Steve Simons welcomed each contestant to the Armwrestling USA/Maryland Classic with the same greeting.
"You will have more fun than you can imagine," he said to throngs Saturday at the Maryland State Fair.
Fair organizers brought the event to the Timonium fairgrounds for the first time this year and the crowd quickly got into it. Simons talked many into wrestling and everyone into cheering on the competitors.
"We thought it would be something new, a crowd pleaser and something most people can do," said Edie M. Bernier, a spokeswoman for the fair.
Competitors faced each other across a 26-inch-wide table. They rested their elbows on thick pads and kept at least one foot on the floor. Some competitions were decided in seconds; others took a while, with all manner of gasps, grunts and grimaces.
"It's 40 percent strength, 40 percent technique and 20 percent who wants it most," said Simons, who has conducted arm-wrestling tournaments for nearly 35 years, with nary a broken arm or twisted wrist.
Mary Gitlin, 10, had just wrestled milk from a cow and thought she would test her strength further, she said. But the milking exercise did not sufficiently steel the petite girl, who lost in the first round.
John and Stephanie Salamone of Glen Burnie won their initial matches as their young sons cheered them on. "It will be funny if I win a trophy and he doesn't," she said. "Then I can run my mouth about it." He won the men's middleweight class. She lost in the finals to 12-year-old Amanda Snyder of Fallston.
When Bryan Smith of Thurmont faced Kelly Barbee of Concord, N.C., he knew immediately that he was outmatched. Barbee, weighing in at 420 pounds, came to town to show cattle. The contest provided a brief diversion from his hours at the Cow Palace.
"He is three of me," Smith said. "Next time, I want to go up against a mortal."
"I think I am a lock," Barbee said.
In the interest of sportsmanship, Smith carried on and "got creamed," he said, trying to recover feeling in his hand.
Next, Barbee took on Ekene Okoire of Owings Mills, who wore a pale pink polo shirt. Okoire, who had already triumphed in two matches, looked at Barbee and said, "He is intimidating, but I have gone up against big guys before. This is all just for fun and to enjoy the fair."
Barbee, who outweighed Okoire by 200 pounds, triumphed and ultimately took the trophy in the men's heavyweight class. Okoire won the light-heavyweight class.
In all, there were seven champions in five weight classes for men and two for women who qualified for the Grand Finale of Armwrestling USA at the Arizona State Fair next month, Simons said.
"Ranking gives you bragging rights," he said.
The unanswered question is whether Barbee will make the trip.
"He sure should," said Simons. "We might be able to get him a sponsor."
