Arm wrestling event benefits fire department
EAST BUTLER — Some contestants came for fun. Some came with only victory in mind. And others, well, they came for the beer.
Whatever the reason, more than 200 people were treated to a show Friday night during the 25th annual Iron City Arm Wrestling Championships at the East Butler Fire Hall.
Proceeds from the event, which had a cash bar, benefited the East Butler Volunteer Fire Department.
Dan Bauer, who works for O'Donnell's Distributors in Chicora, which sponsors the event, said, “It used to be a lot more about the beer.
“It was a whole thing from the Pittsburgh Brewing Company a long time ago, but this is the only event that remains.”
The arm wrestling championship, which awards t-shirts to participants and plaques to winners, has raised about $40,000 total, averaging $1,500 to $2,500 per year, Bauer said.
“People like the fact that it's benefiting the fire company,” he said.
“These are really good people. There's a lot of camaraderie.”
After attracting more than 100 participants in each of the past several years, the event pulled in more this year, which is the second year it has had both left-handed and women competitors.
“We used to have a seniors division. But, honestly, those seniors would win the regular division,” Bauer said.
Matt Schandelmeier, 23, of Butler said the fun of the event attracts him, but there is always the desire to kick the other guy's, er, behind, when competing.
“I was here two years ago, and I took third in heavyweights,” he said.
Rules are few. One is that competitors must keep their wrist straight and may not roll their wrist over the opponent's during the match.
“That's what ‘over the top' is,” said Schandelmeier
“You can pull their arm toward you or push it away, whatever you have to do to win, as long as you're not pulling your elbow off the table.”
Schandelmeier would again finish in third place Friday in the 211-pound and over weight class.
David McCullough, 22, of East Butler said he doesn't work out ahead of time, but he still loves the strategy and thrill of competing.
“A couple years ago, I took third in the 146 to 165 (pound) class,” he said.
“There is a technique. It's keeping your shoulder behind your arm and keeping it close to your body”McCullough chugged an energy drink instead of a beer while preparing for his first-round matchup.“There's a lot of adrenaline. You're thinking, ‘I wanna beat this guy and move on,'” he said.McCullough bested enough competitors Friday to take third place in the 146 to 165 weight class.Action was quick throughout the night, with most of the early matches lasting mere seconds on the table built by Roger Young of Chicora.The few prolonged battles, mostly in the heavyweight division, brought the loudest cheers from the crowd as well as some grunts and shouts from a few wrestlers.“Some of them are really quiet when they wrestle. Other ones scream or make loud noises,” said Sherry O'Donnell.For the Turcinhodzic family from Pittsburgh, the event was a family affair, with Amela and Adis Turcinhodzic, as well as their son, Alen, 16, all competing“We usually come every year. This sport is for every age. You're never too old to pull,” Amela Turcinhodzic said.“I think it's in your blood. My husband started, and through his competing I grew to love it.”After taking a few years off from the event, Amela Turcinhodzic lost her first-round matchup Friday with Gennie Gibson of Clay Township.“Arm wrestling is funny. One tough match and, even if you win, you could be done (because of how much energy was expended). It doesn't matter how good you are,” she said.Also, looks can be deceptive. Those senior citizens and grizzled everyman with more grit than muscle often can hold an advantage, said Adis Turcinhodzic, who is the second-ranked arm wrestler nationally in the heavyweight division.“You're using muscles you dont normally use. That's why whoever is doing it for a longer time has an advantage,” he said.“A lot of guys may not have big muscles, but from their work or activity they do, they are very strong.”No one was stronger than Adis Turcinhodzic on Friday, and he claimed first in the heavyweight division.As for his national ranking, Adis Turcinhodzic laughed at the thought of it bringing riches.“(Being a professional) is not enough to make a living. I just do it for fun,” he said.
The Iron City Arm Wrestling Championships on Friday at the East Butler Fire Hall pitted more than 100 competitors against one another.Here are the winners:• 211-pound and over — 1st, Adis Turcinhodzic; 2nd, Adrian Southworth; 3rd, Matt Schandelmeier• 186 to 210 pounds — 1st, Tim Lewis; 2nd, John Schnell; 3rd, Alen Turcinhodzic• 166 to 185 pounds — 1st, Travis Earp; 2nd, Steve Lally; 3rd, Adam Ingalls• 146 to 165 pounds — 1st, Bryan Thomas; 2nd, Chris Thomas; 3rd, Dave McCullough• 145-pound and under — 1st, Tim Widenhofer; 2nd, Tim Cannon; 3rd, Terry Bowlers• Left-handed 199-pound and over — 1st, Adrian Southworth• Left-handed 198-pound and under — 1st, Joe Cenazzi• Women's open — 1st, Joni Saper
