Tag Archives: Clark’s Gym

History of the USAWA – What happened 5 years ago?

by Al Myers

(It is amazing how fast time goes sometimes – and 5 years does not seem like a long time.  The following is a summary of the USAWA September news that happened in 2004, as taken from the Strength Journal published by  Bill Clark. )

USAWA News from September, 2004

Joe Garcia, representing Clark's Gym, pulls a fire truck at the Mid-Mo Strongman Competition.

Ciavattone Best at Heavy Lift Meet


Frank Ciavattone was the best lifter at the USAWA Heavy Lift Championships, which was held in Lebanon, PA and directed  by Denny and Judy Habecker. This was a big event for Frank, as it marked his 25th anniversary of beating colon cancer. This meet was attended by 13 lifters!!  Frank finished the meet with a 1902# Hip Lift. John Vernacchio was on hand to officiate.

Mid- Mo Strongman Competition


Clark’s gym hosted their first-ever strongman competition. Helping Bill Clark in the promotion was Demetrius Davis, Sam Huff and Joe Garcia.  These events were selected – clean and push press,  burlap bag hold,  medley consisting of carrying an anvil,  a farmer’s walk, and a tire flip, bus/fire truck pull, and a stone load.

Steve Schmidt at the Knox Fair


Steve Schmidt made his second appearance at the Knox Fair in Knox, Indiana  to put on a teeth pulling performance. Steve pulled a Mack truck, weighing 18,700 pounds, with his teeth down a 50 foot course on the main street of Knox.  He also put on a bending performance – bending bars over his head and nose.  Steve even bent a half-inch bar, 4 feet long, over his lower teeth!!

Congratulations to David Beversdorf!!!!

by Al Myers

David Beversdorf, of Clark’s Championship Gym, just recently bench pressed 630 pounds at a powerlifting meet that was part of the Missouri State Fair. This was done on August 16th, in Sedalia, Missouri. The meet was sanctioned by SLP. David is a 43 year old neurologist on the staff at the University of Missouri Hospital and Medical Center. David has been training at Clark’s Gym for about a year.

David Beversdorf, of Clark's Gym, benching 630 pounds. Notice Clark's Gym members James Foster (to left) and Joe Garcia (to right) spotting.

I met David at Clark’s Gym this past spring at the Deanna Springs Memorial. A few months earlier David had broken Steve Schmidt’s ALL TIME USAWA record in the Roman Chair Bench Press with a lift of 215 pounds at a Clark’s Gym Record Day.

Clark’s Gym Record Day

by Bill Clark

CLARK’S GYM RECORD DAY

Two gym members enjoyed an afternoon of punishment and came away with a good record haul. Both made their first efforts ever in a record day. Clark’s Gym Feb. 22, 2009 Dave Beversdorf, a 43-year-old neurologist on the staff at the University of Missouri Hospital and Medical Center, has been a gym member for a year, interested primarily in the bench press. He proved it on this day. He weighed in at 290. Lewis Heater is the 16-year-old high school junior who did a job in the Zercher meet.

great Beversdorf – broke Steve Schmidt ‘ s all-time Roman Chair bench press record by five pounds with 215. “Once is enough,” he said. He then set 40-45 age group records with 275 in the close grip bench, 335 with an alternate grip and 315 with a reverse grip.

The records are USAWA only. THe only official was had a long day. He weighed 203 at age 16. He did a 175 bear hug; 185 close-grip bench, 250 alternate grip bench, 225 with reverse grip bench, 70 pounds each with left and right hands on the bench, a Roman Chair bench of 100, 120 clean and press on the knees, 95 Ib. French press, 100 pounds in the Roman Chair situp, 75-lb. left hand swing and 80 with a right hand swing, then 2×50 in the two-arm swing.

Zercher Meet

by Al Myers

Zercher Meet
Clarks Gym
January 31, 2009

Meet Director:  Bill Clark
Official (1 official system used):  Bill Clark
Loader:  Tom Powell

Lifters:
Abe Smith      27 years, 180 lbs
Joe Garcia      55 years, 236 lbs
Lewis Heater  16 years, 201 lbs

Lifts:                             Smith               Garcia               Heater
Leg Press                        800                  450                  650
Clean & Press, HT            225                  165                  155
Clean & Jerk                    280                  185                  170
Deadlift, Heels Together   450                  275                   400
Bench, Feet in Air            300                   240                  240
Hack Lift                         390                  275                  225
Zercher                           375                  250                  360
Deadlift, One Arm            300 L                250 R               200 R
Steinborn                        305                  195                  235
Neck Lift                         325                  405                  375
Hand & Thigh                  1275                 1275                675
Hip Lift                           1475                 1875               1285
Harness Lift                    1875                 2295                2000

Total                              8370                8135                6870
Points                            7950.66            7714.42            6732.53

All lifts in pounds. Clean and Press done with heels together.

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