April featured the USAWA Grip Championship, Bench Press Heptathlon, Diamond Jubilee and Diaper Day. While the Diamond Jubilee and Diaper Day results are pending there were some outstanding performances in the published results.
Kim Van Wagner earned lifter of the month by being the top female in the 1st Quarter Postal and the top female (and overall) winner of the USAWA Grip Championship. Kim currently holds 139 records and is threatening to break into the top 10 women’s record holders. Kim has results going back to the 2022 1st Quarter Postal but has only been able to set records since the Bench Press Heptathlon in 2024.
Kim joined the USAWA under the Clark’s Gym banner but has joined High Country Vigour, with Bill Clark’s blessing. She always shows outstanding sportsmanship and personal integrity. At the 2026 USAWA Grip Championship, the official gave a down command on the vertical bar lift and Kim simply responded that it was a no-lift as her left knee was not locked out.
Congratulations Kim!
Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as lifter of the month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at usawasec@gmail.com
In 2025, athletes were put to the test on their single arm movements. In 2026, athletes were tested with their weightlifting movements. The Clean & Press, Clean & Push Press, and Continental to Chest & Jerk are unforgiving on athlete’s shoulders but does allow demonstration of technical lifting.
Of (14) registered athletes, only (9) were able to complete the event. Four athletes in Colorado took up the challenge and another five athletes took up the challenge in Missouri. In addition to the usual suspects, Josh Williams joined us. Josh primarily trains powerlifting and bodybuilding, but learned the All-Round movements quickly.
Clean & Press – This is one of the original lifts in the Olympics and was contested from 1928 to 1972 but was removed due to difficulties in judging proper technique. In Colorado, we had no issues judging and even the heaviest lifts, did not come close to the 27 degree maximum allowed back angle. Jarrod had the top lift in Colorado at 165 pounds and Abe had the top lift overall at 185 pounds.
Clean & Push Press – This surprised me as the strongest lift among most athletes that showed a decline or only modest improvement when allowed to perform a jerk. Jarrod again had the top lift in Colorado at 185 pounds and Abe had the top lift overall at 185 pounds.
Continental to Chest & Jerk – This is the closest lift that USAWA has to a Clean & Jerk. The difference being that one can work the weight up prior to performing a jerk. I had to take advantage of this on my second attempt when I missed the clean, but caught it on my belly and then worked it up so that I could execute the jerk. Jarrod and new lifter Josh had the top lifts in Colorado at 165 pounds. Abe again had the top lift overall at 265 pounds.
Clark’s Gym had the most team points with 2,570 compared to 1,797 for the High Country Vigour crew.
None of the athletes in Colorado elected to do record session lifts. The die-hard crew in Missouri set fifteen records after the competition lifts were concluded.
Thank you to all the athletes that participated.
COMPLETE RESULTS:
Location: High Country Vigour, Lakewood, CO and Clark’s Gym, Columbia, MO Meet Director: Sanjiv Gupta Meet Scorekeeper: Sanjiv Gupta Date: February 14, 2026
Officials: (1-Official System) Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes, Allison Lupo, Jeff Wenzel, Dave DeForest, Bill Clark
TONY LUPO. AGE – 59. BWT – 244 Deadlift – Fingers – index – 185 Piper squat – 180 Cheat curl – dumbbell left – 70 Cheat curl – two dumbbells – 2×50 – 100 Clean and press – alternate grip – 130
DAVE DeFOREST. AGE – 66. BWT – 183 Deadlift – Inch dumbbell left – 90 Middle fingers clean and press – 78 Clean and push press – two dumbbells – 2×50 – 100 Cont. to chest – 140 Cont. to chest – Fulton bar – 140
JEFF WENZEL. AGE – 50. BWT. – 231 Clean and press – 12-inch base – 150 Clean and press – alternate grip – 140 Clean and press – behind neck – 140 Clean and press – reverse grip – 140 Clean and press on knees – 165
