Tag Archives: Lifter of the Month

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!  

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, JULY 2025, NISHA GUPTA

Nisha Gupta of High Country Vigour has earned lifter of the month for July 2025 with an outstanding performance at the 2025 USAWA National Championship on the way to claiming the top overall Junior and 3rd overall among all female lifters. She is pictured below hoisting the mighty Dinnie Bars. At 40kg all of her lifts set not only age group, but also ALL age class and National records.

Nisha’s performance comes on the heels of defending her Stars of Tomorrow title and winning the overall female title in the 2025 Grip Championship.  She is also a Level 1 official and was the side judge for 3 of the 4 lifts at Nationals.  She is well on the way to the Century Club and currently holds 75 USAWA records.

In addition to all-round, Nisha has competed in unsanctioned Powerlifting and GSI Sanctioned Grip Sport. Outside of lifting, Nisha is the Vice President of her High School Class and Varsity tennis player.

Congratulations Nisha!

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, JUNE 2025 – LARRY TRAUB

Larry Traub of Ledaig Heavy Athletics has earned Lifter of the Month with his outstanding 340-pound Reeves Deadlift at the 2025 Ledaig Heavy Athletics Record Day.  At 198-pound bodyweight he also had successful lifts in the 2 Bar Deadlift (370 lb), Bench Press, Feet in Air (235 lb) and Jefferson Deadlift (400 lb).

Larry started all-round weightlifting in 2010 and was awarded Newcomer of the Year.  His accolades also include

  • 2011 Athlete of the Year Runner Up
  • 2011 Overall Men’s Best Lifter at Nationals
  • 2012 Overall Men’s Runner Up at Nationals
  • 2014 Men’s 2nd Place Dino Gym Challenge (which featured a Teeth Lift, Finger Lift – Middle, Kennedy Lift, Harness Lift and Back Lift)

Finally, Larry has written several USAWA website articles and has made a profound impact in his community founding the St Xavier powerlifting program in 1987.

Congratulations Larry!

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, MAY 2025 – JESSICA HOPPS

Jessica Hopps has shined during the month of May by winning the 2025 USAWA Heavy Lift Championship with a very impressive 1830 pound total to earn May Lifter of the Month honors. This came on the heels of the March New England Winter Heavy Lift Classic where she won the women’s field with a 2000 pound total.

Jessica has records on the books going back to 2013. She has competed at National Championships and World Championships and is well on her way to the Century Club with 65 records to her name.

Congratulations Jessica!

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, APRIL 2025 – JEFF WENZEL

April was an exciting month with meets being held in Colorado and Missouri. Jeff Wenzel earned lifter of the month with some incredible lifts in the Club Championships and winning the Bench Press Heptathlon. His 250-pound Reg Park Bench Press was good for an all-ages record at 110kg.

Jeff has been enthusiastically competing and setting records since 2023 in the 45-year-old age category and since the 50th Birthday Bash in the 50-year-old age category. Jeff is a member of the Century Club and was honored as 2024 Newcomer of the Year.

All-Round weightlifting is a family sport in the Wenzel household. Spencer (17), Logan (10) and Riley (20) quickly in Jeff’s footsteps. They tend to favor the obscure and currently all four athletes hold records in the Anderson Squat, Jackson Press, Roman Chair Sit-up, Pinch Grip Deadlift and Bench Dip.

Congratulations Jeff!

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