Post by Kurt Howgate on Mar 13, 2005 8:41:52 GMT -5
You can find the article on the Can-Ams here:
www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14090367&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=6
Men, women rise to wrestling challenge
By DANIELLE DROLET Gazette Staff Writer
03/06/2005
TAUNTON - From young and old to near and far, men and women flexed their arms at a chance to become a champion at the Canadian-American Armwrestling Challenge.
In it's fifth year, the tournament took place at the Taunton Holiday Inn on Myles Standish Boulevard yesterday.
Known as the "Old-timer" at these competitions, 66-year-old Norm Devio of Hopkinton said he's not so sure he can pinpoint when he will retire.
"I take it month by month, year to year," Devio said.
A retired Brookline physical education teacher, Devio said it is just a "hobby." Some would think it's more than that with all the titles he has muscled up.
In reference to his national titles, he said he's "lost count ... somewhere into the 20s."
Since he began in 1975, Devio said not much has changed in the sport, except that it has gone from sitting down to standing up during match play.
Jim Fitzsimmons, of West Bridgewater, calls Devio "a miracle ... a legend."
Although, Fitzsimmons also has a claim on some titles of his own. He's a five-time World's Champion.
"My neighbor doesn't even know," he laughed.
Fitzsimmons retired after his last World Championship win in Japan in 2001 but decided to come out yesterday to give it another shot.
"I wanna see if I still have something in me," he said.
Fitzsimmons said he started in 1978 and has traveled all over the world competing in tournaments in both Russia and Canada.
"Many foreigners have a different style, but there's no other language... it's just ready... go," he said.
Bill Cox, of Lakeville, executive director of the International Armwrestling Federation (IAF) said this year the match acquired many more participants than in other years past, as well as some celebrities.
"We have 147 entries this year. Last year we had about 110. There are 18 previous world and national champs participating," he said. Cox is also a World Armwrestling Championship referee.
Jessalynn Gillette, 22, of Salisbury, Vt., is trained by Cox.
She said she has been competing for seven years and has traveled all over New England competing in tournaments.
"I started when I was 15-years-old," said Gillette. "I've got about 30 trophies at home."
Gillette said she would be competing in both the light weight and heavy weight classes.
"I think I'll do awesome," said Gillette. "I'm really not worried about the light weight competition at all. I've beaten most of them before."
©The Taunton Gazette 2005
www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14090367&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=24232&rfi=6
Men, women rise to wrestling challenge
By DANIELLE DROLET Gazette Staff Writer
03/06/2005
TAUNTON - From young and old to near and far, men and women flexed their arms at a chance to become a champion at the Canadian-American Armwrestling Challenge.
In it's fifth year, the tournament took place at the Taunton Holiday Inn on Myles Standish Boulevard yesterday.
Known as the "Old-timer" at these competitions, 66-year-old Norm Devio of Hopkinton said he's not so sure he can pinpoint when he will retire.
"I take it month by month, year to year," Devio said.
A retired Brookline physical education teacher, Devio said it is just a "hobby." Some would think it's more than that with all the titles he has muscled up.
In reference to his national titles, he said he's "lost count ... somewhere into the 20s."
Since he began in 1975, Devio said not much has changed in the sport, except that it has gone from sitting down to standing up during match play.
Jim Fitzsimmons, of West Bridgewater, calls Devio "a miracle ... a legend."
Although, Fitzsimmons also has a claim on some titles of his own. He's a five-time World's Champion.
"My neighbor doesn't even know," he laughed.
Fitzsimmons retired after his last World Championship win in Japan in 2001 but decided to come out yesterday to give it another shot.
"I wanna see if I still have something in me," he said.
Fitzsimmons said he started in 1978 and has traveled all over the world competing in tournaments in both Russia and Canada.
"Many foreigners have a different style, but there's no other language... it's just ready... go," he said.
Bill Cox, of Lakeville, executive director of the International Armwrestling Federation (IAF) said this year the match acquired many more participants than in other years past, as well as some celebrities.
"We have 147 entries this year. Last year we had about 110. There are 18 previous world and national champs participating," he said. Cox is also a World Armwrestling Championship referee.
Jessalynn Gillette, 22, of Salisbury, Vt., is trained by Cox.
She said she has been competing for seven years and has traveled all over New England competing in tournaments.
"I started when I was 15-years-old," said Gillette. "I've got about 30 trophies at home."
Gillette said she would be competing in both the light weight and heavy weight classes.
"I think I'll do awesome," said Gillette. "I'm really not worried about the light weight competition at all. I've beaten most of them before."
©The Taunton Gazette 2005
