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

Lifter of the Month: Eric Todd

by Al Myers

Eric Todd performing the Hip Lift that won him BEST LIFTER at the 2012 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships.

Since I’ve started this monthly award last month, I better continue it!  However, I am finding that this is going to be an ongoing difficult process as there seems to be several “worthy candidates”!  But this month the award goes to Eric Todd because of his big overall victory at the 2012 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships at Bowling Green.  Despite the great individual performances at Jobes Steel Jungle Record Days, a championship triumphs any record day, so it is only fitting that ET is crowned the LIFTER OF THE MONTH for May, 2012. 

Eric not only won the Heavy Lift Show, but he did it in record fashion.  His 905 pound Neck Lift is bound to make the “top ten” lifts of the year for 2012.  Also, his victory puts him on a “short list” of past USAWA Heavy Lift Champions.  This meet in the past has been dominated by just a few individuals – Steve Schmidt, Joe Garcia, and Frank Ciavattone. 

Also figuring into my decision was the manner in which ET won the meet.  It wasn’t easy for him – and came down to getting his last attempt on the Hip Lift to make it possible.  The weight (2075#) was more than he had ever attempted in the Hip – but his focus and great preparation allowed him to be successful with it.  Congrats ET – for being the LIFTER OF THE MONTH for May, 2012.

News from the IAWA(UK)

by Steve Gardner

IAWA(UK) British All Round Championships 2012 Tiverton, Devon – Saturday 2nd June

Steve Andrews receiving the H&S trophy from Chris Bass for outstanding lifter.

Steve Andrews retained his grip on the Health and  Strength Trophy to win the overall best lifter title at  the 2012 British Championships. He beat off the  challege from Barry Gordge who finished second  overall ahead of young Tom Perry. The lifting was  very good (see full results on results page on IAWA(UK) website).

Best Open Lifter: 1st Steve Andrews, 2nd Tom Perry, 3rd  Barry Gordge

Best Master Lifter: 1st Steve Andrews, 2nd Barry Gordge, 3rd Gary Ell

OVERALL BEST LIFTER AT THE 2012 BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS WINNER OF THE HEALTH AND STRENGTH TROPHY: Steve Andrews

Well done to Mark Rattenberry and his support team  for staging a good championships, and well done to all who took part, includiong the loaders, officials,  organisers and the loaders, with a special mention  for Axel Amos and his young assistant who loaded  for every lift!

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