Tag Archives: Frank Ciavattone

National Championships

by Al Myers

MEET RESULTS –

2016 USAWA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Frank Ciavattone (left) and Jeff Ciavattone (right) had the highest One Arm Ciavattone Grip Deadlifts of the meet, a lift named after Frank. Frank finished with 115 KG with Jeff right behind him at 110 KG (photo courtesy of Cara Ciavattone Collins)

Frank Ciavattone (left) and Jeff Ciavattone (right) had the highest One Arm Ciavattone Grip Deadlifts of the meet, a lift named after Frank. Frank finished with 115 KG with Jeff right behind him at 110 KG (photo courtesy of Cara Ciavattone Collins)

One thing I can always count on is that Frank Ciavattone will promote an outstanding meet! Frank promoted the USAWA National Championships last weekend, and it was one of the smoothest ran National Meets we have ever had.  We had 19 lifters (4 women and 15 men) compete over the course of 6 lifts on one platform and one day, and was finished by 5 oclock!

There was an extremely tight race for the women’s overall.  Cassie Morrison edged out her friend Lindsey Beary on her last lift in the Trap Bar Deadlift. Only 2 adjusted points separeted them when it was done. Susan Sees was very close behind them by 10 points, and Jessica Hopps only 30 points back. On any given day any of these gals could have taken the overall!

Joe Ciavattone Jr. won the Men’s Best Overall Lifter title over James Fuller. Joe Jr. had several lifts he really excelled at – his big 105K Heels Together Clean and Press and his 4th attempt in the Continental Snatch at 93KG. James lifted very solid all day finishing with a personal record in the Trap Bar Deadlift at 277.5KG. Randy Smith finished 3rd overall despite hurting his elbow on the Cheat Curl and finishing the day not full strength.  Joe Ciavattone Sr. also got injured on the Cheat Curl, hurting his shoulder. But after a trip to the ER was able to make it back with his arm in a sling as the meet was winding down.  Jeff Ciavattone seems to get bigger and stronger each time I see him!  He lifted very well even though he told me with his work schedule he has not been able to train recently! Jeff and his dad Frank had a great showdown in the One Arm Ciavattone Grip Deadlift, with Jeff making 110KG and Frank making 115KG.  Big Frank still amazes me with his gripping strength!

Newcomer to Frank’s Barbell Club Rocky Morrison came in 5th Overall, which is quite an accomplishment in his first Nationals.  I really enjoyed meeting and visiting with Rocky.  He will be a great addition to our organization.  Dino Gym member Dean Ross made the longest drive to Boston, driving over 1000 miles from Oklahoma. Dean came into this meet as strong as I’ve seen him.  He finished with a great 162.5KG Trap Bar Deadlift.

Several lifters were not able to take all the lifts as they are recovering from injuries and/or surgeries. This included Frank, Chad Ullom, Denny Habecker, and Aidan. However, they still performed very well in the lifts they did and supported our biggest meet of the year.  For that – they need applauded!

I want to really thank Frank, his family, and his club for all the work they did in putting on this Championships.  The loaders did a great job and helped make the meet move along at the pace it did.  The food the night before and after the meet was fantastic!  Frank knows how to be a great host!

Meet Results:

2016 USAWA National Championships
Balch School
Norwood, MA
June 25th, 2016

Meet Director: Frank Ciavattone

Announcer: Al Myers

Scorekeeper: Chad Ullom

Officials (3 official system used): Joe Ciavattone Sr., Denny Habecker, Frank Ciavattone, Dennis Mitchell, Chad Ullom

Loaders: Peter Vouno, Wade Marchand, Cream McDonald, Matt Traitti

Lifts: Continental Snatch, Cheat Curl, Clean and Press-Heels Together, Pullover and Press, Deadlift-Ciavattone Grip One Arm, Trap Bar Deadlift

WOMENS DIVISION

LIFTER AGE BWT Sn Curl C&P P&P DL-1 DL TOT PTS
Cassie Morrison 20 192  35 37.5 31.5 40 47.5-R 120 311.5 284.3
Lindsey Beary 20 188 35 40 37.5 40 52.5-R 100 305 282.5
Susan Sees 53 219 25 35 35 45 42.5-R 100 282.5 273.4
Jessica Hopps 32 187 30 30 30 37.5 55-R 85 267.5 248.3

Extra Lifts for Record:
Lindsey Beary: DL-CG, Right Arm 57.5
Lindsey Beary: Continental Snatch 40
Susan Sees: DL-CG, Right Arm 45

MENS DIVISION

LIFTER AGE BWT Sn Curl C&P P&P DL-1 DL TOT PTS
Joe CiavattoneJr. 23 215 85  92.5 105 125 90-R 240 737.5 633.7
James Fuller 44 250 80 105 75 100 100-R 277.5 737.5 613.7
Randy Smith 61 198 57.5 75 50 60 90-R 150 482.5 528.4
Jeff Ciavattone 36 259 72.5 85 67.5  95 110-R 240 670 521.8
Rocky Morrison 54 295 55 67.5 65 80 85-R 215 567.5 477.4
Dean Ross 73 257 35 57.5 40 70 70-L 162.5 435 455.7
James Morrison 17 160 40 50 45 60 60-R 147.5 402.5 431.0
Art Montini 88 172 20 32.5 25 45 55-L 90 267.5 388.1
Dennis Mitchell 84 150 13.5 33 10.5 35 43-L 90 225 346.5
Bob Geib 73 268 25 30 35 0 60-R 100 250 256.4
Joe CiavattoneSr. 47 230 70 72.5 — — — — 142.5 127.2
Frank Ciavattone 61 302 — — — — 115-R — 115 101.5
Denny Habecker 73 192 — — — 80 —- — 80 98.0
Chad Ullom 44 249 — — — — 100-L — 100 83.5
Aidan Habecker 12 120 — 22.5 — — — — 22.5 37.3

Extra Lifts for Record:
Joe Ciavattone Jr: Continental Snatch 93

Notes: BWT is bodyweight in pounds. All lifts recorded in kilograms. R and L designate right and left arms. TOT is total kilograms lifted. PTS are overall points adjusted for bodyweight and age.

Best Lifter Awards:
Women Senior 20-39: Cassie Morrison
Woman Master 40+: Susan Sees
Mens Master 40-44: James Fuller
Mens Master 45-49: Joe Ciavattone Sr.
Mens Master 50-54: Rocky Morrison
Mens Master 60-64: Randy Smith
Mens Master 70-74: Dean Ross
Mens Master 80-84: Dennis Mitchell
Mens Master 85-89: Art Montini
Mens Junior: James Morrison
Mens Senior 20-39: Joe Ciavattone Jr.
Womens Overall Best Lifter: Cassie Morrison
Mens Overall Best Lifter: Joe Ciavattone Jr.
Best Club: Frank’s Barbell Club

National Championships

by Al Myers

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT

2016 USAWA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

My wife Leslie and I enjoyed walking the Freedom Trail the last time we were in Boston.

My wife Leslie and I enjoyed walking the Freedom Trail the last time we were in Boston.

It’s always exciting to announce the National Championships each year.  This meet is the “big daddy” of the meets in the USAWA. Our Nationals has had a continuous run of competitions since the beginning – with the first one being held in 1988.  So this year will make year number 29!

Frank Ciavattone is the meet director this year.  Frank is one of the most seasoned promoters in the USAWA and has previously hosted a couple of Nationals (1996 & 1998).  He is holding the meet in Norwood, which is a suburb of Boston. It will be a one day meet this year.   We will have our annual USAWA meeting following the meet so come prepared for a long day.

I would really encourage everyone in the organization to go to Boston and compete in our National Championships.  There are so many things to see in this area – so it provides the perfect opportunity to combine a vacation along with competing in our most important competition of the year.

INFO SHEET & ENTRY FORM (PDF) – 2016 Nationals Entry Form

 

Lifter of the Month: Frank Ciavattone

by Al Myers

Frank Ciavattone in action at the 2014 IAWA World Championships.

Congrats goes to Frank Ciavattone for being selected as the Lifter of the Month for the month of September. Frank is definitely deserving of this award after the unbelievable contributions he made to the USAWA during the past month. Frank not only promoted the IAWA World Championships, but competed and won his 20th IAWA World Championships. He also was recognized by the IAWA with the IAWA Presidential Award of Merit, the highest honor given out by the IAWA.

Frank Ciavattone –  the USAWA LIFTER OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER!

Frank Ciavattone – IAWA Award of Merit

by Al Myers

Frank Ciavattone (right) receiving the IAWA Presidential Award of Merit from IAWA President Al Myers.

The “second Frank” that was awarded the IAWA Presidential Award of Merit at the 2014 IAWA World Championships went to Frank Ciavattone. It was a great honor to me to be the one  that got to  make this presentation – as I’ve always looked up to Frank and have considered him a role model.  Below is my presentation speech, for those that were not there to here it firsthand.

I’m honored to be the one that gets to award the IAWA Award of Merit to Frank Ciavattone. This Presidential Award has only been given out a few times, as it represents recognition of the highest form in the IAWA. I could go on forever about Franks lifting accomplishments in the IAWA. As I was doing preparation for this presentation, I realized that Frank has won so many titles and has set so many records and has so many lifting accomplishments that this speech could get very long on me if I wasn’t careful. I’m not going to make Frank stand up here that long – so I’ll just hit a few highlights of his IAWA lifting career. I’ll try to keep this speech as short as I can here.

• Started training in 1971 under coach Joe Mills of the Central Fall Weightlifting Club
• Began involvement in the IAWA in 1988
• IAWA World Championship Meet Promoter 1993, 2000, 2014
• IAWA Gold Cup Meet Promoter 2010
• Holds MANY IAWA World Records
• First US lifter to lift the Dinnie Stones barehanded in 1995
• Won 20 IAWA World Championship titles
• Founder of Franks Barbell Club, and has mentored and coached many new lifters
• Best lifts: One Arm Hack 402.5#, One Arm Deadlift 562.2#, One Arm Ciavattone DL 331#, Neck Lift 808#,Hand and Thigh 1610#, Hip Lift 2515#
• Lifted overseas 7 times – in 6 IAWA World Championships and the Millennium Gold Cup

I’m sure I’ve left off many of Frank’s accomplishments within the IAWA in this short list – but you get the idea here – he has been a major contributor to the IAWA during the entire span of the history of the IAWA. I would like to say a few words about why Frank REALLY deserves this honor. I made this comment in Frank’s USAWA Hall of Fame writeup, and I would like to repeat it here as I think it sums up Frank Ciavattone – “Frank is the ultimate sportsman by demonstrating that a big man can be very strong without the use of drugs, showing that strength comes from within, and displays the unselfish attitude of always helping out his fellow competitors.”

When I first became involved in this great sport of all round weightlifting , I immediately took notice of Frank. We both shared being in the heavier weight classes together. But instead of becoming heated opponents, Frank encouraged me in ways I wasn’t expecting. My involvement in IAWA might not have matured like it has if not for Frank Ciavattone. He has been an inspiration to me, as well as many others, to become more involved in IAWA. Frank has always strived to “give back” to our sport more than he has taken. We would not be here this weekend if not for Frank.

Frank – I consider you a great friend. You are more than deserving of this Presidential Award of Merit and it is my privilege to be the one to get the opportunity to present this award to you. Thank you for all you’ve done for our sport.

Top Lifts of 2013

by Al Myers

Art proudly displaying his homemade Teeth Bit!

Today welcomes in a New Year, and  with it comes the excitement of another very promising year in the USAWA.   2013 had to be one of the best EVER in the history of the USAWA.  There were many great competitions and great individual performances.  Of the 22 official competitions that occurred in 2013 in the USAWA, I was a participant or attended 18 of them!

As I’m sitting here sipping a cup of coffee in the early morning hours of 2014 (my internal clock would not allow me to sleep in!), I’m reflecting on some of the fantastic lifts I was able to witness “first hand” in the USAWA in 2013.  It didn’t take me long to come up with a list of over 20, but I’m gonna narrow the list today to the TOP TEN lifts that impressed me the most. I want to reiterate  that this is MY LIST of the lifts that I was able to watch, and only reflects my viewpoints.  Many, many others were extremely impressive that did not make the list. A few individual lifters had multiple lifts that impressed me, but I’m only including THE ONE that impressed me the most by an individual lifter.  It took me three times as long to come up with my list as it did to write this blog!  Here it goes – counting down from number ten:

10. Lance Foster and his 575# Dinnie Lift at the OTSM Championships

This had to be one of the most tenacious lifts of the year.  Lance struggled at the Battle of the Barn with the Dinnie Lift, but came back a month or so later to up his performance by 75 pounds! If the USAWA offered a TRUE GRIT AWARD Lance would win it.

9.  Jera Kressly and Logan Kressly 600# heels together deadlift at the Team Championships.

Jera and Logan did this mixed pair (man/woman) lift quite easily at the Team Champs.  I should mention that Logan was only 15 at the time!  That’s a big deadlift for any mixed pair with a normal stance – let alone having the heels together!

8.  James Fuller and his 60 KG Bent Press at the Gold Cup.

James has been on a mission to mastering the Bent Press this year.  The Bent Press is one of the MOST old and obscure lifts of all round lifting.  Very few even know how to go about doing one.  I first saw James bent pressing Frank’s axle at the Heavies, with was extremely cumbersome to handle.  I was going to include that effort instead of this one for James, but his Gold Cup lift really deserves it more as it was done in a big competition.  It won’t be long before James puts up the highest Bent Press record of All Time in the USAWA.

7.  Joe Ciavattone Sr. and his 805# Neck Lift at the Heavy Lift Championships.

This HAD to make my list.  Joe is one of the best neck lifters in USAWA history, and held the overall record for many years.  To come back and hit a personal record now several years later shows true ability.  I was glad to be able to witness his lift (as I had not seen his previous record lift).

6.  Troy Goetsch and his 260# one handed Vertical Bar Lift at the Grip Championships.

I’ve seen many great VB lifts in the past, but Troy’s is one of the best.  Troy won the overall lifter at the Grip Champs, and his VB was the lift that I will remember from him on that day.

5.  Frank Ciavattone and his 202.5 KG Ciavattone Grip Deadlift at Nationals.

Frank still has some great lifting in him, as shown with this big lift at our National Championships which is named after him.  I never get tired of watching Frank do Ciavattone Grip Deadlifts – and this is one I’ll never forget.

4.  Dan Wagman and his 120# Pullup at the Dino Gym Record Day.

YES – that’s 120 pounds strapped to the waist and then performing a pullup with the chin OVER the bar with no kipping!!! And hold for a down command!  Not too many around could even come close to this performance of Dan’s.  I’ve seen a lot of great lifting out of Dan and often what he does does not surprise me – but this pullup did!

3.  Joe Ciavattone Jr. and the 1400# Hand and Thigh Lift at the Heavy Lift Championships.

Junior doesn’t realize yet that he will be a future superstar of the USAWA, but I see it.  His untapped strength is unreal, and this big H&T proves it.  He just finished with a 1200 at the meet,  I gave him a couple of tips between lifts, and then he adds 200 pounds and gets it easily!  Impressive to say the least…

2.  Eric Todd and this 1000# Neck Lift at the Battle of the Barn II.

ET has put up 1000 pound Neck Lifts before several times – but this one was done with rules beyond those of the USAWA.   He cleared the floor substantially, and then HELD the lift for over 2 full seconds recorded on a stop watch.  I’m still shaking my head after seeing that effort!

1.  Art Montini and his 107# Teeth Lift at the Presidential Cup.

All I can say is that I still don’t know how he did this!  Art is 85 years old and has FALSE TEETH.  This lift won him the Presidential Cup of the USAWA for the year, and I would say deserving of the lift that impressed me the most!  Art has been one of the most active lifters in the USAWA this year – attending most of the championship events, attending the “Big Three” (Nationals, Worlds, and the Gold Cup), and still involved with promoting his annual Birthday Bash.  He has a deeper resume than anyone in the history of the USAWA, and I’m glad to name Art’s lift as the most impressive lift of 2013.  Congrats Art!!

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