Nationals Reminder

By Al Myers

The USAWA National Championships is right “around the corner”! It won’t be long and several of us will be lifting weights in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Entries have been coming in this past month.  I don’t expect a huge turnout but looks like it will be a good meet from the entries I have already recieved.

Todays story is a REMINDER that the National Entry Deadline is face approaching! The deadline is May 15th which I will adhere to HARD as I need to get the appropriate shirts and awards ordered on May 16th to get them in hand by the meet date.

The location of the meet will be at my co-promoter Cody Lokken’s house at this address:

Cody Lokken
85 June Drive
Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931

Cody has a big garage will high ceilings which should work out great for our Championships.  He lives right across the street from Lori Wilson Beach and Park.  There is plenty of free parking there, with a short walk to his house. Cody and I will supply drinks, snacks, and a noon lunch, which is part of the entry fee.

The award ceremony will occur right after the meet, as well as our USAWA Annual Meeting. Cody is in the process of finding a nice restaurant that we all can go to afterwards for a nice meal. It won’t be an official banquet type setting, but rather an informal social meal. Hopefully it will be on the beach!

I am not recommending any hotels or lodging, as we don’t have a “host” hotel for this Championships.  There plenty of hotels in the vicinity of Cocoa Beach to choose from. As for myself, I plan to stay a couple of days after the meet to enjoy the local sights around Cocoa Beach. There are many things to see and do!

I’m really looking forward to the FIRST EVER USAWA National Championships in Florida.  And remember – if you plan to compete get that entry in soon!!!

Heavy lift Photo gallery

By Eric Todd

How many All-round meets can say that they have had their own photographer.  But this Saturday past, the Heavy lift unexpectedly had just that!  Dave Hahn brought his entourage, including his son in law David DiBella who served in that capacity for us all day, then promptly sent the file for me to use.  For all his efforts, I felt I would be remiss in not sharing it with the USAWA membership.  Below are a selection of photos taken throughout the day:

Dean Ross Perfoming the neck lift

Dean Ross Perfoming the neck lift

Dave Hahn performs the neck lift

Dave Hahn performs the neck lift

His majesty, the honorable president, Denny Habecker executes a neck lift

His majesty, the honorable president, Denny Habecker executes a neck lift

I believe this is the best neck lift I was actually successful with

I believe this is the best neck lift I was actually successful with

Greg Cook performs the neck lift in his first Heavy Lift Championship

Greg Cook performs the neck lift in his first Heavy Lift Championship

Lance Foster also completing a neck lift.

Lance Foster also completing a neck lift.

"Scottish Johnny" Strangeway executes perfect form in his neck lift attempt.

“Scottish Johnny” Strangeway executes perfect form in his neck lift attempt.

Dave Hahn with a 550 Hand and Thigh

Dave Hahn with a 550 Hand and Thigh

President Denny with a 650 Hand and Thigh

President Denny with a 650 Hand and Thigh

Dean Ross pulling a Hand and Thigh

Dean Ross pulling a Hand and Thigh

Greg Cook hit some record numbers in the Hand and Thigh

Greg Cook hit some record numbers in the Hand and Thigh

My best Hand and Thigh

My best Hand and Thigh

John Douglas gets some great clearance on the Hand and Thigh

John Douglas gets some great clearance on the Hand and Thigh

John Strangeway again showing the form of a veteran in his first Heavy Lift Championship

John Strangeway again showing the form of a veteran in his first Heavy Lift Championship

Lance Foster preparing to strain against a big Hand and Thigh

Lance Foster preparing to strain against a big Hand and Thigh

Dean Ross showing perfect form in the hip lift

Dean Ross showing perfect form in the hip lift

Denny Habecker Hip Lifting

Denny Habecker Hip Lifting

Dave Hahn preparing to move big weight

Dave Hahn preparing to move big weight

Me preparing for the top lift of the meet

Me preparing for the top lift of the meet

Greg Cook hip lifting

Greg Cook hip lifting

John Douglas Hip Lifting

John Douglas Hip Lifting

Lance Foster Hip Lifting

Lance Foster Hip Lifting

John Strangeway with a big hip lift

John Strangeway with a big hip lift

Group Photo from the Heavy Lift

Group Photo from the Heavy Lift

Lance Foster recieving his 8th place Championship medal from Chris Todd (AKA Leroy)

Lance Foster receiving his 8th place Championship medal from Chris Todd (AKA Leroy)

Dean Ross in seventh

Dean Ross in seventh

John Douglas in sixth

John Douglas in sixth

Denny in 5th

Denny in 5th

Greg in 4th

Greg in 4th

The top 3 received a championship medal and award platter. Here is Scottish Johnny in third.

The top 3 received a championship medal and award platter. Here is Scottish Johnny in third.

Dave Hahn with runner-up honors at 81 years old.

Dave Hahn with runner-up honors at 81 years old.

Me winning my 4th heavy lift championship.

Me winning my 4th heavy lift championship.

Again, a huge thank you to David Dibella for spending his day with us and sharing his gift.

HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIP

By Eric Todd

MEET RESULTS –

2018 USAWA HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Well, another Heavy Lift is in the books, and a fine championship it was.  The weather could not have been nicer, nor the lifting more impressive.  We had eight lifters, which is a pretty good turnout for this meet, a loader/scorekeeper, and even some dedicated spectators.  We had a diverse array of competitors.  We had greenhorn heavylifters  as well as veterans (Dave Hahn said he had been doing all-round lifting since the 60s).  Bodyweights ranged from 150 to over double that.  Ages from 39 to 81.  And every single lifter left their soul on that platform.

2018 Heavy Lift Championship

We started with the neck lift.  You can imagine my surprise when my neck harness, which is made for my gargantuan gulliver, was a tad tight for a couple of the lifters (I shall not name names).  At any rate, the lifting wents on, and at the end of, half the field had set records.  Dean Ross, Denny Habecker, Dave Hahn, and Greg Cook all had set records in their respective age/weight category in this discipline.

John Strangeway executing the neck lift in pristine fashion

Next, the lifters competed in the hand and thigh.  In this discipline, six out of the eight lifters bested the previous record in their age/weight category.  Each of the lifters who broke a neck lift record also did the same in the hand and thigh.  They were joined this time around by John Douglas and myself.

Dave Hahn executing the hand and thigh at 81 years old.

The third and final event of the day was the hip lift.  This is the event in which the most weight would be lifted.  In this one, five out of the eight broke records.  Dean, Dave, and Denny (Commonly referred to as Triple D) went three for three on the day.  John Douglas and myself again were tagging along.

John Douglas Hip Lift

Heavy Lift Championship Results:

Date: May 5, 208

Where: ET’s House of Iron and Stone, Turney, MO

Meet Director: Eric Todd

Officials, Lance Foster, Denny Habecker, Eric Todd (The one official system was used for the lifts)

Loader: Chris Todd

Score Keeper: Chris Todd

Photographer: Dave Dibella

Lifter Weight Class Age Neck lift Hand and Thigh Hip Lift Total Ajd Age Adj Place
Eric Todd 258 120 43 900 1360 2280 4540 3542.108 3683.79 1
Dave Hahn 150 70 81 400 550 900 1850 1966.92 2793.03 2
John Strangeway 214 100 39 560 1000 1450 3010 2587.697 2587.697 3
Greg Cook 259 120 60 500 850 1225 2575 2005.41 2426.55 4
Denny Habecker 195 90 75 210 650 800 1660 1503.296 2044.48 5
John Douglas 323                           125+ 54 0 920 1350 2270 1590.589 1829.18 6
Dean Ross 242 110 75 210 610 670 1490 1200.791 1633.08 7
Lance Foster 329 125+ 52 360 500 900 1760 1222.848 1381.82 8
Extra attempts for record Lifter Weight
Hand and Thigh Greg Cook 1000
Hand and Thigh John Douglas 1000
Teeth Lift Eric Todd 260

 

Award Nominations

by Al Myers

It’s that time of the year again to nominate deserving lifters for the yearly awards!  The USAWA award program was started in 2009 to honor those individuals that displays outstanding achievements throughout the year in different categories.  I have been the USAWA Award Director that entire time and was the one who started the USAWA Awards Program.  Part of the USAWA budget goes to these awards, which means that part of your membership dues support this program. These awards are awarded at the Annual General Meeting of the USAWA, which occurs at the same time as the National Championships.   It is important to remember when “casting your vote” that these awards are for the calendar year 2017 (which is the calendar the USAWA follows for memberships, etc.).  Now for a little “overview” of the rules for nominations:

  • You  must be a USAWA member to make a nomination or cast a vote
  • Nominated individuals must be a USAWA members to be eligible
  • Only one individual may be nominated per person per award
  • Two nominations for each award may be submitted, one for your choice of the Winner and one for your choice of the runner-up.
  • The awards are for the calendar year 2017
  • An individual may be nominated for more than one award

These are the different awards for which you should chose your nominations for:

 Athlete of the Year – This award is for the individual who has accomplished the most athletically within the last year in the USAWA. Top placings at the Nationals and World Championships should figure in high. Also, participation in other Championship  Competitions such as the Heavy Lift Championships, the Grip Championships, the Club Championships, the OTSM Championships, the Team Championships, or the National Postal Championships could factor in.  Participation in elite IAWA events such as the Gold Cup should make an influence on earning this award as well.

Leadership Award – This is for an individual that has shown exceptional leadership qualities within the USAWA during the past year. Things that should be looked at are: going above the level expected of an Officer position, promoting sanctioned events with emphasis being on promoting National or World Competitions, promoting the USAWA by developing a strong club, writing articles for publications about the USAWA, or through other means.

Sportsmanship Award – This goes to an individual who possesses and shows great sportsmanship within the USAWA. The act of sportsmanship may be by conduct at all events, or by an specific example of exceptional sportsmanship.

Courage Award – This goes to an individual who shows the courage to overcome an obstacle in order to return to competition. This may be a comeback from an injury, or just having to deal with difficult personal issues but still shows the courage to compete in the USAWA.

Newcomer Award– This award goes to an individual who in new to the USAWA or has become involved again. It doesn’t have to go to someone in their first year of being involved in the USAWA.

As stated earlier in the rules, I would like you to submit your choice for the WINNER and your choice for the RUNNER UP for each award.  I will score it this way:  for each nomination per award I will give 2 points for the nominated winner and 1 point for the nominated runner up.  I will then add up all the points from all nominations with the person receiving the most points declared the winner and the one with the second most points the runner up.  So you can see that the Award Winners are chosen by YOU THE MEMBERSHIP!   That’s the way it should be done.

Please email me at amyers@usawa.com with your nominations.  The deadline for this is next Saturday (May 12th).  I’m only giving a week because it has been my experience with this is that if a person does not make their nominations shortly after reading this announcement, it never gets done.  So make it easy on yourself  (and me!) and turn your nominations in today!!!!

Presidential Cup

By Al Myers

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT
THE 2018  USAWA PRESIDENTIAL CUP

For the seventh year in a row, the now “Annual” USAWA Presidential Cup is being hosted again by our USAWA President Denny Habecker.  This is one of the CHAMPIONSHIP events hosted in the USAWA, and is the Championships of Record Days.  It follows along “the lines” of the IAWA Gold Cup – a lifter picks their best lift and contests it for a USAWA record in this prestigious record day.  After all lifters have performed their record lifts, Denny will pick the effort that impresses him the most and award that lifter the PRESIDENTIAL CUP.  Only one lifter will receive this very important award.   If time allows, lifters will have the opportunity to perform other record day lifts.  So it is a good idea to come with the BIG LIFT in mind, but also be prepared to do other lifts for record if the time allows.

Now a little “rehash” on the Presidential Cup.  These are the guidelines:

The Presidential Cup will follow along some of the same guidelines as the Gold Cup, which is the IAWA meet which recognizes outstanding performances by lifters in the lift/lifts of their choosing.  The Gold Cup started in 1991 under the direction of then-IAWA President Howard Prechtel.  However there will be some differences in the guidelines of the USAWA Presidential Cup:

  • The Presidential Cup is hosted annually by the USAWA President only.
  • Must be a USAWA member to participate.
  • A lifter may choose any official USAWA  lift/lifts (up to a maximum of 5 lifts) to set a USAWA record/records in.
  • The lifter must open at a USAWA Record Poundage on first attempt.
  • The top performance record lift of the entire record day,  which will be chosen by the President, will be awarded the PRESIDENTIAL CUP.

MEET DETAILS:

USAWA Presidential Cup

Saturday, August 4th, 2018

Meet Director:  Denny Habecker

Location: Habecker’s Gym, Lebanon, PA

Lifts:  Bring your best lift for record!

Start time:  10 AM,  with weigh-ins before this

Entry Form:  None, but advance notice is required.

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