Partial List of Pullers Qualified for WAL New Orleans

[Eric Roussin]

Based solely on the top 8 results from the four regional qualifiers, below are the pullers who are eligible to compete in the men’s classes at the WAL New Orleans BIG MONEY BadA$$ Championship. The lists do not include those who may have qualified by attending all four regional events, or those who may receive an “at-large invitation”.

This is going to be one scary comp!

165 Right (21)

Janis Amolins
Yosef Chalbi
Jim Coyle
Shea Dickie
Allen Fisher
Ethan Fritsche
Geoff Hale
Matt Harris
Nathan Harrison
Kyle Hebert
Ray Hennerichs
Mamed Jussupov
Luke Kindt
Lee King
Ron Klemba
Tim Lewis
Olin Lucas
Chris Nittoli
Vazgen Soghoyan
Brad Spine
Paul Talbott

165 Left (23)

Janis Amolins
LeiRaun Baldwin
Grant Bundy
Yosef Chalbi
Shea Dickie
Allen Fisher
Jeremy Fraley
Ethan Fritsche
Chris Gobby
Geoff Hale
Josh Handeland
Michael Hann
Matt Harris
Ray Hennerichs
Luke Kindt
Ron Klemba
Steve Lalley
Neil Looker
Ken McKinney
Trent Monk
Jeremy Pappy
Paul Talbott
Paul Vertalka

195 Right (22)

Colby Anderson
Alexandr Balashov
Scott Ballinger
Simon Berriochoa
Michael Bianchi
Allen Ford
Alan Guerra
A.J. Henson
Todd Hutchings
Bill Logsdon
Quinlan Mendez
Daniel Mosier
Eric Roussin
Mike Selearis
Chad Silvers
Bill Sinks
Herman Stevens
Chase Stratton
Craig Tullier
Jason Vale
Dan Whittle
Eric Wolfe

195 Left (24)

Jerry Avants
Alexandr Balashov
Scott Ballinger
Seth Barnett
Dustin Cook
Giordano Cruz
Amos Glenn
Alan Guerra
Matt Harris
A.J. Henson
Todd Hutchings
Ron Klemba
Quinlan Mendez
Bill Logsdon
Robertas Prozivalskis
Steve Rau
Eric Roussin
Mike Selearis
George Sheldrick
Herman Stevens
Chase Stratton
Craig Tullier
E.J. Worden
Danial Worley

225 Right (26)

Doug Allen
Marcio Barboza
Rob Bigwood
Sam Bowling
Brian Brandon
Jim Bryan
John Brzenk
Andrew Casto
Doug Casto
Fritz Corry
Steven Green
James Griffin
A.J. Henson
Frank Hirst
Kenny Hughes
Devon Larratt
Quinlan Mendez
John Milne
Nick Moore
Andrew Pavlick
Jordan Sill
Karl Stanley
Normund Tomsons
Adis Turcinhodzic
David Weakland
Rysbekov Yeskendir

225 Left (25)

Doug Allen
Eric Baldino
Marcio Barboza
Seth Barnett
Rob Bigwood
Brian Brandon
John Brzenk
Cat Castro
Josh Eleton
Georgi Gelashvili
Erick Gerlach
Mike Gritti
A.J. Henson
Kenny Hughes
Devon Larratt
Hank Meadows
Quinlan Mendez
Hasan Monfils
Tom Nelson
Jordan Sill
Dickie Spiroff
Karl Stanley
Normund Tomsons
David Weakland
Mark Wilson

226+ Right (23)

Mike Ayello
Travis Bagent
Robert Bishop
Ken Blackman
Brandon Boudoin
Tim Bresnan
Robby Burnett
Dave Chaffee
Casey Coley
Luke Eldridge
Paul Fischer
Christian Kieber
Jackie Johnson
Devon Larratt
Trenton Meyer
Blaine Middleton
Chad Nofziger
Mark Nutsch
Josh Reichert
Jeff Slater
Don Underwood
Eric Woelfel
Nick Zinna


226+ Left (23)

Travis Bagent
Matt Bertrand
Christian Binnie
Robert Bishop
Wilton Brock
Dave Chaffee
Casey Coley
Jeff Dabe
Kent Damore
Allen Ferreira
Kenn Hoban
Jackie Johnson
Lindley Keating
Christian Kieber
Devon Larratt
Shawn Lattimer
Trenton Meyer
Mark Nutsch
Trapper Saltzman
Jeff Slater
Robert Topie
Don Underwood
Eric Woelfel

[Mike Cocchi]

Man those classes are stacked!!

Just to watch the event would be amazing

[Shawn Lattimer]

Could be the baddest tournament ever on this continent.

[Pete & Tim]

Tim B again. Can anyone tell me if a puller places 9th and there is a puller ahead of him that has already quallified is he able to go to New Orleans

[Eric Roussin]

That's a good question, and one that has yet to be officially clarified by the WAL. I'm also interested in the answer.

[Pete & Tim]

Tim B again I've got 2 of my training partners that placed 9th in Chig

[Debbie Banaian]

A partial list of Right Hand Women

Nadiya Wilczyski
Sue Fischer
Debbie Banaian
Deborah Selearis
Margie Ciaccio
SOphie Oppenheimer
Lisa Wolfley
Taylor Johnson
Kendall Stroud
Mary Moder
Jodi Pastor
Kelly Jean Scanlon

Christina Casto
Joyce Boone
Anastasia Theodoroupoulus
Carolyn Fisher
Stephanie Burns
Elaine Blik
Haya Salameh
Beth Dukes
Beth Saltzmann
Cristina Enevoldson
Frances Deshotel
Courtney Erdmann
Gerrie McGraw
Launna Topie
Jodi Larratt
Kristie Gillean
Julie Nutsch
Michele Sandifer
Dusty Hyde
Kimberly Berbrier
Kelli Nelson
Ashley Brock
Sarah Backman Rotunda
Beth Salzman
Deena Haynes


Left Handed Women

Nadiya Wilcznski
Jodi Larratt
Debbie Banaian
Kelly Jean Scanlon
Jodi Pastor
Taylor Johnson
Mary Moder


Christina Casto
Anastasia Theodoroupoulus
Sophie Oppenheimer
Jodi Larratt
Dusty Hyde
Sarah Backman Rotunda
Deena Haynes
Beth Salzman

[Taylor Johnson]

Debbie:
This is Taylor Johnson's dad. Unfortunately there is no left handed class for women at New Orleans. This was just released: www.walunderground.com/neworleans-event-details/ I don't see how they can have two tournaments (Chicago and Atlantic City) where women qualified for both right AND left handed classes and not offer a left hand women's class at New Orleans. I emailed them and said (in part): In New Orleans you are paying the guys way more money 8 deep for both hands and the women only get a fraction of that money paid 3 deep for right hand only!!!??

[Alan Berget]

It does suck. But that's the way it is. Think about any professional sport like NBA and wnba. Same deal.

[Debbie Banaian]

We would be in quite a fix if that is how our father's before us thought eh? Women still wouldn't have a vote and white men would be slave owners. Some people are okay with the status quo providing it is good for HIM. Others dare say it sucks, takes their bruises, and try to find ways to make it fair. I am curious which are you?

[Pete & Tim]

Tim B again. If the women want same payouts as men they should show up in bigger. Numbers out of 3 WAL shows you have 8 women qualafied, we had just in AC 31 supers that's more than shiwed at aLl 3 WALs!

[John Milne]

Nov 2, 2014 17:55:34 GMT -5 Pete & Tim said:

Tim B again. If the women want same payouts as men they should show up in bigger. Numbers out of 3 WAL shows you have 8 women qualafied, we had just in AC 31 supers that's more than shiwed at aLl 3 WALs!

Don't try to use logic when arguing with women Tim.

[Debbie Banaian]

Peter,

First of all, we were not invited to the first of the series, second some of the women have dead beat dads and are single mothers AND the payout for first place didn't even pay for the trip. THIRD you should get your facts straight about how many women were there ...

If I had a tournament with 5 women classes right and left, and one mens class I GUARANTEE the doors wouldn't be overflowing with men. It isn't the 1930's and women can EVEN vote. If anyone ever wants to legitimize this sport and make it an Olympic sport then these are the conversations we need to have. So women's #'s aren't great? Then support us and see what happens. Tell us what you need from us and help us instead of making it impossible. Not every female is willing to take her punches from the baboons nor should any of us have to.

As a power lifter (with three world records in the Raw Federation) I have never once felt as if I wasn't supported or wanted or less than ANY other competitor. I love this sport and I appreciate all of the people who work so hard to give all of us the opportunities that we have. BUT I am here to say I deserve no less of a chance than any of you men. Feel free to share your opinion but my suggestion is to first become familiar with the situation for example the promotional material that indicated that the top 8 (PERIOD) would be qualified for New Orleans, without any details about gender. We went to the qualifiers and competed right and some of us left believing we were then qualified to compete in New Orleans.

Having said as much, it is their prerogative to do what they need to do or that which they believe is best for them however understand from where our disappointment comes. We are not seeking something we didn't earn. Regardless of who else showed up to the party, WE DID. I've always been taught you enjoy the company you have and don't fret about the ones you don't.

FYI Peter, I am somehow allowing your bs to offend me. We are talking about women that DID qualify as for yourself or your friends who took 9th?? Se la Vi. Perhaps you ought train harder, you had 8 qualifying positions and couldn't get one?? Tough Luck huh? We thought we had 8 but apparently only had 3 and btw I did qualify.

[Kyle Darby]

Personally I don't have a dog in the fight but if you want to debate I'll be your Huckleberry.

"If I had a tournament with 5 women classes right and left, and one mens class I GUARANTEE the doors wouldn't be overflowing with men." But rest assured the venue wouldn't be packed with eager female competitors either so the analogy is kind of mute. From a historical stand point even though athletes have physically improved and payouts and support have increased women's participation has declined. It wasn't uncommon to have 20+ women in a class at Peteluma from my understanding. As a promoter you have to treat tournaments like a business and appeal to the markets to get the best return on your investment. It's not sexist or discrimination it's business 101. Further if it was about equality people would be advocating for children or handicap athletes as well. Any argument the could be made for women could be made for those groups as well. It's a business and NO armwrestler is bringing in more than they spend in the United States. If I own Rue 21 I'm not gonna build a store by a senior center if I could build the same store nect to a college just saying. It's all about being realistic.

[Debbie Banaian]

Hi Kyle,

Thanks for taking the time to respond considering you "don't have a dog in the fight." You have an excellent argument but if I were a good business person I wouldn't look at history but at modern trends. Back in the golden days as you describe of 20 women, let's paint a picture as I understand it by the women in the sport or that were in the sport. Women often still had one at best two weight classes and usually one winner to the males three winners. As I understand they had to fight just to be there. Going back to your analogy that is an insane business proposition because now you are not only in a senior development trying to operate a Rue but you are open from 7 AM until 8 AM in the morning to discourage your target audience and STILL you have sales albeit not great sales. Who would do this? Why is it being done? What needs to happen is I need to win the lottery and have a league, an environment marketed to women and men. Not an environment in which competitors are barely tolerated and are "allowed" but one intended to succeed and promote success

The second area I see where I'm not certain we are comparing apples to apples is the event itself. We are talking NOW about making money and not a local feel good event where competitors are looking to fund raise or break even, or at least one which the goal is as much about making money as it is to arm wrestle. For the record, I am NOT suggesting it is a bad thing to make a living doing something enjoyable, and in fact I support it when done whole-heartedly. I just don't know the business model is the same as it was during those "more" Golden years.

The women I speak to from those golden days and after always speak of this constant battle to belong to an amazing sport. Most opted for an early retirement when the battle just wore them out. A few are still around, none that I know of that still compete but participate and contribute in an equally important manner. I would say that most of the women I speak to who left the sport, left because they never felt supported. Those are the people who I would speak to if I were that business man. In my few years in the sport I know how much I've had to beg, borrow, and steal to have competitors and promoters willing to give women the time to arm wrestle. I know tournaments that didn't promote a women s class at all and their response when asked was "well if they show up we will have one." this does not scream WELCOME and still we persist. I don't have any idea what it is like at Worlds but I know several women who have competed there and never have I heard that same bitter story. This does not mean it wasn't the same at those events but it has me wondering if it is our culture, oddly enough considering we are the model of democracy and forward thinkers running to the rescue of foreign inequality. Can this be a reason we have not hosted Worlds (or have we?)

The following argument is from my husband (brand new to the competitive side of the sport with only a single but very successful tournament under his belt)

Dean Banaian: Whether money is the issue for you or just being treated like a legitimate part of the competition, the WAL’s handling of this looks to undermine either agenda. You need high quality competition to make participation and winning meaningful. If you want to have a chance at big payouts you need cultivate a competitive environment that will entice other badass women to compete in the sport. Winning on the table has to garner some status. Right now that status appears to be that of an afterthought based on the way the entire women’s division advancement to the finals was handled. Take a look at the UFC, Dana White wanted nothing to do with the women’s division either until he woke up, reversed course and an Olympic Judo Bronze medalist came over to MMA rather than returning to the Olympics for a chance at Gold. Now that woman is a HUGE star and a cash-cow for the UFC. Really short-sighted of the WAL not to see the upside of investing a little more effort and resources in the women’s division. Nobody is going to turn out in huge numbers to compete, let alone change sports to get ignored by this sport.

With the hope of not sounding patronizing I seriously appreciate your willingness to converse intelligently regarding women in arm wrestling.