2026 Annual Meeting

I know it is over four months away, but it is time to start thinking about the agenda for the 2026 Annual General Meeting being held in conjunction with the National Championship. Lots of things happen at the Annual Meeting which should be conducted by the President according the the accepted rules of parliamentary procedure (Roberts Rule of Order). Link is to a simplified version. The latest editions include the 12th Edition and the In Brief 3rd Edition.

Approval of the 2025 Minutes – These have been posted on the website and there is usually not much discussion.

New Lifts – Proposals for new lifts are to be made to the secretary at usawasec@gmail.com New lift proposals are reviewed by the board and if the majority of the board members approve the lift, they will be presented at the Annual Meeting. New lifts must be proposed by May 28th (30 days ahead of the annual meeting).

Officer Reports – Reports will be made by the Treasurer, Website Director, Awards Director, Records Director, Drug Enforcement Director, Officials Director, Postal Meet Director, Social Media Director and IAWA Representative.

Override Executive Board Decisions – This is the opportunity for the membership to override any decisions made by the Executive Board. The board has made (2) decisions since the last annual meeting that are subject to being overridden.

New Business – These can be made in person at the meeting. Of the few annual meetings I have attended, new business made in writing to the Secretary ahead of time makes it easier for members to know what they are voting on. We are currently operating under the 14th Edition of the Rulebook. New business can include changes to the Rules or the By-Laws. Rule changes require simple majority vote. By-Law changes require 2/3 majority vote.

Elections – Elections were held in 2025 and we are not due for elections until 2027. However, several appointments were made by the Executive Board. It might be appropriate to get consent of the membership to retain the existing Executive Board.

Select Promoter of the next National Championship – Historically, the National Championship has moved around the country. Consider placing a bid for the 2027 National Championship.

Updates for the 2026 Annual Meeting will be posted monthly and will include a draft agenda as New Business is submitted to the Secretary at usawasec@gmail.com

Roman Chair – Revisited

There are (4) USAWA Lifts that require a Roman Chair.

  • Bench Press – Roman Chair (A6) – 55 records
  • Abdominal Raise – On Roman Chair (D2) – 21 records
  • Extension – Back (D12) – 22 records
  • Roman Chair Situp (I21) – 46 records

The last time the topic of a Roman Chair was discussed in earnest was in 2011 on the forum and the website. Al does an excellent job of providing some history of the device, early lifts and the USAWA lifts.

My revisit is a little more on the practical side of actually securing a device that meets the USAWA standards.

Tuff Stuff “Roman Chair”

I unofficially tried to do these lifts on commercially available Tuff Stuff “Roman Chair” that had an angled pad which does not meet the USAWA specifications. I considered having a shop cut and re-weld the post to make it comply with the rulebook but abandoned the idea.

Dino Gym Roman Chair with Adjustable Safety

Clark’s Gym Roman Chair with Adjustable Bench Height

Frank Zane on a Roman Chair

Bruce Lee’s Original Roman Chair

Then I thought about having one fabricated in the style of Dino Gym, Clark’s Championship Gym, a design used by Frank Zane or even a design used by Bruce Lee. The Frank Zane design was part of a DIY youtube video by Buff Dudes last year.

Ad Hoc Solution

I eventually gave up and decided that it was not worth having a dedicated piece of equipment taking up space in my home gym. To contest the lifts, athletes would hook their toes under the lip of the barbell holder, sit on the utility bench and have a safety bench behind them if they lost control of the weight.

USAWA Compliant Solution

As luck would have it after 2 years of searching Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace a suitable product availed itself. It was about an hour away and overpriced, but I had to have it. I am looking forward to testing it and maybe contesting these lifts more often. The flat bench is adjustable and the foot pegs are fixed. In theory it could be used for back extensions also, but I have not tried that yet.

Results From the 2026 Ed Zercher Strength Classic.

Enclosed are the results of the 2026 Ed Zercher Strength Classic held annually in Clark’s Gym. We’re not exactly sure how old this meet is, but it’s around 40 years old! There are still records from this event going back to 1988, so it’s at least 38 years old. This year’s rendition was scheduled for 24 – 25 January 2026, but some deep snow and bitter cold (apologies to our clubs further north!) forced an extension of the timeline. And this years’ event drew only six lifters. Admittedly, this event is physically one of the toughest in the USAWA pantheon of meets. The Zercher meet this year contained 12 lifts, some of which can be difficult to do if you have physical limitations.

On the women’s side, two lifters, Janet Thompson and Allison Lupo competed and they were close throughout the event. Janet emerged the winner by about 70 lbs, though age and weight separated the two a bit more. Both lifters were at the top of their game, and their Hip Lifts and Harness Lifts produced some excellent results. Janet turned in a 705 pound lift which set an age and weight record. She set new standards in five events and tied her best in two others. Allison’s Harness Lift totaled 605 pounds in spite of a knee that has bothered her for some years. This was an age / weight record as well as an “ALL” record. She totaled seven new records three of which were also ‘ALL’s.

On the Men’s side, Jeff Wenzel and Travis Luther paced the field with Jeff taking the top spot by a wide margin in raw weight (7,440 lbs). However, when the age and weight factors came into play, the score was much tighter! Jeff posted age/weight adjusted top scores in seven of 12 events and set an age weight record on top of that (Bench Press, Feet in Air), picking up in 2026 where he left off in 2025 with another meet win! Travis was not far from a 7,000 lb total checking in with 6,785 lbs when all was said and done, as well as top marks in two age/weight adjusted events. Jeff and Travis put on quite the show with a pair of 2,000 lb Harness Lifts. Jeff was also strong with the Hand and Thigh Lift and Travis with an impressive Hack Lift. John Carter and Tony Lupo were much closer in the battle for third. Both lifters have some injuries that hamper them on at least three of the lifts. John pulled out third place and showed he still has ‘game’ with top finishes in three of 12 age adjusted events. He set an impressive age / weight record with 1600 lbs in the Hip Lift. Tony managed a third place finish in raw weight, but 4th overall, setting two new standards in the Bench Press, Feet in Air and the Deadlift Heels Together.

2026 Ed Zercher Strength ClassicDownload

Diaper Day Meet and Record Day

Clark’s Championship Gym is hosting a new meet to celebrate a milestone for one of their members. The meet is a celebration of the birth of the first child for Travis Luther and his wife which is scheduled for April 25. The lifts included are patterned after the various lifts required by the newborn.

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Address: Clark’s Championship Gym and Remote
Weigh-Ins: 8:00 AM
The Lifts:
– Full Gardner (D13) – Getting up and down with the newborn – but at arm’s length here
– Holdout, Raised (D17) – As if holding a full diaper at arm’s length
– Habecker Lift (H10) – A common lift to gather up a baby in your arms
– Goerner Stroll (H8) – The common practice of slowly walking a baby to quiet the whimpers – more or less
Entry Fee: A box of diapers if lifting at Clark’s, no entry fee if Remote
Meet Director: Bill Clark, contact by phone 573-4764-4510 or email yeoldclark@gmail.com
USAWA Membership Required
Awards: Certificates; The last place finisher will be awarded a dirty diaper

Lifts may be done on-site or remote and records may be established only with at least one registered official in attendance. If lifting remotely, entry must be received by the meet director via e-mail or telephone not later than April 22.

This meet creates and interesting doubleheader withe this meet dedicated to the newborn and the Diamond Jubilee open only to those 70 and older. A record day is being held with each competition – so you can do 10 records regardless of your age by entering both.

Lifter of the Month, January 2026, Stacy Todd

January was a slow month, and the results of the Ed Zercher Memorial Strength Classic have yet to be published. However, Stacy Todd earned Lifter of the Month for January with her top finish in the 2025 Postal Series. Her fourth quarter performance was good for not only the highest female total but also records in all three lifts.

Stacy has been competing in USAWA since 2021 with participation primarily in the postal events. She placed 4th in the 2024 National Championship and won the 2024 Grip Championship. Finally she is a member of the Century Club.

This is the first time Stacy is being recognized as lifter of the month.

Congratulations Stacy!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as lifter of the month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at usawasec@gmail.com

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