Tag Archives: Lifter of the Month

Lifter of the Month, December 2025, Nils Larson

December was a busy month with the Steve Schmidt Backbreaker, IAWA OTSM World Postal, USAWA Team Championship and the New Year’s Eve Record Breaker and Q4 Postal results still pending. Nils Larson earned Lifter of the Month for December with his top finish in the Steve Schmidt Backbreaker including an 1800-pound Harness Lift and 6544-pound raw total.

The Harness Lift broke Bill Clark’s record set nearly a quarter century ago in 2001. Nils has records going back to the 2002 U.S. Marine Open and National Championship in Ambridge. After a hiatus, he has been actively competing since 2023 and should be entering the Century Club with the next update.

The August 16, 2025 Walpole Record Day introduced a Bench Press, Larson (Fulton HT) as an exhibition lift. (6) different lifters were able to post efforts between 125 and 235 pounds.

This is the second time Nils has been recognized as Lifter of the Month, previously being bestowed the honor in September 2023. On a final historic note, Nils is member of the Neck Lift 600-pound Club with his 2004 effort.

Congratulations Nils!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as a future Lifter of the Month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at usawasec@gmail.com

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, NOVEMBER 2025, LISA GORE

November featured the IAWA Gold Cup, High Country Vigour Cup and Memorial Record Day.  Lisa Gore earned Lifter of the Month for November thanks to her amazing 700-pound Back Lift.

Despite only competing since April of 2024 and never leaving the friendly confines on Columbia, MO, Lisa has crept up the records leaderboard and at 293 records is second behind RJ Jackson on the women’s leaderboard. 

Besides setting records, Lisa has won competitions outright including the 2025 Bench Press Heptathlon, Tony Lupo Lightweight Decathlon, Q2 Postal and Goerner Deadlift Dozen Plus One.

Congratulations Lisa!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as a future Lifter of the Month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, OCTOBER 2025, DENNY HABECKER

October featured the IAWA World Championship, Q3 Postal Results and the Herman Goerner Deadlift Dozen.  Denny Habecker earned lifter of the month with his massive 105kg Straddle Deadlift in the IAWA World Championship.  Combined with impressive lifts across the board, Denny was the top USA finisher and 15th overall.

Denny is a 1997 Hall of Fame inductee and this is his 6th time being recognized as lifter of the month.  He had been the long running president of the USAWA and is on the IAWA Technical Committee and serves as USA Vice President to the IAWA.  He stands alone with over 600 records set in the 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and 80 age groups including 17 ALL age class records and 23 NAT records.  He is a regular on the United States and International circuit and a gentleman on and off the platform.

He has been promoting the Postal league, Memorial Record Day and President’s Cup.  In 2026 he will be promoting the IAWA World Championship.

Congratulations Denny!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as a future Lifter of the Month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, SEPTEMBER 2025, CHAD ULLOM

September was an exciting month with the Andy Goddard Memorial World Postal, Old Time Strongman Championship, Colorado OTSM Classic, One Ton Challenge and the Two-Fisted Challenge.  Chad Ullom earned lifter of the month by winning the Old Time Strongman Championship primarily on the strength of his massive 725-pound Kennedy Lift (a masters and ALL age class record).  Only (5) USAWA athletes have broken 700 pounds on this lift.

Chad is a 2016 Hall of Fame inductee and this is his 7th time being recognized as lifter of the month.  He has been the long running Vice President of the USAWA and Vice President of the IAWA.  He currently holds 347 individual records and 72 team lift records.

Congratulations Chad!

Do you know a USAWA member who should be recognized as a future Lifter of the Month? Send nominations to the acting Secretary at sanjiv_gupta@hotmail.com

2025 Award Winners: Courage Award Runner-Up and Lifter of the Month August 2025

If you google the name, Frank Ciavattone, you will find details for amazing feats of strength. For example, he is the first American to lift the Dinnie Stones and was inducted into Massachusetts Hall of Fame for wrestling. He is also in the USAWA Hall of Fame and ranks 5th all time with more than 360 records. Known for his toughness he’s battled and survived some serious health issues in the past. He founded and leads Frank’s Barbell Club in Walpole, MA. But, even more important to him, you will find words like kindness, character and generosity used to describe his personality. The 2025 USAWA Courage Award Runner-up and August 2025 USAWA Lifter of the Month is a true gentleman. He led a group of lifters from his gym to come and compete at the 2025 Nationals. He also competed side-by-side with the team in spite of quietly battling cancer. Congratulations to one of the living legends in the USAWA!  

1 2 3 4 5 … 22