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High Country Vigour Cup Results

November 12, 2025 Sanjiv Gupta

Nisha receiving cup for Steinborn Lift Record

This is the inaugural installation of the High Country Vigour Cup. I originally wanted to do a simple record day to close out the season. With the excitement of the President’s Cup and the Gold Cup, it seemed like a fun idea for athletes to show off a special lift for themselves. The local athletes did not disappoint, and we had an incredible (20) remote lifters join in the fun.

I admired Nisha’s courage on the Steinborn Lift. After making 33 pounds and 44 pounds, she failed a 54-pound attempt.

Elijah shined with a third attempt on the pull up to get his chin over the bar with 20 pounds hanging from weight belt.

Kim’s Piper Lift seemed really solid at 80 pounds. I realized just how solid when I tried to do the lift.

Jarrod’s pulling power is just amazing. He held the 60-pound chin up to make sure he was clearly over the bar without any doubt.

It is harder for me to evaluate the remote lifters.

Columbia, Missouri had some amazing lifts. I have never performed a Back Lift or a Phumchaona Lift. Lisa (Backlift – 700 lb) is an ALL age record. Tony and Jeff improved their benchmarks on the Phumchaona and Travis Luther became the lightest athlete to set a record in the lift.

In a second batch of entries, Janet (Neck Lift – 155 lb), Allison Lupo (Carter Lift – 407 lb), Dave DeForest and Tim Market with Scott Lifts, Bill Clark with a phenomenal 200 lb Roman Chair Situp (the 5^th highest lift ever recorded), Dave Beversdorf (Deadlift 12” Base – 450 lb), Riley Wenzel (Jefferson Lift, Fulton Bar – 320 lb) and Logan Wenzel (Back Extension – 50 lb).

In a final entry, John Carter recorded the highest all ages, all weight classes Phumchaona lift at 1,227 pounds.

Pennsylvania had some impressive lifts as well. The dumbbell cheat curl always puts a lot of strain on my biceps and Barry’s 45-pound effort is an improvement over his 2024 record at 40 pounds. Not to be outdone, Jerome’s 225 Fulton Bar Hack Lift broke a long-standing record and is the ALL ages heaviest lift in the 110kg class.

Massachusetts had a solid crew of athletes as well. Jessica Hopps, Dan Jones, Frank Ciavattone, Nils Larson and Wade Marchand decided to only perform record session lifts and did not offer a lift for the Cup. Unofficially, I was most impressed by Jessica’s Peoples Deadlift (209 lb.); Dan’s Bearhug (215 lb.); Frank’s Jefferson Lift, Little Fingers (115 lb.); Nils’ Bearhug (188 lb); and Wade’s Bearhug (188lb).

Best Junior Women – Nisha Gupta
Best Junior Men – Elijah Conley
Best Open Women – NA
Best Open Men – Travis Luther
Best Masters Women – Lisa Gore
Best Masters Men – John Carter

Now for the extremely subjective declaration of the winner:

John Carter – 1,227 lb. Phumchaona Lift
Bill Clark – 200 lb. Roman Chair Situp
Jerome Licini – 225 lb. Hack Lift – Fulton Bar
Lisa Gore – 700 lb. Back Lift
Jarrod Fobes – 60 lb. Chin Up

COMPLETE RESULTS:

Location: High Country Vigour, Lakewood, CO and remote
Meet Director: Sanjiv Gupta
Dates: November 7, 2025

Officials: Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes, Nisha Gupta, Jerome Licini, Barry Pensyl, Bill Clark, Tony Lupo, Jeff Wenzel, Dave DeForest, Allison Lupo, Jessica Hopps, Dan Jones, Frank Ciavattone, Nils Larson, Wade Marchand

As USAWA rules and IAWA rules are different, no lifts will be submitted for IAWA records.

NISHA GUPTA, AGE – 16, BWT. – 85.4 pounds (40 KG Class)
STEINBORN LIFT – 44 lb.
Records:
TEAM DEADLIFT (w/Sanjiv) – 315 lb.

ELIJAH CONLEY, AGE – 18, BWT. – 151.2 pounds (70 KG Class)
PULL UP – 20 lb.
Records:
CHIN UP – 20 lb.
HACK LIFT – 135 lb.
REEVES DEADLIFT – 120 lb.

KIM VAN WAGNER, AGE – 58, BWT. – 126.6 pounds (60 KG Class)
PIPER SQUAT – 80 lb.
Records:
HACK LIFT, FULTON BAR – 145 lb.
REEVES DEADLIFT – 100 lb.
CLEAN & PRESS, ALTERNATE GRIP – 65 lb.
CLEAN & PRESS, BEHIND NECK – 60 lb.

JARROD FOBES, AGE – 48, BWT. – 220 pounds (100 KG Class)
CHIN UP – 60 lb.
Records:
PULL UP – 40 lb.
SWING, 2 DUMBBELLS – 100 lb.
REEVES DEADLIFT – 281 lb.
PIPER SQUAT – 155 lb.

SANJIV GUPTA, AGE – 54, BWT. – 214 pounds (100 KG Class)
APOLLONS LIFT – 143 lb.
Records:
TEAM DEADLIFT (w/Nisha) – 315 lb.
SNATCH, FULTON BAR – 103 lb.
REEVES DEADLIFT – 280 lb.
PIPER SQUAT – 115 lb.

Officials: Sanjiv Gupta, Nisha Gupta, Jarrod Fobes

LISA GORE, AGE – 60, BWT. – 225 pounds (105 KG Class)
BACK LIFT – 700 lb.
Records:
RIM LIFT – 210 lb.
DEADLIFT, 3” BAR – 185 lb.
ANDERSON PRESS – 105 lb.
BENCH PRESS, ALTERNATE GRIP – 110 lb.
BENCH PRESS, REVERSE GRIP – 110 lb.

TRAVIS LUTHER, AGE – 32, BWT – 174 pounds (80 KG Class)
PHUMCHAONA LIFT – 1145 lb.
Records:
JUDD CLEAN & JERK – 115 lb.
DEADLIFT, ONE LEG, LEFT – 225 lb.
DEADLIFT, 3” BAR – 365 lb.

JEFF WENZEL, AGE – 50, BWT. – 224 pounds (105 KG Class)
PHUMCHAONA LIFT – 1155 lb.
Records:
RIM LIFT – 370 lb.
RECTANGULAR FIX – 100 lb.
HOLDOUT, LOWERED – 75 lb.
JERK, FROM RACK, BEHIND NECK – 140 lb.
JUDD CLEAN & JERK – 85 lb.

TONY LUPO,AGE – 59, BWT. – 244 pounds (115 KG Class)
PHUMCHAONA LIFT – 945 lb.
Records:
CARTER LIFT – 925 lb.
CONTINENTAL TO CHEST & JERK – 142 lb.
ANDERSON PRESS – 150 lb.
RIM LIFT – 285 lb.
SWING, 2 DUMBBELLS – 2×45 = 90 lb.

JANET THOMPSON,AGE – 68, BWT. – 164 pounds (75 KG Class)
NECK LIFT – 155 lb.

ALLISON LUPO,AGE – 59, BWT. – 196 pounds (90 KG Class)
CARTER LIFT – 407 lb.
Records:
BACK EXTENSION – 55 lb.
ROMAN CHAIR SITUP – 60 lb.
RECTANGULAR FIX, FULTON BAR – 30 lb.
CLEAN & PRESS – 50 lb.
CLEAN & SEATED PRESS – 40 lb.

DAVE DEFOREST,AGE – 65, BWT. – 184 pounds (85 KG Class)
SCOTT LIFT – 150 lb.
Records:
DEADLIFT, FINGERS, INDEX – 136 lb.
RIM LIFT – 255 lb.
CLEAN & JERK, BEHIND NECK – 115 lb.
CLEAN & JERK, FULTON BAR – 105 lb.
CLEAN & PRESS, FULTON BAR – 105 lb.

BILL CLARK,AGE – 93, BWT. – 204 pounds (95 KG Class)
ROMAN CHAIR SITUP – 200 lb.
Records:
ABDOMINAL RAISE – 25 lb.

TIM MARKET,AGE – 19, BWT. – 165 pounds (75 KG Class)
SCOTT LIFT – 150 lb.
Records:
SAXON DEADLIFT – 70 lb.
SAXON SNATCH – 50 lb.
BACK EXTENSION – 65 lb.
DEADLIFT, 3” BAR – 195 lb.
DEADLIFT, 12” BASE – 215 lb.

DAVE BEVERSDORF,AGE – 60, BWT. – 300 pounds (125+ KG Class)
DEADLIFT, 12” BASE – 450 lb.
Records:
PEOPLES DEADLIFT – 505 lb.

RILEY WENZEL,AGE – 20, BWT. – 150 pounds (70 KG Class)
JEFFERSON LIFT, FULTON BAR – 320 lb.
Records:
PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, LEFT – 87 lb.
PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, RIGHT – 87 lb.
HOLDOUT, LOWERED – 65 lb.
LATERAL RAISE, STANDING – 60 lb.
SCOTT LIFT – 170 lb.

LOGAN WENZEL,AGE – 10, BWT. – 76 pounds (35 KG Class)
BACK EXTENSION – 50 lb.
Records:
BENCH PRESS, ONE ARM, LEFT – 10 lb.
BENCH PRESS, ONE ARM, RIGHT – 10 lb.
BENCH PRESS, HANDS TOGETHER – 28 lb.
BENCH PRESS, TWO DUMBBELLS – 20 lb.
ABDOMINAL RAISE – 5 lb.

JOHN CARTER,AGE – 67, BWT. – 195 pounds (90 KG Class)
PHUMCHAONA LIFT – 1,227 lb.
Records:
CARTER LIFT – 1,327 lb.
WEAVER STICK, FRONT – 3 lb.
WEAVER STICK, BACK – 5 lb.

Officials: Bill Clark, Tony Lupo, Jeff Wenzel, Dave DeForest, Allison Lupo

JEROME LICINI,AGE – 67, BWT. – 238 pounds (110 KG Class)
HACK LIFT, FULTON BAR – 225 lb.
Records:
DEADLIFT, FULTON BAR – 250 lb.
RECTANGULAR FIX, FULTON BAR – 43 lb.
MAXEY PRESS – 43 lb.
WEAVER STICK, FRONT – 2 lb.
WEAVER STICK, BACK – 1 lb.

BARRY PENSYL,AGE – 77, BWT. – 125 pounds (60 KG Class)
CURL, CHEAT, DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 45 lb.
Records:
KENNEDY LIFT – 255 lb.
CURL, CHEAT – 76 lb.

Officials: Barry Pensyl, Jerome Licini

JESSICA HOPPS,AGE – 41, BWT. – 160 pounds (75 KG Class)
NA
Records:
PEOPLES DEADLIFT – 209 lb.
SNATCH, DUMBBELL, LEFT – 35 lb.
SNATCH, DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 40 lb.
PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, LEFT – 36 lb.
PINCH GRIP DEADLIFT, RIGHT – 38 lb.

DAN JONES,AGE – 41, BWT. – 174 pounds (80 KG Class)
NA
Records:
CLEAN & SEATED PRESS, 2 DUMBBELLS – 111 lb.
RH Dumbell Strict Curl – G21 – 40 lb.***Not a USAWA lift, ineligible for USAWA Records
DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, LEFT – 134 lb.
DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 124 lb.
BEARHUG – 215 lb.

FRANK CIAVATTONE,AGE – 70, BWT. – 271 pounds (125 KG Class)
NA
Records:
JEFFERSON LIFT, INDEX FINGERS – 170 lb.
JEFFERSON LIFT, MIDDLE FINGERS – 155 lb.
JEFFERSON LIFT, RING FINGERS – 155 lb.
JEFFERSON LIFT, LITTLE FINGERS – 115 lb.
BENCH PRESS, ALTERNATE GRIP – 125 lb.

NILS LARSON,AGE – 66, BWT. – 238 pounds (110 KG Class)
NA
Records:
BEARHUG – 188 lb.
DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, LEFT – 124 lb.
DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 124 lb.
CLEAN & SEATED PRESS – 110 lb.
CLEAN & SEATED PRESS, 2 DUMBBELLS – 100 lb.

WADE MARCHAND,AGE – 56, BWT. – 165 pounds (75 KG Class)
NA
Records:
CLEAN & PUSH PRESS, DUMBBELLS – 100 lb.
CLEAN & SEATED PRESS – 106 lb.
BEARHUG – 188 lb.
DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, LEFT – 115 lb.
DEADLIFT, FULTON DUMBBELL, RIGHT – 120 lb.

Officials: Jessica Hopps, Dan Jones, Frank Ciavattone, Nils Larson, Wade Marchand

2025 Meet Results

The Life of John Carter

August 5, 2020 Al Myers

By Bill Clark

Twenty five years ago, Harrisburg’s John Carter was on the top of the weightlifting world, then he disappeared only to resurface in recent months at Clark’s Gym – still the guy to beat when it comes to the world of chain lifting.

A quarter of a century ago, John, now 61 and looking as trim and fit as he did in 1988 when he first showed up in Clark’s Gym, compiled such world class marks as 3,405 pounds in the harness lift; 2,805 in the back lift; 2,525 in the hip lift: and 2,000 in the Carter Lift, named for him because few others in the lifting world even attempted it.

In his first meet back in 20 years, just before the corona virus pandemic hit, he took the title in the meet named for his main adversary of three decades ago – the Steve Schmidt Backbreaker Pentathlon. Steve was on hand to officiate.

John Carter about to complete his 3,405 pound harness lift. Note the position of his left hand .

And just who is this John Carter?

Let’s say he’s a survivor.

John was born November 28, 1958, the son of John Jerome Carter, Sr., and Delores Carter. He attended school at Harrisburg from the first through the ninth grades, but left school at age 16 never to return.

His dad was a heavy equipment operator and John wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps. By the time he was eight years old, he was operating his dad’s bulldozer and soon thereafter was driving a car around the area.

At age 12, he took the family car to town, ran out of gas at the courthouse and approached life from a different angle for years to come.

In his junior high years, John showed his athletic ability and his strength by setting the school records in the shot and discus and playing basketball, but he also was plagued by discipline matters.

In the seventh grade, he took issue with a classmate in a gym class and went to fists, as he was wont to do on too many occasions then and later. In the fight that followed, John’s punch missed the opponent’s head and he hit the wall behind, breaking his arm in six places and shattering his wrist.

John had a powerful punch, but not well-directed.

The injury almost cost him his athletic future. He had to have plates inserted in the wrist that left it fixed in place without flexibility – and a four-month stay at Boone Hospital. Fortunately, it was his left hand. The plates are still there.

Even to this day, the injury hampers his mechanics as a lifter and golfer that requires modification of leverages and style, but not with final results.

When John reported to Harrisburg High to start his sophomore year, he was told his hair was too long and after a battle with administration, he left school three years short of graduation to get into the construction world at age 16. The bulldozers quickly followed.

John then began a journey through life that was filled with twists and turns. He spent two years at MFA Feed and Supply, worked concrete for NuWay Construction, was in a concrete footing business with two partners for three years, moved on to work on the development of Cedar Lake for Terry Sapp, supplemented his income by cutting tobacco for Henry Lamb, the “Tobacco King,” married, had a son, Jason (who is his best friend), divorced, then moved on to work for Columbia Public Works, retiring, after 23 years, in 2002.

He spent much of his career on the seat he loved the most – handling a bulldozer and heavy equipment. He still enjoys that role. He has owned Carter Construction since retiring from the city – which coincided with John’s fade from the world lifting scene.

John about to shoulder a 375-pound personal record Steinborn lift. Note the left hand position.

THE CARTER SPORTS WORLD

One of the personal losses that came with being a high school dropout was leaving behind his love of competitive athletics.

He soon joined a Looper League softball team, then spent the next 20 years as a slow pitch softball player.

“My career ended when I blew up at an umpire’s call and he threw me out of the game and said: ‘Don’t ever come back out here.’ The umpire was one of my friends at work, Bill Crum. I never went back.”

In 1982, he discovered bowling and was a regular on the lanes in Columbia for 20 years – good enough to carry a 190-plus average and add an 800 patch to his awards showcase. His high game was 297.

Golf came next – in 1986. The game proved to be a real challenge. The shattered left wrist caused John to develop a different stroke, but he can still drive past the 300-yard mark. Golf has been a part of life for almost four decades.

In 1988, for a reason John cannot recall, he decided to take up weightlifting. Clark’s Gym had just opened and, after visiting other gyms in Columbia, he gave Clark’s a look – and immediately joined.

“I made the right choice,” he said recently. “The gym saved my life.

“When I was going through my divorce, the gym became the place I could vent my anger. More than once, I almost let my anger misdirect me, but I would detour to the gym.”

John was an immediate world class lifter. To meet him on the street or even in workout gear, he looks normal. He’s 5-11, weighs around 215, has surprisingly slender legs and trim middle.

Within a year, he had emerged as a world class lifter, winning both the national and world all-round titles in 1989 in Philadelphia.

In a four-year stretch between 1994 and 1997, he won the national title and added golds in two of the toughest strength tests around – the Backbreaker Pentathlon and the Zercher Memorial.

In 1995, he performed the difficult combination hip lift and squat with 2,000 pounds – a lift that carries his name. No one else has done half that poundage.

He is proud of his gym record of doing a single workout (two hours long) of 1,821 reps in the hip lift with 1,100 pounds – a total workout of 2,002,100 pounds.

In 1992, he met Diane Stone and she led the family cheering section in 1994 when John won a Gold Cup in Cleveland, Ohio, by setting a world record in the harness lift. She is still his head cheerleader.

Then, in 2004, it all ended. The business was a one-man operation and time-consuming. As it grew, so did the distance between John Carter and Clark’s Gym.

On rare occasion, he would drop in, tell stories with the owner about days gone by, see if he could still do a 1,500-pound hip lift, then disappear for a few more years.

Late in 2019, he found that, at age 60, he had trouble with 1,000 in the hip lift – and the reality of aging shocked him into action.

For 60 years, he had been headstrong, defiant, living life head-on, willing to fight. He lifted weights with the same mindset. Strength meant more than technique, and failure was not tolerated as a chance to do things different.

Diane and being a business owner had both helped him get control. Golf, too, had been a stabilizer. He could still hit the ball hard, but he had to master the other shots as well.

Now, back n the gym full-time since 2004, John is the teacher as well as the student. He has accepted the fact that, at 61, he is no longer 31, and that a harness lift of 3,405 will never happen again and that 2,405 is a more reasonable goal – and still a world record for 61-year-olds.

Last month, in an unsanctioned competition to do 61 different lifts at age 61, John exceeded the existing national records in over 50 events for the 100-kilo class in the 60-64 age group.

Welcome home, John!!

USAWA Daily News