Weightlifting meet geared toward blue-collar lifters

The national event will have three competition classes.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The United States All Around Weightlifting Association will hold its national event June 7-8 at Jump Stretch Fitness Center on North Meridian Road.
Carl LaRosa, the Jump Stretch Fitness Center and competitor in previous USAWA events, convinced John McKean, an official with the organization, to hold the event here. Last year, it was in Pittsburgh.
There will be competition in three classes for both males and females. There is a Junior Class for ages 14 through 19, a Men's Open Class for ages 18 to 40 and a Men's Senior Class.
The USAWA is a drug free organization and there will be mandatory drug testing for the overall winner and possibly the winner of each weight class.
The entry fee for one division of competition is $35 or $50 to compete in two divisions with an awards ceremony and buffet dinner to follow the competition.
Good event
LaRosa, who switched from body building to power lifting in 2000, is enthused about this event.
"It is a unique event with all the lifts in competition being around with records that date back to the 19th century," he said. "This is blue-collar competition and is something that is an everyman sport."
LaRosa, a 1988 Lowellville High graduate who was a two-year starter in football, has been involved in weightlifting and body building for two decades. He holds the world record of 450 pounds in the stiff leg dead lift.
The first day of competition will have the One-Arm Snatch with barbell, Press with heels together, Stiff-Leg Dead Lift and the Hack Lift. On the second day there will be the Alternate-Grip Bench Press, the Cheat Curl, the 2-inch Vertical Bar Dead Lift and the Zercher Lift.
"It is all old school lifting and very simple for the people competing who should be well conditioned and prepared," said LaRosa.