AAU Strength Sports Announces August 1, 2018 Deadline for 2018 Strength Sports Hall of Fame, Brother Bennett, Athletes of the Year and Academic All-American Submissions

Each year, recognition is given to AAU athletes, officials, and coaches who demonstrate the highest standards of athletic achievement, sportsmanship, and dedication to the ideals of AAU Strength Sports. The awards represent the highest recognition bestowed upon any AAU Strength Sports member, and as such, candidates for the AAU Strength Sports awards program must meet strict criteria.

“AAU Strength Sports had a fantastic year in 2017,” said Martin Drake, Strength Sports Chairman.  “We are expanding with all of our sports, and with the return of AAU Bodybuilding, we have another strength sport for our athletes to participate in. 

“This year, we will expand the number of Athlete of the Year awards,” he continued, “recognizing America’s best athletes in each discipline.”   
“Our recognition program recognizes the Best of the Best,” said John Crofton, this year’s Recognition lead. “These are the best of the best, and the volunteers who have given more to AAU Strength Sports than anyone else.”

Because of the rigorous criteria involved, not all awards may be given in a specific year. A detailed resume outlining the member’s activities in the strength sports must be submitted to an AAU Strength Sports award panel for consideration; the cutoff date for submission of nominations for the Brother Bennett award, Athletes of the Year award, the Hall of Fame and Academic All-American is August 1st of each year.  A panel of AAU judges will review nominations and select the winners of each award.  Recipients will be announced at the AAU Strength Sports World Champion weekend September 28-30 in Laughlin, NV.  
 

2018 Brother Bennett Award

The Brother Bennett Award recognizes extraordinary, selfless service to AAU Strength Sports. It is named for a Brother of the Sacred Heart at Saint Stanislaus College, who introduced powerlifting to youth and teens in Mississippi in the mid-1970s.  Brother Bennett’s Mississippi Invitational attracted some of the biggest names in powerlifting, and it became one of the first drug-tested powerlifting competitions in the country, paving the way for drug-free competition in the United States. 

Originally awarded to an AAU Powerlifting member, in the spirit of Brother Bennett, this award is given to the one individual annually in AAU Strength Sports who goes above and beyond the norm in supporting athletes, coaches, meet directors and the strength sports in general.    

AAU 2018 Strength Sports Athlete of the Year 
 

The AAU Strength Sports Athlete of the Year Award (Junior & Senior level) is earned by the male and female athletes with the most successful competitive year, as defined by championship wins and national and world records WITHIN AAU COMPETITION.  Strength Sports Athletes of the Year will be nominated from all AAU Strength Sport disciplines.  Athletes must have competed in at least one AAU Strength Sports meet in 2017 or 2018. 

This year, AAU Strength Sports will expand the number of Athlete of the Year categories, awarding junior and senior Athlete of the Year Awards in Powerlifting, Weightlifting, and Feats of Strength/Combine. 

In 2020, AAU will add an Athlete of the Year award for bodybuilding. 
 
Junior Athlete of the Year in each category will be chosen from among youth and teen strength sports athletes in grades K through 12.  Senior Athlete of the Year will be chosen from among collegiate, open and masters division competitors.  The junior and senior male and female Strength Sports Athletes of the Year will receive a custom award recognizing their accomplishments during the world championships.   

AAU Strength Sports Hall of Fame 

Originally founded as the AAU Power Lifting Hall of Fame in 2012, the AAU Strength Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the rich history of AAU Strength Sports athletes.  From the early days of Olympic weightlifting and bodybuilding competition within the AAU, to the first AAU-sanctioned powerlifting meet in the United States more than 50 years ago at York Barbell, to establishment of Strongman-style Feats of Strength competitions and creation of the Combine, AAU has led the way in creating innovative opportunities for powerful athletes to compete.  

Inaugural members of the AAU Powerlifting Hall of Fame were inducted at the 2013 AAU Single-Lift and 2013 Three-Lift World Championships in Boston and Las Vegas, respectively.  In 2015, the AAU Powerlifting Hall of Fame was renamed the AAU Strength Sports Hall of Fame, and expanded to include early Olympic Weightlifters and strongmen. 

The criteria for election to the Hall of Fame is significant, meaning only a select few will be admitted.  Men and Women must have competed in multiple national and international events, and have traveled to National and World meets.  Service as a meet director, referee and in an AAU Strength Sports leadership position will be considered.  Candidates must have demonstrated a minimum of five years of active participation in AAU Weightlifting, Powerlifting, Feats of Strength / Combine events, or a combination of all, to be considered.  With the return of AAU Bodybuilding in 2017, Bodybuilding participants will be considered for the Hall of Fame beginning in 2020, with the caveat that participants must have a minimum of five years of active AAU participation. 

The Strength Sports Board of Directors will endeavor to select at least one individual to the Hall of Fame on an annual basis.  Candidates applying for selection to the AAU Strength Sports Hall of Fame must submit a detailed resume. Applicants will be judged for entrance into the AAU Strength Sports Hall of Fame based on national and international competition results, national and world records, service to the strength sports and AAU specifically, and involvement as a leader within the AAU Strength Sports movement.  

2018 AAU Strength Sports Academic All Americans

The title of AAU Strength Sports Academic All American is an honorary title bestowed upon Elementary, Middle and High School strength sports athletes.  The Executive Committee believes in recognizing academic and athletic excellence, and this recognition will honor school-age athletes in weightlifting, powerlifting, all-sports combine and feats of strength.  The Executive Committee will acknowledge individuals selected with a certificate and official announcement will be published on the AAU Strength Sports website.  Athletes receiving this honor will typically referred to as "Strength Sports Academic All-Americans".

AAU Strength Sports will announce its list of Academic All Americans at the World Championship weekend in Laughlin, NV September 28-30.   

Deadlines

The deadline for submission for all awards is August 1, 2018.  Athletes nominated must have competed in an AAU Strength Sports meet during the calendar years 2017-2018.  AAU Strength Sports will announce award winners at the World Championship weekend in Laughlin, NV September 28-30.