December brings cooler weather, shorter days, the holiday season and marks the close of the year 2001.  It also brings an end to another year for USA Powerlifting in California.   Before we look towards 2002 and plan out what meets we will compete in and what goals for our training and competition we will set, I think it is important to first celebrate our successes and acknowledge what challenges we faced this past year.

2001 marked my first year serving as your State Chair.  Over the past nine months, I have been fortunate to meet many of you at our state competitions.  I look forward to seeing you again at competitions slated for 2002 and I encourage you to contact me whenever I can be of service to you.  I have also been extremely fortunate to work with many dedicated volunteers who, through their generous donation of time, energy and money significantly contribute to the development of USA Powerlifting in California.  I sincerely appreciate the help of all of those who have volunteered at our competitions serving as referees, spotters, loaders, and announcers.  Without all of you, our program cannot exist.  I would also like to congratulate and welcome again those who have been certified this year as USAPL referees- Joyce Alcouloumre, Mike Koufos, Scott Laymen, Gary Ridgeway, Lisa Denison and Steve Denison; and two new meet directors- Eddie Haflich and John Planas.  Your commitment to serve helps to ensure our growth.  Finally, I want to extend to my gratitude to Jason Burnell for his unwavering willingness to serve our organization and the sport of powerlifting.  In 2001, Jason directed three USAPL sanctioned competitions- the California State Powerlifting Championships, Last Chance Qualifier, and the upcoming Nor-Cal Winter Classic.  Jason also maintains the state records and is webmaster for the USAPL California web site.  I may have the title of State Chair, but Jason clearly is our MVP.  I hope you will join me in acknowledging Jason’s exceptional work but saying “thanks” the next time you see him.  His work is certainly deserving of our gratitude.

Throughout 2001, USAPL California members continued to stand out on the national and international platform.  California’s official USAPL team, TEAM CALIFORNIA, competed at Men’s Nationals and Bench Press Nationals.  Many lifters from California enjoyed competing at USA Powerlifting national championships and IPF world championships.  Among them in 2001, California produced:

7 USAPL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Masters Powerlifting
Sam Alduenda, Robert Cortes, Jim Waters

Open Bench Press
Mike Hara, Lance Slaughter

Masters Bench Press
Rudy Lozano, Jim Merlino

7 IPF WORLD TEAM MEMBERS
2001 Masters National Powerlifting Team
Alduenda (Silver Medallist), Cortes (Gold), Waters (Bronze)

2001 Masters National Bench Team
Dave Cummerow (Silver Medallist)

2001 National Bench Team
Tammi Callahan, Hara (Gold Medallist), Slaughter (Bronze)

Whether your goal is to set a new personal record, become a State Champion, win a National Championship, or represent the USA as a member of one of our National Teams at an IPF World Championship, I wish you great success in the upcoming year.  

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please contact me.   I can be reached by email at: lance.slaughter@heart.org, or by phone at (310) 995-0047.

Good health and good lifting.

Lance Slaughter
Chair
USA Powerlifting, California