Arm wrestlers come from throughout the state to clasp hands and
battle for the title of champion
Hollister – The big guns were in town for the rally.
More than a hundred people watched the arm wrestling competition on the Sixth Street Stage Saturday during the Hollister Independence Rally.
The crowd was light for the amateur class, but once the pros started wrestling, about 125 spectators came to see the arm wrestlers put their strength and technique to the test.
“If a person has a lot of technique, you don’t need a lot of strength,” said event organizer Bill Collins. “But if you can combine strength and technique, you can wrestle at a world-ranking level.
Bryan Brandon of Sacramento, who won first place for the right handed 233 pound and up weight class, has both qualities, Collins said.
“He’s like a diesel truck. He’s extremely strong with enormous hand strength,” Collins said, adding that Brandon is one of the top ten arm wrestlers in the nation for his weight class.
Collins should know. He’s been a professional arm wrestler for more than two decades. He retired in 1996. Now he trains arm wrestlers and organizes competitions.
“Arm wrestling is the fastest sport on this earth,” Collins said. “If a match goes 15 seconds, that’s a very long match.”
Judy Dodd from Patterson, Calif. won first place for the women’s 0-140 weight class on Saturday.
“It feels great,” she said. “But we’ll meet again.”
Saturday’s competition had right hand, left hand, women and amateur categories, which were separated according to weight.
“You can wrestle above your weight,” Collins said. “But you can’t wrestle below your weight.”
First place winners for each category got champion belt buckles. Second and third place winners received plaques.
Contest winners:
Men’s right handed:
Devin Bayer
0-154 weight class
Devin Bayer
155-176 weight class
Lee Egglesfield
177-199 weight class
Bryan Brandon
200-232 weight class:
Bryon Brandon
233 and up weight class
Men’s left handed:
Devin Bayer
0-154 weight class
Devin Bayer
155-176 weight class
Bryce Leiker
176-199 weight class:
Eric Woelfel
200 and up weight class
Women’s:
Judy Dodd
0-140 weight class
Gerry McGraw
141 and up weight class
