National Championships

By Al Myers

2018 USAWA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Group picture from the 2018 USAWA National Championships in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Group picture from the 2018 USAWA National Championships in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

For the first time in USAWA history, the USAWA National’s were held in Florida last weekend.  My co-promoter for this event, Dino Gym member Cody Lokken, hosted the Championships at his house in Cocoa Beach! It was a beautiful setting for the meet, less than a block from the beach. I was worried that the turnout would be low, because everyone had to travel and there were no “locals” entered.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of lifters that made the trip.

The Friday night before the meet we had a “meet and greet” at the hotel I was staying at. It was the perfect setting – at an outdoor bar poolside. My wife Leslie picked up several pizzas for the party.  Several of us took a dip in the pool, as well as enjoying several of the local Florida beers the bar had on stock (a stock that we soon ran them out of!).  One of the great things about our organization is the friendships that develop. Often Nationals turns into one big reunion!

It was a special treat this year to have Steve Gardner in attendance.  Steve served 2 terms as IAWA President, and is the best “mic guy” in our IAWA organization.  He spent the entire day emceeing our Championships, of which I want to really thank him for.  We had the best loaders possible with Cale, Cody, and Brandon loading all day PLUS lifting.  That’s a big task! We ran only one session so that kept everyone busy with helping, officiating, and lifting.  This Championships had a great bunch of officials with Denny Habecker, Dennis Mitchell, Eric Todd, LaVerne Myers, Joe Ciavattone Sr, and myself taking turns in the chair.

Highlights I want to mention: Dennis participating in his 29th National Championships, ET hitting a huge pullover and press of 162.5 KG, Joe Jr. putting up the top Zercher Lift of the meet at the end of a hot day, and seeing “the boys” (Cale, Cody, and Brandon) making a return trip to Nationals.  We had several states represented at this meet – Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Pennsyvania, Ohio, and Massachusetts. Also, Cale made the trip from St. Kitts.

It was difficult for all of us not having Art with us at Nationals, as he has always been a steady participant throughout the years.  However,  as we lifted we kept Art’s memory alive and we reminisced about him several times throughout the day.  After the meet, Cody had arranged for the banquet at a fantastic seafood restaurant which was the perfect end for a National Championships that I will never forget.

MEET RESULTS:

2018 USAWA National Championships
Cocoa Beach, Florida
June 23rd, 2018

Meet Director: Al Myers and Cody Lokken

Meet Announcer: Steve Gardner

Meet Scorekeeper: Al Myers

Meet Photographer: Karen Gardner

Meet Caterer: Leslie Myers

Meet Officials (3-official system used): Denny Habecker (head), Al Myers (head), Joe Ciavattone Sr., Dennis Mitchell, Eric Todd, and LaVerne Myers

Meet Loaders: Cale Dunlap, Cody Lokken, Brandon Rein

Lifts: Curl – Cheat, Snatch – One Arm, Pullover and Press, Deadlift – One Arm, Zercher Lift

MENS DIVISION

LIFTER AGE BWT Curl Sna1 P&P DL1 Zer TOT PTS
 Al Myers 51 227 80 55.5R 100 150R 160 546 509.5
Eric Todd 43 252 95 55R 162.5 140R 160 613 503.2
Joe Ciavattone Jr. 25 226 100 55R 137.5 115R 172.5 580 484.7
Joe Ciavattone Sr. 49 236 82.5 47.5R 92.5 115R 140 478 429.2
Denny Habecker 75 186 50 25R 80 101R 80 336 425.5
Cody Lokken 23 167 70 35R 90 85R 100 380 377.5
LaVerne Myers 74 238 55 30L 60 100R 80 325 356.9
Brandon Rein 23 148 45 25R 60 80R 100 310 333.2
Dean Ross 75  248 40 27.5R 70 65R 90 293 316.9
Cale Dunlap 23 177 50 25R 60 65R 90 290 278.5
Dennis Mitchell 86 143 27.5 7.5L 23.5 50L 55 164 264.5

EXTRA ATTEMPTS FOR RECORDS:

Dennis Mitchell: Deadlift – Left Arm 52.5
Dennis Mitchell: Zercher Lift 57.5

Notes: BWT is bodyweight in pounds.  R and L designate right and left arms. Lifts recorded in kilograms. TOT is total kilograms lifted. PTS are overall adjusted points corrected for age and bodyweight.

BEST LIFTER AWARDS:

Senior 20-39 Age Group: Joe Ciavattone Jr.
Masters 40-44 Age Group: Eric Todd
Masters 45-49 Age Group: Joe Ciavattone Sr.
Masters 50-54 Age Group: Al Myers
Masters 70-74 Age Group: LaVerne Myers
Masters 75-79 Age Group: Denny Habecker
Masters 85-89 Age Group: Dennis Mitchell
Overall Best Lifter: Al Myers
Best Club Award: Dino Gym (Al Myers, LaVerne Myers, Cale Dunlap, Brandon Rein, Cody Lokken, Dean Ross)
Club Runner Up: Frank’s Barbell Club (Joe Ciavattone Jr., Joe Ciavattone Sr.)

 

2018 Meeting Agenda

By Al Myers

Before long the USAWA National Championships will be here, and with that the annual meeting of the USAWA.   We have one meeting per year to make our major yearly decisions and we always coordinate that with our Nationals.

The Annual Meeting will be held at the meet venue on Saturday following the day’s lifting.  So the date for the meeting is SATURDAY JUNE 23rd.  Start time for the meeting will be right after the lifting, so around 4 PM. Everything is pretty straight forward on the meeting agenda this year.  There doesn’t seem to be any controversial decisions to be made, so I’m hoping for a short meeting.  At the meeting, we will give out details and location of the evening banquet.  We will have time to go to our hotels to “clean up” for the banquet.

Business Agenda for the 2018 USAWA National Meeting

  1. Meeting called to order by USAWA President Denny Habecker
  2. Roll Call by USAWA President Denny Habecker
  3. Reading of previous meeting minutes by USAWA Secretary Al Myers
  4. Report of financial status by USAWA Treasurer Al Myers
  5. Report from Website Director Al Myers
  6. Report from Awards Director Al Myers
  7. Report from Records Director Al Myers
  8. Report from Drug Enforcement Director Chad Ullom
  9. Report from Officials Director Joe Garcia
  10. Report from Postal Meet Director Denny Habecker
  11. Report from IAWA Technical Committee Chairman Dennis Mitchell on upcoming IAWA events and other technical issues that are being discussed by the IAWA Technical Committee
  12. Discussion and Vote on the new proposed lifts:
  • Lurich Lift by Lance Foster
  • Habecker Lift by Al Myers
  1. Discussion and Vote on Rule Change for Thor’s Hammer
  2. Discussion of New Business brought forth by the membership
  3. Accept Bids for the 2019 National Championships
  • One prior proposal by Denny Habecker, to be held in Lebanon, PA the last weekend of June
  1. Meeting Adjourned

** *If a Director or an Officer is unable to attend this meeting to give their report PLEASE send it to me so I can give it on your behalf!***

Team Championships

by Al Myers

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT
2018 USAWA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

The date for the USAWA Team Championships has been set – September 9th (Sunday).  I started promoting the Team Championships in 2007, which features “team lifting”, a combination of 2 lifters on a bar lifting the weight together. This makes for a very exciting event as the 2 lifters must be in coordination with each other to make a successful lift!

MEET DETAILS:

Meet Director: Al Myers

Meet Date: Sunday, September 9th

Meet Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Dino Gym, 1126 Eden Road, Abilene, KS 67410

Sanction: USAWA Membership required

Weigh-Ins: Noon the day of the meet

Divisions: 2-Man, 2-Person (man & woman), and 2-Women

Entry Fee: None

Lifts:

Clean and Press – Middle Fingers

Deadlift – Fulton Bar, One Arm

Curl – Cheat, Reverse Grip

Deadlift – No Thumbs, Overhand Grip

Registration:  There is no entry form or entry deadline, but please let me know ahead of time if you plan to attend so I can make the proper preparations. I can be reached at amyers@usawa.com

Gold Cup

By Al Myers

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT

2018 IAWA GOLD CUP

The plans for the 2018 Gold Cup have been set!  I just received the details of this annual IAWA competition from the meet promoter, Paul Barette of Metamorfit Gym in Eastbourne, England. This will be the first time that Paul has promoted the Gold Cup.  However, Paul has been very active in the IAWA(UK) with promotions and is an excellent meet promoter.  I am really looking forward to this event, and I encourage all USAWA members to consider making it to this important IAWA Championships.

INFO SHEET – Gold Cup 2018 info sheet

ENTRY FORM – IAWA Gold Cup 2018 entry form

 

OTSM Championship

By Eric Todd

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT

2018 USAWA OLD TIME STRONGMAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Meet promoter Eric Todd showing his technique in performing a 313# Dumbbell to Shoulder.

Your humble promoter performing the Dumbbell to Shoulder in the 2017 championship

Where:  ET’s House of Iron and Stone

When: September 8, 2018

Weigh-ins: 9:30

Rules meeting: 10:00

Liftig begins: 10:30

Lifts Contested:

Saxon Snatch

Cyr Press

Dumbbell to Shoulder

Dinnie Lift

Awards: There will be awards given for this meet

Cost: $25 (Checks can be made out to Eric Todd)

THIS MEET IS A DRUG TESTED EVENT.  USAWA MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED OF ALL COMPETITORS.

KCSTRONGMAN once again has the priveledge of hosting the USAWA Old Time Strongman Chamionship. Though one of the newer championships in the organization, it has often been one of the better attended USAWA events.  It is my hope that this year does not disappoint. In the seven years that this championship has been held, there have been 6 different overall men’s champions.  I have won it twice, and am joined by Al Myers, Chad Ullum, Denny Habecker, Abe Smith, and Greg Cook.  In the women’s division, we have had champions in Whitney Piper, Jenna Lucht, and 2 time champion, Heather Tully.  We will see what 2018 bring in the way of champions.  Here is a great opportunity to add your name to that list!  Though the weather was quite nice last year, early September in Missouri has the distinct possibility of being hot.  The facility is not air conditioned.  Nor do we have running water, so the pot is an outhouse out back.  I will sweep out the wasp nests and spider webs prior to the meet, so hopefully it will meet your expectations.  If those two items have not disuaded you from competing, you will be pleased to know that we have lots of weight, and stout equipment.  There have been many good lifters train and compete here over the years; it is a fine atmosphere for lifting big.  So, put this one on your calendar.  My hopes are that we cam make this the biggest OTSM championship ever!

OTSM Entry

1 … 197 198 199 200 201 … 546