Arm wrestlers from around the region packed into D-Dubs on Saturday for the Kansas arm wrestling championship.
The day’s bouts featured national and world champions and competitors ranging from grade-school aged to their 70s. Competitors were grouped by weight class and skill level.
One competitor who quickly took down his opponent was Tim Hunhoff, who started arm wrestling competitively about a decade ago. Hunhoff boasts a world championship he won last year in Greece. Hunhoff traveled from Oklahoma for the arm wrestling competition Saturday.
Hunhoff donned his own jersey, complete with his last name emblazoned on the back.
“I do it for my health,” he said. “I work out to improve my arm wrestling, but I also work out to stay alive.”
Eudora boasts its own local arm wrestling team called Psycho Arm Sports, which is led by Bo Oleson and Cody VandeWeerd. Members of the team could be spotted wearing neon green merchandise adorned with the team’s “Midwest Monsters” slogan.
James Johnson has arm wrestled with Psycho Arm Sports for about four years. The team trains in Eudora and brings in competitors from around the area to work together to prepare for competitions.
“It’s the competitive edge,” Johnson said. “The camaraderie with our team is unmatched with any team in the country. We’re tight-knit and very loyal to each other.”
People jammed together shoulder to shoulder to catch a glimpse of the matches, which featured smelling salts, face paint and shouts of approval after wins.
D-Dubs owner Travis Turner said he was happy to host the event at the bar and grill.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “I’m glad they’re here.”
David Cunningham, who came from Missouri, has arm wrestled for more than four decades, he said.
“It’s really competitive, and it keeps you in shape,” he said. “I still like doing it. It keeps you going, and it’s good for your health to keep doing it.”
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
