Stage Stop hosts first North Dakota State Championship Arm Wrestling Tournament

BISMARCK, N.D. ( KXNET) — Armed with months of intensive training, competitors of all levels faced off in the spirit of competition at Stage Stop in Mandan.

This was the first time the North Dakota State Championship Arm Wrestling Tournament was held at Stage Stop.

Starting at 1 P.M. on Saturday, competitors from all levels were welcomed with open arms. And with a full set of local sponsors, Stage Stop was able to invest $5,000 for the event.

This allows for not only granite trophies and medals but also cash prizes for those competing at a pro level, especially since additional money from the $30 entry fees were added to the winning amounts as well.

For the 10 classes competing, first place winners got 400 dollars, second place got: 190, and third: 50.

Clifton Erickson, the organizer, referee, and also a long-time arm wrestler himself, hopes the many different classes and cash prizes will be an allure for all types of demographics to compete in the sport.

“We are for getting the women out, get the youth out,” says Erickson. “We want to grow that side of the sport really well.”

Both Erickson and competitor Josh Handeland add that they want to see the state championship continue to grow because they both believe that arm wrestling is more than just a sport; it’s a way to set goals for yourself and create a sense of purpose in your life.

“I would say it gives good self-discipline,” says Erickson. “Arm wrestling isn’t like football [where] you train partially out of the year, you stop, you then start up again. Arm wrestling is all-year around, never stops. It’s just consistent training. We never stop. It just keeps on going until you decide to quit… which never happens.”

“You take breaks; you don’t quit!” Handeland exclaims.

He says they had about 45 entries.

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