Concentrating on brute strength, raw energy and hard discipline, some of the world’s best arm wrestlers displayed their powers at the gripping 36th Annual NYC Big Apple Grapple International Arm Wrestling Championships, last Saturday, Apr. 27, at Cheap Shots Sports Bar in Flushing.
Mike Ayello from Deer Park, LI won the Super heavyweight class and then overpowered all first place tournament winners in various weight classes to capture the overall cash prize and the prestigious title of 2013 NYC King of Arms.
Last year’s defending champion, Tim Bresnan from Connecticut, was unable to attend.
Ana Kenah from Jersey City, NJ captured the women’s 2013 NYC Queen of Arms with overpowering strength, explosive raw energy and fierce determination by winning in a major upset and beating long-time defending women’s 2012 NYC Big Apple Grapple and NY State champion Joyce Boone from Gowanus, Brooklyn.
Ana Kenah was also the left hand women’s defending champion and outdid herself by winning both right and left hand contests and earning the NYC Arm-Star Award.
Joyce Boone came in second in both the women’s right and left open contests. Kerry Chapman from Farmingdale, NY was third in the right hand contest, and Kelly Carvera from Rhode Island was third in the left contest.
Another prestigious award went to Mike Selearis from Elmhurst, who won the left hand contest and then bested all first place left hand winners to take home the overall cash prize and left-hand MVP award.
According to officials of the New York Arm Wrestling Associa- tion (NYAWA), presenter of this and other New York-metro area arm wrestling contests, about twothirds of the spectator audience were enthusiasts; there were some tourists and customers; and the rest were from the arm wrestling community of family, friends and fans, who echoed loudly to the referees as they signaled their favorites during the fast-paced male and female matches.
Gene Camp, founder and president of the NYAWA, called this 2013 NYC Big Apple Grapple “another successful final that drew the mightiest pro arm wrestlers from distant states and overseas to give homegrown pros their strongest challengers ever.”
Camp billed the day as “the NYC marathon of arm wrestling.”
The competition drew ‘hardnosed pros’ and curious firsttimers who competed in their respective weight class categories.
The full NYC Big Apple Grapple International results may be found at the NYAWA website www.nycarms.com.
This summer, the NYAWA is also holding the New York Golden Arm Series, beginning with the Bronx Week Food and Arts Festival on May 19, followed with the other events in the five Borough and on Long Island.
The series culminates with the Empire State final on Nov. 14 at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC.
For more information or sponsorship opportunities for the 2013 season, visit the NYAWA website at nycarms.com or call Gene Camp 718-544-4592.
