EAST BUTLER - Brain Conners had a little extra motivation this time around.

The 20-year-old Butler native wasn't just arm wrestling for a championship at the Iron City Arm Wrestling Championships at the East Butler Fire Hall Friday night, he was also wrestling for his father.

"I was doing it for my dad," said Conners, whose father Robert died in October. "I was doing it for him."

Conners battled his way through the losers' bracket in the 145-pounds-and-under weight class to get to the finals, where he squared off with Steven Ace of Parker. Conners beat Ace twice to claim the championship.

He showed little emotion when he pushed Ace's arm against the pinning pad.

His eyes, though, welled up with tears as he discussed his father.

"It feels good," he said, the focused expression that once dominated his face now replaced with a solemn stare. "I don't know how I did it. I fought hard for him I guess."

Conners also trained hard. He equipped his basement with a bench and an elaborate pulley system to train for the event.

Bob Snyder of Fenelton also had a hard road to the championship in the 211-pounds-and-up weight class.

Snyder, 41, who has now placed in eight of his 10 appearances at the event, lost his first match of the evening but won out to claim the championship.

He beat Jon Buchanan of Boyers twice to win the crown.

How did he do it?

"You just get mad," Snyder said. "I get focused."

This was Snyder's second win at the East Butler competition. On his way to his first championship, he also lost his first match.

Unlike Conners, Snyder has never trained a day for an arm wrestling competition. He just shows up and pulls.

"I think it is 60 percent technique and 40 percent strength," Conners said. "The only thing that changes is I just get a little fatter each year."

The other winners were Bryon Thomas in the 146 to 165 weight class, Dan Petruzzi in the 186 to 210 class and Bobbie Henke in the women's division, which featured just four participants.

In all, 79 arm wrestlers competed in the six classes.

Not everyone was experienced.

Adam Kniess and Josh Kniess, who were both football stars at Slippery Rock High School, competed for the first time and fared well.

Both advanced deep in the consolation brackets of their respective weight classes.

Adam Kniess had no idea what to expect. Winning was not necessarily one of his goals.

"I just came her to eat food and drink beer," Adam said, laughing.

Adam was eventually eliminated by his friend, Ed Milligan of Prospect. Milligan persuaded the duo compete this year.

Milligan placed third last year, but did not fare as well this year.

There was no shortage on experience when it came to the referee.

Bob Sutton, who finished second in the world arm wrestling competition last year in Russia, officiated the matches.

Sutton volunteered to be an official after learning the tournament was in jeopardy because of officiating costs.

He has seen many competitions first hand and was impressed with what he saw at this one.

"They have the same level of competitiveness," Sutton said. "If not more because a lot of them are beginners."