Arm Wrestlers Flex Their Way To Tourney Victories

Arm wrestlers from around the world converged on New York City’s Port Authority Bus Terminal last Thursday, Nov. 18, to compete in the 33rd Annual Empire State Golden Arm Tournament of Champions sanctioned by the New York Arm Wrestling Association (NYAWA).

In the amateur competition, Devin Worrell from Corona won the 176 lbs. class and Michael Bissman from Flushing won the left super heavyweight class. Dan DeSoto from Fresh Meadows captured the right super heavyweight title and David Milburn from Jamaica came in second in the division. Ilya Dall from Whitestone also took third place in the women’s light weight category.

Before the matches began, NYAWA event organizer Gene Camp paid tribute to one its own, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Shaun Lin from Staten Island, a former arm wrestler who won the Empire State Championships in 2007. Lin was killed last month during training exercises aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Frank Drew when he fell into the James River in Newport News, Va. Three of Lin’s brothers were on hand and they were presented with a new arm wrestling table. Adjacent to the competition tables, a photo of Lin in uniform was posted on the wall.

Michael Selearis, an arm wrestling champion who grew up in Elmhurst, remembered Lin’s grappling prowess. “He was very intense, very focused,” said Selearis. “You could see it in his eyes,” adding that Lin has inspired at least one of his family members to grapple.

“One of his brothers came up to me,” Selearis noted. “He says ‘I want to compete. I want to wrestle in Shaun’s memory.’”

This year’s competition featured more female competitors than ever: 110 pound national title holder Valerie Beach, 27, from Wilton, N.H. discussed her mindset between matches. “You have to find your focus and your center,” said Beach. “If you don’t believe you’re going to do it, you won’t do it.”

While grappling, Beach wears flamboyant earrings, noting that she wanted to project a strong, feminine image. “I want women to see an image and say that I can do that,” said Beach, a bartender-waitress and model.

Instead of walking the runway now, Beach—who often practices against men because of the shortage of female arm wrestlers in Wilton— paces wildly before and after matches, often intimidating her opponents by shouting and slamming the table. Competing against women much larger than her self, Beach wound up coming in third place in the women’s open division.

In the title match of that same category, Joyce Boone from Brooklyn upset Winnipeg’s favorite daughter, 10-time Canadian women’s champ Josee Morneau who also captured the title of NYC Queen of Arms last year at the NYC Big Apple Grapple International, the premiere arm wrestling championship in NYC.

The victory was extremely gratifying for Boone, who broke her arm at this event in 1997. “It’s a wonderful comeback story,” said Camp. “Joyce practiced every single day. She’s truly the most dedicated female arm wrestler in the association. She deserves this.”

In the men’s tournament, all eyes were on West Virginia’s own Travis Bagent, who has been featured on ESPN, as well as in the popular arm wrestling documentary, “Pulling John.” A crowd favorite, Bagent fist bumps fans and competitors a like. After winning matches, Bagent strikes a Hercules pose.

Not surprisingly, Bagent, 34, won the left handed super heavyweight men’s division. In the right handed event, Bagent was upset, losing to Giorgi Gelashvili, a native of the republic of Georgia who now lives in Brooklyn. According to Camp, Gelashvili is the city’s best arm wrestler.

However, Bagent and Gelashvili were overshadowed by a much smaller, quieter man, Roman Tsindeliani, who moved to New Jersey from Russia just a year ago. Despite weighing just 150 pounds, Tsindeliani was able to win seven weight classes. The only match that he lost during the day was to Bagent, who has more than 150 pounds on him, in the overall left handed category.

“Roman is the best weight for weight arm wrestler I have ever seen,” said Camp. “I’ve been doing this for 33 years and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

After one of his many victories, Tsindeliani, speaking through a translator, was asked about his training regimen. Tsindeliani, who works as a driver, refused to reveal much though.

“I have no secrets,” he replied. “I train like everyone does.”

The sponsors of the tournament were Supercuts, Clear Wireless Internet and Ironmind® Captain’s of Crush® Grippers.