Presidential Cup

by Al Myers

The USAWA President has just announced a new exciting meet within the USAWA – THE PRESIDENTIAL CUP.  This Record Day will be promoted by our USAWA President, Denny Habecker, and will be the prestige record day promoted by the USAWA.  Hopefully this will develop into an annual event that recognizes outstanding achievement in record days, which allow lifters to perform their favorite (or best) lifts for USAWA record. 

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 (number set by the President) 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.

So you can see, this is quite different than most record days.  This meet is NOT about setting a large number of USAWA records, but rather a record lift that is WORTHY of consideration to win the Presidential Cup.   You would be best set to save your energy for the lift you most excel in, and put it into THAT lift alone.  Also, the choice of the winner  will be left up to Denny as to what lift IMPRESSES him the most – so factors like bodyweight and age will be factored into his decision.  Denny is an honest, trustworthy person who I KNOW will make an impartial decision in choosing the winner.  Also, the winner of the Presidential Cup is not open to debate – because the President’s choice is the FINAL DECISION –  and it’s all about impressing the President.  However, I’m still going to play it safe and bring a gift.

MEET DETAILS:

USAWA Presidential Cup

Saturday, August 25th

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.  Denny may be reached by email – dhabecker@usawa.com

USAWA History – 2004 Nationals

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the July, 2004 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. XV No. 5.)

IT IS ED SCHOCK’S WORLD

The world, it seems, belongs to Ed Schock.

Ed, a 51-year-old lawyer from Lebanon, Pa., made a clean sweep of best-lifter honors in 2004 to date.

He was the best lifter in the USAWA Nationals, despite missing one of the seven lifts in the championship totally.  Then he added best lifter honors in the IAWA International Postal Competition.

At the USAWA Championships, he missed all three attempt in the one-hand, 2-inch vertical bar deadlift.  Then on fourth attempt, he switched from the failed right hand to the untried left and was easily successful.  So much for the right hand the next time around.

Even with no score in the vertical bar lift, Ed easily won the best lifter award over John Monk, Tony Succarotte, and Bill Spayd.

Ed will have a chance to add a third major title on August 28 and won’t even have to leave home.  The USAWA Heavy Lift meet has been switched from Massachusetts to Lebanon and Ed will have his first chance to try the chain stuff. He is the favorite to win, even though he’s never done them.

Though strong everywhere, it is Ed’s pulling power which sets him apart.  Lifting in the 100-kg. class, Ed did a 440-lb. Zercher, a 363-lb. Fulton DL with overgrip in the postal meet and added a 635 trap-bar DL and a 330-lb. one hand hack in the USAWA Nationals. His 635 trap-bar was the best in the USAWA by anyone at any age or bodyweight.

The meet, run by John Vernacchio, came off without a hitch, despite an entry list which didn’t fill till the final moments prior to the entry deadline.

John has now turned his attention to the Silver Cup which he plans to do on the beach near Philadelphia in mid-September which the weather is still great. More on that meet later.  Thanks to John for putting on the latest tribute to Ed Schock.

MEET RESULTS

2004 USAWA National Championships
June 5-6, 2004
North Penn YMCA
Lansdale, Pennsylvania

Meet Director: John Vernacchio
Emcee: Larry Butts

Lifts: Cheat Curl, Vertical Bar 1 Bar 2″ 1 Hand, Trap Bar Deadlift, Straight Arm Pullover, Bench feet in air, Continental to Belt, One-Arm Hack Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Ed Schock, Pennsylvania
2. John Monk, Pennsylvania
3. Tony Succarotti, Delaware
4. Bill Spayd, Pennsylvania
5. Frank Ciavattone, Massachusetts
6. Larry Silvestri, Massachusetts
7. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania
8. Randy Smith, Michigan
9. Bob D’Angelo, Pennsylvania
10. Richard Durante, Pennsylvania

Women: Top Three Placings
1. Pam Maciolek, Pennsylvania
2. Tammie Rudisell, Pennsylvania
3. Maria Guaret, Pennsylvania

Best Lifter Awards:
Women 20-39 Age Group -Tammie Rudisill
Women Master Overall – Pam Maciolek
Women Open – Pam Maciolek
Men Junior 16-17 Age Group – Cale Demille
Men 20-39 Age Group – John Monk
Men 40-44 Age Group – Larry Silvestri
Men 45-49 Age Group – Frank Ciavattone
Men 50-54 Age Group – Ed Schock
Men 55-59 Age Group – Larry Blockston
Men 60-64 Age Group – Denny Habecker
Men 65-69 Age Group – John Vernacchio
Men 70-74 Age Group – Richard Durante
Men 75-79 Age Group – Joe Amendalaro
Men 80-84 Age Group – John Dorylis
Men Open – Ed Schock
Men Masters – Ed Schock
Men Junior – Cale DeMille

HEAVY TIMES IN INDIANA

BY DAVE GLASGOW

FOURTEEN LIFTERS TOOK TO THE PLATFORM FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL ‘MONSTER GARAGE’ POWER MEET HELD ON SUNDAY, 30 APRIL, 2012 IN GEORGETOWN, IN.  THE GET TOGETHER WAS PRESENTED BY LARRY (FLOYD) TRAUB AND WAS SANTIONED BY THE USAWA.  ALTHOUGH THIS PRODUCTION  WAS A POWER MEET, THE CONTESTANTS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO FOR RECORDS IN THE ‘12” SQUAT OR DEADLIFT’ AND THE ‘FEET IN THE AIR BENCH PRESS’.  MANY CHOSE TO GO THIS DIRECTION SO THERE WERE MORE THAN A FEW NEW USAWA RECODS SET.

THE VERY VAST MAJORITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ALUMNI OF ST. XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL, AN ALL BOYS SCHOOL IN LOUISVILLE, KY.  IN THIS GROUP ARE NOT A FEW PAST NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPS AND FORMER DIVISION I FOOTBALL AND TRACK ATHLETES.  ALONG WITH THE ‘KIDS’ WERE TWO THROWS COACHES AND THE STRENGTH/CONDITIONING COACH FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM.  IN OTHER WORDS, THESE WERE FOLKS WHO KNOW, UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE WEIGHT GAME AND ARE MORE THAN ABLE TO HOLD THEIR OWN AT A MEET SUCH AS THIS.  I FELT AS THOUGH I WAS A DRAFT HORSE AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY!!!

YOUNGEST OF THE HERD WAS FRED SHARP, A MEMBER OF THE ST. X POWER TEAM FROM 2011.  AT 64K, HE PUT UP SOME REALLY GOOD NUMBERS FOR A ‘NO EQUIPMENT’ MEET.  TYLER BAINES RETURNED THIS YEAR AND TOOK A BREAK FROM HIS FIREFIGHTING TRAINING TO JOIN HIS EX-COACH.  HIS WIDE STANCE SQUATS WERE VERY IMPRESSIVE.

FORMER PROSECUTING ATTORNEY TURNED PRIVATE PRACTITIONER, JON HECK, SHOWED THOSE PRESENT THAT THIS IS ONE ATTORNEY WHO CAN HANDLE HIMSELF ON A PLATFORM.  COMING IN AT LESS THAT 95K, HE HANDLED SOME PRETTY FAIR WEIGHTS.

BLAKE DEDAS, FORMER NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPION, LOOKED STRONG ALL DAY AND CHALLENGED HIS FORMER MENTOR FOR TOP SPOT TILL THE END.  MIKE TULLIS, FORMER SUB-JUNIORS WORLD TEAM MEMBER, CAME IN WITH LITTLE TRAINING AND SHOWED HE’S NO SLOUCH!

THE OLDER (MATURE??) GUYS WERE NOT TO BE DENIED.  TIM HARBISON, FORMER ST. X TEACHER/WRESTLING COACH, RAY GANONG, CURRENT STRENGTH COACH FOR THE NCAA FINAL FOUR LOUISVILLE BASKETBALL TEAM, AND TOM CHAPELLA, A LEGENDARY RETIRED THROWS COACH, POSTED SOME GOOD NUMBERS TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME AGE ON YOU, DOES’NT MEAN YOU CAN’T PLAY WITH THE KIDS!!  IT SHOULD BE NOTED HERE THAT RAY GANONG RAN A HALF MARATHON THE DAY BEFORE!!  AT 225 POUNDS, THAT IS QUITE A FEAT!!  TO PUT UP THE NUMBERS HE DID…….  WELL, HE HAS MY VOTE FOR THE ‘IRONMAN’ AWARD.

THESE ‘OLDER’ GUYS ADDED A LOT OF COLOR TO THE GATHERING.  THEIR COMMENTS AND JOKES KEPT THINGS LOOSE AND MADE THE EVENT THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.

KRISTIN TRAUB, AT A SOLID 78K, A FORMER TEENAGE NATIONAL CHAMP HERSELF, WAS NOT INTIMIDATED IN THE LEAST.  BEING THE ONLY FEMALE AT THIS TESTOSTERONE CHARGED MEET, SHE MORE THAN HELD HER OWN!!

WE WERE TREATED TO SOME VERY SPECIAL LIFTING BY A VERY SPECIAL INDIVDUAL.  SAM CHAPELLA HAS DOWN’S SYNDROME.  HIS DAD, TOM, HAS GROOMED HIM INTO, WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE, THE STRONGEST DOWN’S SYNDROME LIFTER IN THE WORLD!!  INDEED, SAM DIDN”T SEEM TO MIND WHAT WAS ON THE BAR.  HE TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS WITH LITTLE FANFARE, BUT ROUSING APPLAUSE EVERY TIME HE LIFTED, ENDING WITH A 9 FOR 9 DAY.

THE ONLY ‘OUTSIDERS’ BESIDE YOURS TRULY, WERE LES CRAMER AND HIS PROTÉGÉ, MARCUS SNYDER.  THESE TWO DROVE A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE TO BE THERE AND PARTICIPATED WITH THE ALUMNI.  THEY ALSO SET MANY USAWA RECORDS FOLLOWING THE MEET.

HOWEVER, AGAIN THIS YEAR, THE OLD MASTER HIMSELF, LARRY ‘FLOYD’ TRAUB CARRIED THE DAY.  AT 58 YEARS OLD, HE SHOWED THAT PERSISTANCE AND PERSERVERANCE GOES ALONG WAY WHEN HANDLING THE IRON.  HIS 500 (12″) SQUAT AND 600 DEAD LIFT (12”) WOULD BE SOMETHING ANYONE COULD BE PROUD OF, REGARLESS OF AGE.  FOR FLOYD, IT’S JUST ANOTHER DAY.  ONE OF HIS EX-LIFTERS SAID IT BEST, SHAKING HIS HEAD,  “COACH JUST HAS FREAK GENES!!”

SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO SCORE KEEPER,  ANGIE GANONG, FOR KEEPING THINGS MOVING WITH ACCURATE AND PRECISE SCORING.  BEING A LOUISVILLE ATTORNEY, THE LOGISTICS OF THE LIFTERS AND THEIR NUMBERS DID NOT PHASE HER IN THE LEAST!  HOW MANY POWER MEETS CAN BOAST PAST NATIONAL CHAMPS AND RECORD HOLDERS AS THE LOADERS???  NOT MANY, I AM GUESSING.  HOWEVER, DREW TRAUB AND JOHN CLARK WERE THERE TO SUPPORT OLD TEAMMATES.  FINALLY, THE JUDGES JIM YEATES AND MIKE HUBBARD WERE FIRM AND SOLID IN THEIR CALLS.  A HUGE THANKS TO ALL THESE FOLKS.  AS EVERYONE WHO HAS PUT ON A MEET KNOWS, THE SUCCESS OF THE MEET IS CO-DEPENDENT TO THE PERFORMANCE RENDERED BY THE SUPPORT STAFF!  A HUGE THANKS TO THOSE FOLKS!!

GOOD LIFTING, EXCELLENT FOOD, AND GREAT FELLOWSHIP FOLLOWED THE LIFTING.  WHO COULD ASK FOR MORE??  I CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR!!!

USAWA History – 2003 Nationals

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the June, 2003 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. XIV No. 4)

HIRSH, HALL, MONK BEST AT USAWA

Youngstown, Ohio – June 7-8 — Bob Hirsh has been on the sidelines for more than two years with a variety of injuries.  Long rehab sessions with Howard Prechtel, the USAWA president, finally paid off and Bob, elected to the USAWA Hall of Fame two years ago, returned to action at the USAWA National Championships this weekend…. and he came back as if he had never been gone.

Bob won the best lifter award at Nationals, as well as being the best master and the best lifter in the 45-49 age group.  Lifting in the 70-kg. Class, Bob used a 525 hack lift and a 375 Zercher to rise to the top in a very competitive field.  Bill Spayd, now a state trooper in Pennsylvania, was close behind in second place with John Monk, Brandan Aldan, Chris Waterman, and Al Myers as close behind as one missed third attempt.

The point totals: Hirsh – 2250.38, Spayd – 2218.88, Monk – 2212.36, Aldan – 2144.60, Waterman – 2144.57, Myers – 2127.91.  Talk about close!!!

Rita Hall took the women’s crown in a close battle with 63-year-old Marian LaRosa.  Rita, a 41-year-old, tallied 1107.26 points with Marian close on her heels at 1096.67. 

Best junior was Joshua Monk.

MEET RESULTS

2003 USAWA National Championships
June 7-8, 2003
Jump Stretch Fitness Center
Youngstown, Ohio

Meet Directors: Dick Hartzell and Carl LaRosa
Emcee: Bill Clark
Scorekeeper: Bill Clark
Loaders: Chris Rice, Gary Smith, Jason Groves, Bob Carcelli, Chris Waterman

Lifts: One-Arm Snatch, Clean & Press Heels Together, Stiff Legged Deadlift, Hack Lift, Bench Alternate Grip, Cheat Curl, Vertical Bar 2 Bar 2″, Zercher Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Bob Hirsh, Ohio
2. Bill Spayd, Pennsylvania
3. John Monk, Pennsylvania
4. Brandan Aldan, Ohio
5. Chris Waterman, Ohio
6. Al Myers, Kansas
7. Jason Groves, Ohio
8. Antonio DelSignore, Ohio
9. Randy Smith, Michigan
10. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania

Women: Top Two Placings
1. Rita Hall, Pennsylvania
2. Marian LaRosa, Ohio

Best Lifter Awards:
Women 40-44 Age Group – Rita Hall
Women 60-64 Age Group – Marian LaRosa
Women Master – Rita Hall
Women Open – Rita Hall
Men Junior 14-15 Age Group – Joshua Monk
Men Junior 16-17 Age Group – Kiff Kincaid
Men Junior 18-19 Age Group – Joe Hunter
Men Junior Overall – Joshua Monk
Men 20-39 Age Group – Bill Spayd
Men 40-44 Age Group – David Olsavsky
Men 45-49 Age Group – Bob Hirsh
Men 55-59 Age Group – John McKean
Men 60-64 Age Group – Denny Habecker
Men 65-69 Age Group – Andy Komorny
Men 70-74 Age Group – Dennis Mitchell
Men 75-79 Age Group – Art Montini
Men 80-84 Age Group – Jack Lano
Men Master Overall – Bob Hirsh
Men Open – Bob Hirsh

USAWA History – 2002 Nationals

by Al Myers

(The following meet report was written by Bill Clark in the July, 2002 issue of the Strength Journal, Vol. XIII No. 3.)

NOI AND DICIOCCIO BEST AT USAWA

Bill DiCioccio and Noi Phumchaona were the overall winners in the USAWA’s National Championships at the Ambridge, Pa., VFW Club the weekend of June 29-30, giving the masters another sweep of overall honors.

Noi, lifting in the 55-59 age group and the 55 kg class, 688.3 kgs. and was an easy winner.  Carolyn Goolsby was second in her first-ever USAWA competition.  Carolyn is from South Carolina.  DiCioccio used a 1,725-pound hip lift at 62 years of age to edge past John Monk, Jr. for the men’s title.

The meet, directed by Art Montini and John McKean, was a friendly affair, as usual, topped off by a great dinner which cost the lifters the best price in history – nothing.  Still – only 27 lifters made it to the platform, even though the Pittsburgh area is almost in the center of the major concentration of USAWA members.

Thanks go to John and Art – and to Marilyn McKean for putting up with John and for handling the scorers’ table for both days.

MEET RESULTS

2002 USAWA National Championships
June 29-30, 2002
Ambridge, Pennsylvania

Meet Directors: Art Montini and John McKean
Scorekeeper: Marilyn McKean

Lifts: Steinborn, One-Arm Hack Lift, Trap Bar Deadlift, Clean and Seated Press Behind Neck, One-Arm Clean and Jerk, Stiff Legged Deadlift, Hip

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Bill DiCioccio Sr., Pennsylvania
2. John Monk, Pennsylvania
3. Brandon Aldan, Ohio
4. Frank Ciavattone, Massachusetts
5. Denny Habecker, Pennsylvania
6. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
7. Larry Silvestri, Massachusetts
8. Dennis Mitchell, Ohio
9. Joe Hunter, Ohio
10. Bob Geib, Hawaii

Women: Top Two Placings
1. Noi Phumchaona, Ohio
2. Carolyn Goolsby, South Carolina

Best Lifter Awards:
Women Open – Noi Phumchaona
Women Master – Noi Phumchaona
Men Open – John Monk
Men Master – Bill DiCioccio, Sr.
Men Junior – Joe Hunter
13 and Under Junior – Joshua Monk
15 and Under Junior – Cale Demille
17 and Under Junior – Joe Hunter
20-39 Age Group – John Monk
40-44 Age Group – Nils Larson
45-49 Age Group – Frank Ciavattone
55-59 Age Group – Denny Habecker
60-64 Age Group – Bill DiCioccio Sr.
65-69 Age Group – Andy Komarny
70-74 Age Group – Art Montini
75-79 Age Group – Rex Monahan

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