46L**
42**
3.25**
Kim Van Wagner
20
26**
38R**
35**
0.5*
Allison Lupo
20**
40**
26R**
30**
1.75**
Crystal Diggs
30
53**
23R**
NE
NE
NAME
Total Weight
Lynch Factor(Weight)
Age Concern
Rank
Lisa Gore
466.0
397.78
481.31
1
RJ Jackson
211.0
302.34
377.93
2
Jessica Hopps
337.8
347.21
357.62
3
Kim Van Wagner
239.5
283.62
340.34
4
Allison Lupo
241.8
215.79
261.10
5
Crystal Diggs
248.0
238.38
238.38
6
MENS DIVISION
NAME
Age
Age Category
Weight lbs / (kg)
Weight (Class)
LynchFactor
AgeConcern
Jeff Wenzel
51
50
232.0 / 105.5
110
0.8235
1.11
Riley Wenzel
21
ALL
150.0 / 68.2
70
1.0262
1.00
Toby Ortega
46
45
158.5 / 72.0
75
1.0262
1.07
Dan Jones
42
40
200.0 / 90.9
95
0.8926
1.03
Wade Marchand
57
55
163.0 / 74.1
75
1.0076
1.18
Frank Ciavattone
71
70
263.0 / 119.5
120
0.7733
1.38
Nils Larson
67
65
239.0 / 108.6
110
0.8112
1.30
Tony Lupo
60
60
244.5 / 111.1
115
0.8018
1.21
Jarrod Fobes
49
45
211.5 / 96.1
100
0.8655
1.10
Jermone Licini
67
65
230.3 / 104.7
105
0.8268
1.30
NAME
Side Press (H)
Jefferson Deadlift Little Fingers
Lateral Raise Lying
Thor’s Hammer
Pinch Grip Strict (H)
Jeff Wenzel
97R**
115
124
41
71R
Riley Wenzel
60Rt
105
70
41t
31R
Toby Ortega
65L**
105**
84*
41*
51L*
Dan Jones
60R
110**
70
44.5
55L**
Wade Marchand
40R*
77*
30*
26.5*
47L*
Frank Ciavattone
30R*
110*
50*
22*
50L**
Nils Larson
60R*
55*
70*
22*
50L*
Tony Lupo
101L**
70*
44
39
61R**
Jarrod Fobes
80R**
45
40
28*
58R
Jerome Licini
35R*
55**
16*
21.2*
33.7R*
NAME
Crucifix
Zeigler Clean and Jerk
Finger Lift Thumb
Rectangular Fix Fulton
Weaver Stick Forward
Jeff Wenzel
120*
121*
59R*
85*
5.0
Riley Wenzel
80
111**
42R**
70**
3.0
Toby Ortega
80*
55*
34R*
65*
3.0*
Dan Jones
70*
135**
71.5R**
68**
5.75**
Wade Marchand
70*
85**
71.5R*
85*
4.5
Frank Ciavattone
40
55*
132L**
85*
6.0t
Nils Larson
60*
70*
101R**
73*
4.75*
Tony Lupo
24
71*
51R*
60*
4.0*
Jarrod Fobes
45
45
78R**
45*
2.5
Jerome Licini
16
45*
37R*
55*
3.0*
NAME
Total Weight
Lynch Factor (Weight)
Age Concern
Rank
Jeff Wenzel
838.0
685.74
768.02
1
Riley Wenzel
613.0
651.74
651.74
2
Toby Ortega
583.0
598.27
640.15
3
Dan Jones
689.8
615.67
634.14
4
Wade Marchand
521.5
525.46
620.05
5
Frank Ciavattone
580.0
448.34
618.71
6
Nils Larson
565.8
458.94
596.62
7
Tony Lupo
525.0
420.95
509.34
8
Jarrod Fobes
466.5
403.76
444.13
9
Jerome Licini
317.0
262.10
340.72
10
Women’s Overall Champion: Lisa Gore
Crystal Diggs, 6th overall, 1st ALL, 1st 80 kg, 3rd Raw Weight, Events: 2nd (Zeigler Clean), 3rd (Jefferson DL), 4th (1). Records: 5 ALL (of 7 events).
Nine lifters took part in The Repetition Rampage Record Day completing 16 lifts. Gender adjustments were not included since male and female lifters were not in competition with each other. Raw Lynch points and age adjusted points are included, although it may be easiest to use the raw points for both age and all-age records. The Trap Bar Deadlift was a popular choice! Feedback was positive and it’s clear that we have some work to do in clarifying the rules for repetition lifts. The rules we agreed on at High Country Vigour were as follows:
-No time limit -No more than a two second pause -Lifter must maintain a lifting grip and lifting posture -A call of “no lift” ends the set -The official will substitute a rep count for the “down” command
Some lifters chose to keep time either out of uncertainty of the rules or just out of interest. Perhaps one day we will establish speed records, but for now our esteemed Record Keeper has enough on his plate. Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their thoughts. This has the potential to grow into an exciting new aspect of All-Round Weightlifting.
Lifter Name
Age
Weight
Lift Event
Weight & Reps
Total Lbs
Raw Lynch Points
Dan Jones
42
200 lbs
Trap Bar Deadlift
200 lbs × 28 reps
5,600 lbs
4,972.24 PTS
Frank Ciavattone
71
265 lbs
Hip Lift
525 lbs × 100 reps
52,500 lbs
40,582.50 PTS
Jarrod Fobes
49
217 lbs
Finger Lift (R Thumb)
54 lbs × 10 reps
540 lbs
458.84 PTS
Jarrod Fobes
49
217 lbs
Finger Lift (R Little)
75 lbs × 11 reps
825 lbs
701.00 PTS
Jarrod Fobes
49
217 lbs
Finger Lift (R Index)
99 lbs × 15 reps
1,485 lbs
1,261.80 PTS
Jarrod Fobes
49
217 lbs
Finger Lift (R Middle)
120 lbs × 10 reps
1,200 lbs
1,019.64 PTS
Jarrod Fobes
49
217 lbs
Finger Lift (R Ring)
104 lbs × 10 reps
1,040 lbs
883.69 PTS
Jeff Wenzel
51
231 lbs
Anderson Squat
555 lbs × 5 reps
2,775 lbs
2,293.26 PTS
Jessica Hopps
42
157 lbs
Trap Bar Deadlift
160 lbs × 20 reps
3,200 lbs
3,307.52 PTS
Kim Van Wagner
59
129 lbs
Clean and Press, Middle Fingers
35 lbs × 21 reps
735 lbs
850.98 PTS
Kim Van Wagner
59
129 lbs
Gardner – Full
25 lbs × 6 reps
150 lbs
173.67 PTS
Randy Smith (Unofficial)*
71
202 lbs
Trap Bar Deadlift
204 lbs × 25 reps
5,100 lbs
4,500.24 PTS
Sanjiv Gupta
55
208 lbs
Trap Bar Deadlift
210 lbs × 16 reps
3,360 lbs
2,918.83 PTS
Sanjiv Gupta
55
208 lbs
Press, from Rack
100 lbs × 6 reps
600 lbs
521.22 PTS
Sanjiv Gupta
55
208 lbs
Bench Press, Feet in Air
135 lbs × 11 reps
1,485 lbs
1,290.02 PTS
Sanjiv Gupta
55
208 lbs
Front Squat
135 lbs × 9 reps
1,215 lbs
1,055.47 PTS
Wade Marchard
56
164 lbs
Trap Bar Deadlift
167 lbs × 31 reps
5,177 lbs
5,202.88 PTS
*Note: Randy Smith did not have an official present for this lift.
This year’s Presidential Cup had one lifter. Mike Locondro was the winner of the Presidential Cup and did 5 very good lifts. I didn’t lift because I was the only official.
Mike Locondro – 63 – 209 Lbs. – 95 Kg. Class [60-64]
Vertical Bar, 2 Bars- 2″ – 230 Lbs. Deadlift – Fingers – Middle – 121 Lbs. Hack Lift – Fulton Bar – 154 Lbs. Jefferson – Fulton Bar – 220 Lbs. Habecker Lift – 209 Lbs.
Posted by Tony Lupo – Written by Jeff Wenzel, Meet Director
We came up with the 250 Challenge after I had heard another gym was challenging people to bench 250 lb. I pitched a crazy idea to Abe Smith and Tony Lupo, and instead of telling me I was crazy, they added layers of more insanity. We consulted with Bill Clark, Sanjiv Gupta, and others on how this could be presented to the USAWA.
The final product was simple, each person find a way to celebrate the 250 years of the USA in their own unique way, and boy did you all ever deliver!!! I am so grateful to this family of lifters who took this crazy idea and made it a great!
Although I would bet this event resulted in the most raw weight ever lifted in a USAWA event, it is the stories that go with these lifts that really make this event special to me. Please allow me to share a few while announcing placement.
First women:
In 4th place is Lisa Gore. Lisa came into the gym with the intent to set a few records. Some illnesses had kept her away for a few months, so she wanted to ease back into gym life. In typical Bill Clark fashion, he asked Lisa to do a few reps of 250 lb Hip Lifts. A few reps turned into 100 which turned into 250 reps. And then she did 50 more for good measure.
Third goes to Allison Lupo. Allison was the only individual brave enough to do 250 reps of bench press. And she added the extra difficulty by doing it with feet in the air. 250 reps of 15 lbs in 29 minutes!
Second place goes to RJ Jackson. She turned in an impressive 250 lb Lurich Lift!
First place goes to Jessica Hopps. Jessica completed 250 reps on the Hip Lift at 250 lbs in under 10 minutes!
Men:
Third place goes to Bill Clark. Bill came into the gym to count my reps. My plan was to do 10 rounds of sets of 5 on 5 different lifts. After the second round, Bill informed me that he was not spotting me on the bench nor going to be in any hurry to call for help. During the third set, Bill said he was going to join me. Bill hadn’t competed in over a year, but he knocked out 250 reps of 250 lbs in the Hip Lift within 30 minutes.
Second is Abe Smith. Abe came in with the plan to do drop sets and alternate between Trap Bar Deadlift and the Hack Lift. After 100 reps, he texted me and said ‘this is harder than I thought’. But he stuck through and finished in just over 100 minutes.
First is Randy Smith. Randy did 250 Hip Lift reps with 250 lbs in under 250 seconds! Impressive, but he didn’t stop there. He said that went easier than expected, so what about 250 kg? He did this in under 500 seconds, but is pushing to do it in under 250 seconds.
Top gym honors goes to Frank’s Barbell Club. They had 5 entries with most doing 250 Hip Lift reps with 525 lb or 250 lb. That means each of them moved over 60 tons!!!
While the challenge is complete, I welcome you to continue to share your stories. I have heard from a few that they plan to retry with a different approach. I will plan to do the same as soon as Missouri weather cools down. Send your stories to: Jeff at: hzwst27@aol.com.