by Al Myers
8 time USAWA Team Champions Chad Ullom and Al Myers performing a 430 pound Heels Together Clean and Press in the first USAWA Team Championships in 2007.
It is my goal this year to create a historical summary of all our Championship Events, which will be always easily available to view in our historical archive page section on the website. I plan to do this around the time of each Championships. Since the Team Championships is already “done and gone” it is time I get this one summarized! I have promoted and hosted all of the USAWA Team Championships at the Dino Gym, with the first year being in 2007. Hard to believe – but next year will be our 10th year for this annual Championship event.
The USAWA Team Championships started out as a very small competition. Only ONE TEAM showed up the first year, and that was only because I talked Chad into being my teammate. Well, the next year didn’t get much better when Chad told me he couldn’t make it so I talked Joe Garcia into being my teammate. Again, it was just one team. Joe commented to Bill (which was published in the Strength Journal) that “it was really cozy laying so close to Al” during the Team Pullover and Press. I would think the enjoyment of that experience would have motivated Joe to return to the Team Championships – but I haven’t seen him at this meet since! It was at that time that I think Bill probably thought I should have “put a fork” into this Team Championships idea and kill it off – and I was having my doubts as well – but I forged on for another year.
In 2009, the Team Championships started to pick up momentum! Participation DOUBLED with 2 teams in attendance. Thanks to the JWC Graybeards for showing up it finally made for a real competition – a ONE ON ONE DUEL. Thom and John vowed a rematch with Chad and me – but again they have not been seen at the Team Championships since.
2010 brought another increase in attendance! For the first time there was a 70 age plus team competing (Rudy Bletscher and Mike Murdock). This comp also marked the first time a Team Trap Bar Deadlift was done – which I made specifically for this event. 2012 was a memorable year because it was the first time a Mixed Pair (man and woman) team entered with Doug and Jera Kressly. At this event the participation was up to 4 teams. 2013 was even better with all 3 divisions represented. Ruth Jackson and Molly Myers entered the first ever 2-Women Team that year. The BEST YEAR for attendance was THIS YEAR, 2015, with 6 teams entered. There were 3 2-Man Teams and 3 Mixed Pair Teams. This made for a great competitive event.
It has taken about 10 years – but finally I feel this is one of the best attended events in the USAWA. I’m glad I didn’t “throw in the towel” back in 2008!
SUMMARY OF USAWA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
BEST OVERALL LIFTER TEAM AWARDS
| YEAR & DATE |
2-MAN |
2-WOMEN |
MIXED PAIR |
| 2015-August 30th |
Al Myers & Chad Ullom
>60: LaVerne Myers & Dean Ross |
none |
Jera & Doug Kressly |
| 2014-August 24th |
Al Myers & Chad Ullom
>60: Laverne Myers & Dean Ross |
none |
none |
| 2013-August 17th |
Al Myers & Chad Ullom
>60: Denny Habecker & Art Montini |
Ruth Jackson & Molly Myers |
Jera Kressly & Logan Kressly |
| 2012-August 11th |
Al Myers & Chad Ullom
>60: LaVerne Myers & Dean Ross |
none |
Jera & Doug Kressly |
| 2011-August 27th |
Al Myers & Chad Ullom
>60: Mike Murdock & Rudy Bletscher |
none |
none |
| 2010-August 10th |
Al Myers & Chad Ullom
>60: Mike Murdock & Rudy Bletscher |
none |
none |
| 2009-September 20th |
Al Myers & Chad Ullom |
none |
none |
| 2008-September 20th |
Al Myers & Joe Garcia |
none |
none |
| 2007-September 8th |
Al Myers & Chad Ullom |
none |
none |
*This table will be maintained and updated in the History Section page on the website.
