Tag Archives: Beth Skwarecki

Athlete of the Year: Runner-up

By Eric Todd

Beth Swarecki wins runner-up honors in athlete of the Year category

Beth Swarecki wins runner-up honors in athlete of the Year category

Athlete of the year is described as follows:

This award is for the individual who has accomplished the most athletically within the last year in the USAWA. Top placings at the Nationals and World Championships should figure in high. Also, participation in other Championship Competitions such as the Heavy Lift Championships, the Grip Championships, the Club Championships, the OTSM Championships, the Team Championships, or the National Postal Championships could factor in.  Participation in elite IAWA events such as the Gold Cup should make an influence on earning this award as well.

Our runner-up in this category is Beth Skwarecki.  This is her third time finishing second in this category.  Beth was women’s champion and overall Grand champion at nationals last year.  She won the second quarter postal, and won her second Presidential Cup.  Beth was the overall winner in the women’s division of the 2022 postal championship, and then again in the first quarter postal 2023. She recently won the Hackendinnie Classic, outscoring all the other lifters, and putting up the best Dinnie Lift ever of a woman in our organization.  Beth has achieved level one status as an official.  as you can see, Beth has been very busy in our organization, and is rarely bested in competition.  Her master of the lifts and her technique is second to none.  Beth is very deserving to be recognized for this award.
Congrats, Beth!

Nationals results 2022

By Eric Todd

Nationals 2022 in Lebanon, PA

Nationals 2022 in Lebanon, PA

Nationals 2022 is over and in the books, and what a nationals it was! Karen and Steve Gardner joined us from over in the United Kingdom to help out.  Several lifters who have lifted together and against each other for 30 years or better showed up to do battle.  It was truly some of the OGs (original gangsters-for those of you all-rounders who are not hip) and it was very cool to see.  We also had what may have been the very youngest lifter at nationals in Daphne Lansdown.  Don’t quote me on this, as I am not going to go back through decades of files, but Daphne lifted at nationals at an age of 6 years old, and her energy was refreshing.

6 year old Daphne Lansdown executing a clean and press

6 year old Daphne Lansdown executing a clean and press

It was also exciting to watch the bitter rivalry unfold between Grandfather and Grandson.  The old dog (Denny) and the young pup (Aiden) went back and forth all day.  Last year’s national and world champion, Beth Skwarecki was on hand to defend her crown.  Big Frank Ciavattone was on hand.  Frank is the leader of Frank’s Barbell Club, and has many national and world titles to his name.

Frank Ciavattone breaking a record in the Deadlift-Fulton Dumbbell-1 Arm

Frank Ciavattone breaking a record in the Deadlift-Fulton Dumbbell-1 Arm

Barry Pensyl made it out to compete as well.  I enjoyed Barry’s stories of lifting for Bob Hoffman with the old York Barbell outfit.  Barry Bryan served as our head official, while Judy Habecker recorded attempts and Steve Gardner served as a very competent announcer. The banquet this year was some amazing barbeque prepared by Judy and served at the Habecker residence.  The lifting this day was great, and the experience one I will remember.

MEET RESULTS:

2022 USAWA National Championships
Habecker residence, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
June 25th, 2022

Meet Director: Denny Habecker

Meet Announcer: Steve Gardner

Meet Scorekeeper: Judy Habecker

Meet Loaders: Barry Bryan and all the lifters pitched in

Officials: Head Official-Barry Bryan

Side Officials: Karen Gardner, Beth Skwarecki, Denny Habecker, Frank                                                  Ciavattone, Barry Pensyl, Eric Todd

Lifts: Clean and Push press, Deadlift-Fulton Dumbbell-1 arm, Continental to Belt, Pullover and Press, Deadlift-Trap Bar

Notes: BWT is bodyweight in kilos. All lifts recorded in kilos.  R and L designate right and left.  * denotes a record lift.  ^ denotes a record in the national competition category. 

WOMEN’S DIVISION

Lifter age age division weight weight class Clean and Push press DL-Fulton DB-1 arm Continental to belt Pullover and Press DL-Trap bar total adjusted points place
Beth Skwarecki 41 40 66.7 70 55*^ 45(L)*^ 97.5*^ 60*^ 140 397.5 579 1st
Daphne Lansdown 6 13 22.1 25 7.5*^ 7(R)*^ 12.5*^ 12.5*^ 24 63.5 299.8 2nd

Extra Attempts for records:

Daphne Lansdown-Deadlift-Fulton Dumbbell-1 arm-9.0 (R)

Daphne Lansdown-Deadlift-Trap bar- 30

Beth Skwarecki-Clean and Pushpress-56

MEN’S DIVISION

Lifter age age division weight weight class Clean and Push press DL-Fulton DB-1 arm Continental to belt Pullover and Press DL-Trap bar total adjusted points place
Denny Habecker 79 75 86.8 90 47.5 55(R)^ 100 75 125 402.5 567.9 1st
Eric Todd 47 45 122 125 102.5*^ 57.5(L) 182.5 145*^ 190 677.5 559.8 2nd
Bary Pensyl 74 70 63.7 65 35* 37.5(R)*^ 80* 55 110*^ 320 513.1 3rd
Aidan Habecker 18 18 87.4 90 55 60(R)*^ 120* 67.5 190* 482.5 453.8 4th
Frank Ciavattone 67 65 127.4 125+ 25* 78(R)*^ 70 65* 90 327.5 318.9 5th

Extra Attempts for records:

Barry Pensyl-Deadlift-Fulton Dumbbell-1 arm-40

Denny Habecker- Clean and Push press -56

President and this years national meet promoter crowns your 2022 overall champion: Beth Skwarecki!

President and this years national meet promoter crowns your 2022 overall champion: Beth Skwarecki!

Best Lifter Awards

Women’s Master: Beth Skwarecki

Women’s Junior: Daphne Lansdown

Women’s Overall: Beth Skwarecki

Men’s Master: Denny Habecker

Men’s Junior: Aiden Habecker

Men’s Master 45-49: Eric Todd

Men’s Master 70-74 Barry Pensyl

Men’s master 65-69: Frank Ciavattone

Highest Total: Eric Todd

Overall Grand Champion: Beth Skwarecki

 

Lifter of the month of August

By Eric Todd

 

I am still inching forward toward catching up on our lifters of the month.  Lifter of the month of August was an easy choice.  This recognition goes to Beth Skwarecki for her dominating performance at the Presidential Cup.

Beth Skwarecki  executes a Full Gardner earning her the 2021 Presidential Cup.

Beth Skwarecki executes a Full Gardner earning her the 2021 Presidential Cup.

Beth has been a dominating force in the USAWA since beginning her all-round career.  She has won both a national and world championship.  She currently serves on the executive board for the USAWA.  Elizabeth was awarded her Presidential Cup based on a Full Gardner of 55 pounds, with a second record lift of 198 on the Goerner Stroll.  Well deserved, and I look forward to seeing what the future brings for this very bright star.

Schmidt BBC RD

By John McKean

SCHMIDT BARBELL CLUB RECORD DAY 2019

Beth Skwarecki performed several record Bent Presses at the Record Day.

Beth Skwarecki performed several record Bent Presses at the Record Day.

On the most beautiful, bright blue sky summer day of the year in this rain laden Eastern sector, my grandson Andraes, newcomer mother-of-three Beth Skwarecki, and I arrived at Scott and Kathy Schmidt’s beautiful Ohio home for their first annual record day meet. Scott was just leaving for a vitals run for the meet picnic later, but we were greeted by the always friendly & welcoming Rev. Peeter Pirn. Peet was all set to lift, but was summoned away with the joyous news of his grand daughter being born ,right before his opening attempt! So, our hostess Kathy Schmidt opened the meet with some great record lifts, before scurrying back to the kitchen,to prepare us a feast !!

Scott’s home gym proved to be a fantastic venue for an all-round meet, with enough equipment and sound lifting platform for all our needs. Even had a big open door to breathe the fresh morning air, and to listen to the soothing sounds and refreshing smell of neighbors mowing their lawns!Old USAWA pals  Stevan Santangelo from Kentucky and Cleveland’s stalwart Dennis Mitchell soon arrived to add to the growing excitement and spirited conversation.

Lady lifters Joanna Jones and Beth Skwarecki dazzled us with their picture perfect form on world record lifts, despite both being newcomers to the USAWA! Johanna, a long time mover& shaker of the Ohio Olympic lifting crowd, executed an extremely efficient women’s world record snatch-from-the-hang of 52.5 k ,among several other great pulls &pushes. Thirty Eight year old Beth, just over the 60K weight class, amazed everyone by electing to begin with the tricky James lift, then the bent press! Her years of competition in the rugged sport of Roller Derby has given her perfect balance, flexibility, and coordination, because her picture-perfect bent press even had ole pro bent presser Dennis Mitchell falling out of his official’s chair! I believe it was the highest IAWA bent press ever performed by a female, yet Beth will soon be closing in on a bodyweight attempt!

Can’t forget the teen lifters  -as grandson Andraes won’t let me!! At 13 ,taking a break from summer training with jr high football, Dra wanted to join the lists of his Dad,Sean, and Uncle Rob, when they lifted in the 13 and under category, and actually outdid the (now) “old men” of the family!Heck, these days the little lad (well maybe not so little at 212 pounds bwt!) can even outdo the granddad patriarch (yeah, that’d be me!) of the family!

Of course, our master age lifters put on their usual exciting shows! Newcomer 66 yr old Klaus Gondosch did some excellent overhead lifting, and meet director Scott (hard to believe this youthful looking ,always smiling guy is even master’s age!!), looking trim and fit, just bulldozed a few more records! Stephen Santagelo took the morning off from the organic farm in Kentucky to smash special grip lift records, showing the power that can be developed from daily milking the chickens, and such ! Dennis Mitchell defied age(87!) ,as usual, to  place 5 more record lifts in the books!

The Schmidt meet picnic in a spacious back yard, under tall cooling trees, only added to the great mood and fellowship that we all enjoyed!  I had to apologize to Beth and Dra on the drive home for my non stop talking (yeh, I know none of you can believe that of ME !) due to the high adrenaline level that Scott’s contest supplied! Hopefully this will be the first of many Schmidt events  -even inspired me to maybe restart USAWA record days in our Pittsburgh vicinity!

MEET RESULTS:

2019 Schmidt BBC RD
Schmidt’s Barbell Club
Weslake, Ohio
July 13th, 2019

Meet Director: Scott Schmidt

Officials (3-official system used): Scott Schmidt (meet directer and USAWA official) , Dennis Mitchell (IAWA Tech Chairman and USAWA official), John McKean ( IAWA official and past IAWA General Secretary). All lifts recorded were passed with all three white lights!

Beth Skwarecki  age 38 bwt 62.5 k div female 65 k
James Lift  71 Pounds
Bent Press (pulled up two handed) LEFT hand 55 Pounds
Bent Press (two hand pull) RIGHT hand  77 Pounds
Two hands pullup (overhand chin-up) 33 pounds hanging at waist

Dennis Mitchell age 87 bwt 62.95 k div M ,85+, 65k
Stiff leg deadlift  60K
Vertical bar Deadlift, 1 inch bar, 66.5 pounds (right hand)
Vertical bar deadlift ,1 inch bar, 66.5 pounds (left hand)
One hand Dumbbell swing (right)  25 pounds
One hand Dumbbell swing (left)  25 pounds

John McKean age 73 bwt 69.7k div 70k 70+
Lurich lift  304 pounds
Peoples deadlift  304 pounds

Stephen R. Santangelo age 67 bwt 72.05 k div 65+ 75k
One hand pinch grip strict left 52 pounds
One hand pinch grip strict right 62 pounds
Pinch Grip deadlift left 142 pounds
Pinch grip deadlift right 142 pounds
Two hands pinch grip deadlift 310 pounds

Klaus Gondosch age 66 bwt 75.0 k div 75k 65+**
Clean and press 125 pounds
Snatch from hang 99 pounds
Deadlift 12 inch base 253 pounds
Dumbbell (right) clean & jerk 65 pounds
Dumbbell (left) clean & jerk 65 pounds

Kathy Schmidt age 61 bwt 85.0 k div female 60+ 85k**
strict reverse barbell curl 50 pounds
Barbell straddle lift  114 pounds

Andraes McKean age 13 bwt 97.2 k div 13 & under, 100k
2 hands cheat curl 88 pounds
deadlift with 12″ heel spacing 210 pounds
power row  142 pounds
reverse grip bench press 110 pounds
alternate grip bench press 130 pounds

Scott Schmidt  age 66 bwt 101.0 k div 65+ 105k
2″ vertical bar (left) 70 k
2″ vertical bar(right) 70k
bent over (power) row 105k

Joanna Jones age 43 bwt 103.9k div female 40+ 105k
continental to chest 70k
bench press hands together 83.6 pounds
snatch from hang 52.5 k
2 hands anyhow  80 pounds

Rev. Peeter Pirn  “best trophy” of the meet, had to leave early on the birth of his grand daughter!!