Last Saturday night we had our annual Christmas Party & Awards Night. At the end of each calendar year we recognise the efforts of some of our club members in a variety of award categories.
Congrats to all of our winners, very well deserved!
PM Strength Club
Most Improved
Karl Deegan
Karl has been with us since Early November 2019. On the week of the 20th January 2020, he completed his first 1RM testing with us, where he managed a 110kg Squat, 110kg Bench, 150kg Deadlift. Fast forward to around Mid-October 2021, he achieved a 160kg Squat, 125kg Bench, and 200kg Deadlift.
Not to mention, he also took the courage to step onto the platform in one of our novice competitions earlier this year. And regularly attends the conditioning session.
The time he has dedicated himself to Strength Club, and his positive attitude to give things a go, is admirable and that is reflected by the strength he has gained.
PM Strength Club
PM Most Committed
Declan Pallace
Declan has been with us since early December 2020. Since then, he has been very consistent with training and is always taking on feedback with his nutrition and technique. And, because of that his squats, bench and deadlift, and his body composition have all made steady progress.
Session attendance is the bare minimum for Declan, he trains hard, doesn’t fluff around, and loves every second of it.
AM Strength Club
Most Improved
Angelo Cotellessa
From the last 1RM testing phase to the most recent, this guy has come leaps and bounds!! After a back bending attempt, and an inspiring pushup challenge, he managed to not only increase his overall total by 25kg, but the technique on the squat was technically faultless and attracting the eyes of many. The grind on his deadlift was inspirational, and had the gym roaring in support. Been awesome to see the progression Angelo, great work!
AM Strength Club
Most Committed
Nick Ruggiero
This guy hardly misses a session, even bringing the euro cup final to the gym and having us all gather round to watch to the final win for Italy and making his bro sessions with mates on alternative days. He is shedding for the wedding and the guy with the best tic toc variations. Despite injury, he shows up and does what he can even if it means using every hammer strength machine we have. Nick is stronger and more jacked, and definitely the most committed
Most Improved Lifter - Awarded to a lifter who has shown significant overall improvement in their lifting. Someone who also represents Rucci’s Gym in the highest standard and gives back to the sport.
2 winners of this award this year
Our first winner is very well recognisable in the gym. The afro, the arms. He competed in two APL meets this year adding almost 50kg to his total between meets which was about 4 months. He's also given back to the sport through volunteering.
Congrats Adam Bedi
Our second winner is somewhat of a quiet achiever. He comes in, doesn't make a big fuss, gets on with his training and on top of that is an all round top bloke to have around the gym. He's nudging closer to that 300kg squat every time he steps on the platform and we hope he cracks it in 2022.
Congrats Cameron Langeberg
The Lazarus - Lazarus was a guy who came back from the dead. This award is to acknowledge a lifter who has overcome obstacles and injury to get back on the platform and excel.
Unfortunately, injuries in our sport happen. We all push our bodies to the absolute limit trying to squeeze every ounce of performance we can. This years winner suffered a back injury and had to undergo a lengthy rehabilitation process. She did however stick it out and came back to put up her first 400kg total at this years GPC States.
Congrats Rebekah Moyle
Most Potential - A lifter who demonstrates massive potential in the sport.
We're always on the lookout for lifters who display potential for great things. We refer to them as emerging talent. In this case, he has emerged and is undoubtedly displays huge amounts of potential. This year he added 50kg to his total between GPC States and Perth Cup, he pulled his very first 300kg deadlift and 700kg total. This kid is 22 years old and is going to be a lifter to watch in years to come.
Congrats Taj Smith
Members Choice
2 winners of this award this year
This person "puts back into the sport at every opportunity".
This person "is always at meets doing what she can, always helping with weigh ins"
This person "is always helping at comps, one of the main organisers of ladies of lifting helping promote women getting into the sport and also brings baked goods in occasionally."
Congrats Dion Stewart
This person "is super dedicated to the sport, he’s encouraging and very supportive of his teammates and has had a successful year on the platform and taking a spot on the big board for the u/75s!"
This person "is a legend and does heaps of shit to help out at comp"
Congrats Mat Bailey
Club Person Of The Year - The person who wins this award represents the best of the best of our club members. If Rucci’s Gym were a colour, they’d bleed that colour. They are fanatics in every sense of the word. They represent and hold Rucci’s Gym and our reputation in the highest regard and are the first to defend it, if and when necessary.
Our club person of the year received overwhelming votes. A clear front runner. No question this is 100% the right decision. This person is at every comp volunteering her time. She's commonly seen on the mic MCing but also did a fantastic job with Josh commentating for the live broadcast at this years GPC WA Invitational.
Congrats Kerry Lee
Rucci's Top Master - We have a fair few masters here at Rucci’s Gym and honestly, they’re all awesome in their own way. Our top master is awarded to a person who’s been working hard despite the barriers they face and still achieving. They’re also an incredible ambassador for the club, for Powerlifting and for masters lifting.
A lot of young lifters find it hard to grasp the concept of masters lifting. They haven't been worn down with years of training, injuries, kids, careers, relationships and all the stress that comes with years of adulting.
This year out top master was a run away, which we were expecting. She's competed twice this year with her last comp being the GPC WA Invitational where she narrowly missed out on her first 400kg total on her final deadlift getting done for soft knees.
To top it off, this person is a Rucci's Gym OG and has contributed in more ways to the gym and the sport than you could ever imagine. She's also helped organise tonights Christmas Party.
Congrats Dani Pearsall
Rucci's Top Junior - Rucci's Top Junior - The juniors coming through in the sport are literally getting ridiculous. They are the up and coming lifters of the future and as a club we need to embrace and nurture their development to see them through and help them reach their potential. The top junior award is being awarded to a lifter for their exceptional performance and growth over the years.
This years winner won't be much of a surprise. Again, this award was a run away victory. We've already given him a nice wrap earlier on but let's get him back up here for this very deserving award.
Congrats Taj Smith
The Adam Coe Award For Outstanding Performance - An award that is presented to an individual who has shown outstanding performance in an area of their lifting. The winner of this award truly displays qualities and performance worthy of the word outstanding.
For the first time in WA history a lifter has achieved a 10 times BW total. Not an easy feat. We are lucky to have had him represent our gym and our sport since we opened the doors here at Rucci's Gym. He's been competing for a decade and has 30 comps under his belt according to Open Powerlifting.
Congrats Yianni Magoulias for his 10x BW total!
Club Champions - Our mens and ladies club champions represent Rucci’s Gym to the highest standard on and off the platform.
Ladies
This years ladies club champion is a Rucci's Gym original gangsta. She's always represented the club in competition in the highest regard and since she started here, has become a very strong lifter. She first totalled 310kg back in April 2013, cute. This year she has competed 3 times, totaling over 500kg each time with her best being 550kg at this years GPC State Championships. A phenomenal total.
Congrats Amy Hapgood
Mens
This years mens winner is a powerhouse in WA Powerlifting. Starting at a young age and progressing through the ranks as a teenager, junior and now as an adult. He has a big future ahead of him, as long as he can hold on to a bar. Just kidding.
As you may have guessed, this years Club Champion is Trent. He recently competed at the GPC WA Invitational going 882.5kg where he had a brain fart on his second deadlift unlocking his knees before the down command. That would have given him 897.5kg, but it wasn't meant to be and we're sure he will come out next year and finally crack that 900kg total and we might all be lucky enough to witness that $1000 400kg squat.
Congrats Trent Harris
