Tag Archives: Lifter of the Month

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!

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, MARCH 2025 – RANDY SMITH

March was a busy month with meets being held in Massachusetts, Kentucky, Missouri and Colorado. Randy Smith earned lifter of the month for March by shining in the Colorado Single Arm Challenge and Jeff’s 50th Birthday Bash. He was first overall in the Single Arm Challenge with a massive 420 pound unadjusted total at 198 pound bodyweight and 70 years of age. During Jeff’s Birthday Bash, he completed four of five lifts with an impressive 130 pound Roman Chair Sit-up.

Randy has records dating back to the 2003 National Championship and has competed in 16 National Championships and was the best lifter in 2015. He is a member of the Century Club with 144 records. 31 of those are National Records, which puts him at 5th behind some pretty impressive company.

Most recently he has taken a role on the USAWA Advisory Committee which was tasked with better understanding the membership.

This is the 4th time Randy has earned Lifter of the Month with past recognition in July 2014, June 2015 and October 2021. Congratulations Randy!

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, FEBRUARY 2025 – JEFF BANKENS

Jeff Bankens is the lifter of the Month for February.  Jeff is a newcomer to the organization, but has already made an impact by hosting the first ever USAWA meet in Louisiana and setting four records along the way.

Jeff is also active on USAWA’s social media platforms with (5) posts in February in addition to his strongman show clips in 2024.  Finally, Jeff is active in his church community and brings people of the world together not only through the Gospel, but also through strength sports.  Congratulations Jeff!

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