2025 Award Winners: Club of the Year Runner up.

When you visit the Boston, MA area, the Cradle of Liberty, you think of American history and some of the best seafood you can find. In sports, you think of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. In the USAWA, and beyond, we think of Frank’s Barbell Club in Walpole, MA. Nestled between Boston and Providence, RI, they are the easternmost organization of the USAWA and the 2025 USAWA Runner-up for gym of the year (see picture below). The criteria for this award are membership (Frank’s is one of the largest clubs), members competing in USAWA Nationals and IAWA Worlds (check), and sanctioning events (which they’ve done since last year – including a cross country OSTM event in May). They are certainly an active group. They have a record day coming up on Saturday 16 August which is listed on the Upcoming Events calendar! But, their members are more than a club, together they are like family. As their members will attest, the veterans help and give advice to the newer members with both lifting and life. They clearly enjoy competing together and their club is an important part of their lives. Led by Frank Ciavattone himself, part of the team was able to come to nationals in July 2025 and did very well. They are pictured below from left to right, Dan Jones, Frank Ciavattone, Jessica Hopps, Wade Marchand, and Nils Larson. Congratulations to Frank’s Barbell Club!    

2025 Award Winners: Courage Award Runner-Up and Lifter of the Month August 2025

If you google the name, Frank Ciavattone, you will find details for amazing feats of strength. For example, he is the first American to lift the Dinnie Stones and was inducted into Massachusetts Hall of Fame for wrestling. He is also in the USAWA Hall of Fame and ranks 5th all time with more than 360 records. Known for his toughness he’s battled and survived some serious health issues in the past. He founded and leads Frank’s Barbell Club in Walpole, MA. But, even more important to him, you will find words like kindness, character and generosity used to describe his personality. The 2025 USAWA Courage Award Runner-up and August 2025 USAWA Lifter of the Month is a true gentleman. He led a group of lifters from his gym to come and compete at the 2025 Nationals. He also competed side-by-side with the team in spite of quietly battling cancer. Congratulations to one of the living legends in the USAWA!  

2025 Presidential Cup

The Presidential Cup was at Habecker’s Gym even this year as all 5 lifters are members of Habecker’s Gym. There was some very good lifts done this year as 25 records were set or broken. Beth Skwarecki won the Presidential Cup for the 3rd time with her great chin-up record. Congratulations Beth!

  • August 2, 2025 – Habecker’s Gym- Lebanon, Pa.

BETH SKWARECKI- 44 – 142 lBS. – 65 Kg. Class – [ 40- 44 ]

Dumbbell to Shoulder – 50 Kg. – 110 Lbs.
Chin-up – 12.5 Kg. – 27.5 Lbs.
Piper Squat – 60 Kg. – 132 Lbs.
Clean & Seated Press- 2 Dumbbells – 36.4 kg – 80 Lbs.
Deadlift- Fulton Dumbbell – Right 35 Kg. – 77 Lbs.

STEVE JURY – 60 – 240 lBS. -110 Kg. Class – [ 60- 64 ]

Bench Press -Feet in Air- 85 Kg. – 187 Lbs.
Crucifix – 22.7 kg – 50 Lbs.
Swing- Dumbbell – Left – 37.5 Kg. 82 Lbs.
Swing -Dumbbell – Right – 40 Kg. 88 Lbs.
Press- Dumbbell – Left – 27.5 Kg. 60 Lbs.

MIKE LOCONDRO – 62 – 217 Lbs. – 100 Kg. Class [ 60 – 64 ]

People’s Deadlift – 185 Kg. – 407 Lbs.
Bent Over Row – 109.5 Kg. – 241 Lbs.
Dumbbell to Shoulder – 50 Kg. – 110 Lbs.
Piper Squat – 60 Kg. – 132 Lbs.
Good Morning – 40 Kg. – 88 Lbs.

BARRY PENSYL – 77 – 125.7 Lbs. – 60 Kg. Class [ 75 – 79 ]

Cheat Curl – 32.5 Kg. – 71 Lbs.
Crucifix – 9.1 kg – 20 Lbs.
Deadlift- One Hand- Left 65 Kg. – 143 Lbs.
Deadlift – One Hand – Right 65 Kg. – 143 Lbs.
Weaver Stick- Right Hand- Front – 0.9 kg – 2 Lbs.

DENNY HABECKER – 82 – 180.6 Lbs. 85 Kg. Class [ 80- 84 ]

Deadlift- 12″ Base – 110 Kg. – 242 Lbs.
Bench Press- Fulton Bar – 67.5 Kg. – 148 Lbs.
Deadlift- Fulton Dumbbell – Right 50 Kg – 110 Lbs.
Deadlift- No Thumbs – 95 Kg. – 209 Lbs.
Deadlift – One Hand – Left 75 Kg. -165 Lbs.

OFFICIALS: Denny Habecker, Barry Pensyl, Beth Skwarecki

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, JULY 2025, NISHA GUPTA

Nisha Gupta of High Country Vigour has earned lifter of the month for July 2025 with an outstanding performance at the 2025 USAWA National Championship on the way to claiming the top overall Junior and 3rd overall among all female lifters. She is pictured below hoisting the mighty Dinnie Bars. At 40kg all of her lifts set not only age group, but also ALL age class and National records.

Nisha’s performance comes on the heels of defending her Stars of Tomorrow title and winning the overall female title in the 2025 Grip Championship.  She is also a Level 1 official and was the side judge for 3 of the 4 lifts at Nationals.  She is well on the way to the Century Club and currently holds 75 USAWA records.

In addition to all-round, Nisha has competed in unsanctioned Powerlifting and GSI Sanctioned Grip Sport. Outside of lifting, Nisha is the Vice President of her High School Class and Varsity tennis player.

Congratulations Nisha!

Minutes From First EB Meeting

The Minutes from the first EB meeting of 27 July were posted on the Facebook site and I’d like to include them here. A thank you to the outgoing EB for their work of the last two years. This is an all volunteer organization and it take a lot of work to make it go. The goals of the new EB are included in here and are short or long term goals. In the meantime contact us! We’d like to hear from you. The new EB is: Clint Poore – President, Joe Garcia – Vice President, Bill Clark – Treasurer, Kyle Frappier – Member-at-Large, and myself at Secretary now.

EXEC BOARD MINUTES

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