USAWA Nationals Weekend

Me and my daughters left Colorado on Wednesday to spend a few days with Grandma in Memphis before making the drive to Albany, KY for Nationals Weekend.  It was a long drive from Memphis, through Nashville to Kentucky.  We arrived just after 5 PM and were able to squeeze in a bite to eat before the Annual General Meeting was brought to order.

Angie’s Restaurant is family cooking and they had a back room that we completely filled with (32) USAWA members plus additional family members.  The meeting started normally enough with typical officer reports but became contentious when new business was taken from the floor.  There was a lot of shouting and belittling, but very little actual discussion.  The elections were conducted and we have a new board with very little all-round and even less international all-round experience.

Old Board – Denny (36), Chad (21), Eric (23), Beth (6), Sanjiv (2) – 88 years

New Board – Clint (4), Tony (4), Kyle (2), Eric (23), Sanjiv (2) – 35 years

It is apparent that as a board, we need to read up on Robert’s Rules of Order before the next annual general meeting.

On a final positive note, my bid to host the 2026 National Championship in Denver was accepted.

With weigh-ins running from 7 to 8:30, we opted to sleep in a tad and leave for the meet at 7:30 planning to arrive at 7:45. After weighing in we evaluated some of the meet equipment as the lifts do not lend themselves to uniformity.

After an invocation and National Anthem, we warmed up and the first flight started with the Hackenschmidt Floor Press.  Nisha, Diya and I had top lifts of 60, 65 and 190 respectively.  Nisha’s lift was good enough for a National Record.  Diya set an age group record.

Next up was the Dinnie Lift.  Nisha, Diya and I had top lifts of 150, 165 and 405 respectively.  Nisha and Diya set National Records.  I set an age group record.

Third up was the Saxon Deadlift.  Nisha, Diya and I had top lifts of 38, 48 and 103 pounds.  Diya and Nisha set National Records.  I bettered my existing age group record by 3 pounds.

Finally was the Dumbbell to Shoulder.  Nisha, Diya and I had top lifts of 50, 75 and 126 pounds.   Nisha set a National Record, Diya set an Age Group Record and I set an Age Group Record.

Nisha 4 for 4 setting National Records (top Junior women, 3/5 women, 23/29 overall)

Diya 2 National Records and 2 Age Group Records (second junior women, 4/5 women, 24/29 overall)

Sanjiv 3 Age Group Records (19/20 masters men, 20/24 men, 21/29 overall)

The people are what make the meets.  I had met several athletes before (11).  Among the new athletes, Frank’s Barbell Club stood out.  Frank, Jessica, Wade, Dan and Nils carried themselves professionally and oozed sportsmanship.  New from Clark’s Gym was Tobias (nice guy).  New from Buffville were Michael (nice guy), Ashley, Jerry, Chris, Chris, Randy, Kyle and Jarrod.  I had been on emails and video calls with the Frappier crew, but the rest were new.  I really liked Randy Richey.  He was a humble, well-mannered athlete.  I did not talk to Jerry, but did chat with everyone else.  Jeff and Isaac Bankens were nice.  I enjoyed meeting Larry from Ledaig, but was not much of a talker.  

The darkest moments were when the meet director wanted to use equipment that did not meet the equipment standards.  The board was convened and we voted to uphold his choice (3-1) with myself as the lone dissenter.  An appeal was submitted in writing, summarily dismissed and then a maelstrom ensued with threats and harassment of the female lifters.  It was beyond embarrassing.  Personally, I did not stoop to that level, but I failed to comport myself as I should have.  One lifter left in protest.  Several others sat back in disbelief.  Eventually, the board was reconvened and the original decision reversed.  Lifting resumed, but officials were swapped around.

After awards, we picked up Major Pizza and ate back at the room.  I hung out with Randy Smith for a while and enjoyed meeting his wife Helen.

The next day we drove to Nashville, checked out Vanderbilt University and then flew back to Denver.

Cost:

Hotel - $322.48 (2 nights)

Rental Car - $204.71 (2 days)

Flight - $988.41

Meet Entry - $209.46

Misc - Food, Parking, etc - $100