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PAGE 24 -PLAINDEALER -WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2g. 1»83 let's talk wrestling l with the Monster #1' mmm< & rw>v II x. Staff photos by Wayne Gaylord One, two, three, Wrestle! Ugh! ahh! ehh! Those were the unusual sounds heard at Greg's Never Inn last week Wed­ nesday. A total of 25 area people tested their strength against one another in an arm wrestling tournament. Although arm wrestling tournaments are no strangers in taverns, this par­ ticular contest avoided the traditional locking of hands. A new development in arm wrestling was showcased in Johnsburg using a machine. The machine is called the 'Monster' and it's supposed to be the absolute fair way of arm wrestling. No way can you dig your finger nails in the opponent's hand, or take advantage of bigger hands than your opponent. It all started four years ago, according to Jack Halloway, one of the referees at the tournament. "It started as a coin operated pressure machine to see how strong a person was," Holloway explained. "People started arguing 'I can beat the machine faster than you can.' They then decided to put two sides on it. "They (the company) started sanction tournaments four years ago. Mostly in taverns." A handle bar type • apparatus runs through a box on the machine. Instead of of the opponents pushing against each others arms, they pushed against the Sport Talk by Mike Lamb Sports Editor handle bar. The machine also has an elbow rest for each competitor that can a person with "It's really an equalizer. Strength in the arms is all it is," said Halloway. "The machine also takes away potential shoulder injuries. Holloway and his partner referee Mike Embrey travel all over Northern Illinois with the Monster running local double elimination tournaments. Winners of these local tournaments are eligible for regional tournaments. Champions of the regionals move on to state and national tournaments. • "I don't like it," said John Bush of McHenry. "You're too far away. I like to be closer. I believe in old-fashioned arm wrestling." Bush won his first round match. "It's a nice machine, but it's new," said Mark Adams, also of McHenry. "This is my first tournament. I don't do a lot of it (arm wreslting). You have to get used to it (the machine). Each match has a three minute time l<criod. if neither opponent can outright win the match in that time span, the referee gives the match to the wrestler who is in control. The machine, however, makes the referee's job a lot easier. A light on each side of the machine goes on when a winner touches his hand on the surface. "I didn't have everything adjusted well," Adams said, failing to raise his elbow rest high enough. Because his elbow rest wasn't high enough his elbow kept on falling off the edge and he couldn't get any leverage. He just hung (Hi for the three minutes and won on the referee's decision. Several out-of-towners also turned up for the tournament. "I had a couple friends tell me about it," said Samie Robinson of Schaum- burg. "I do a lot of it (arm wrestling). The only thing is you have to get used to it (machine)." Mary Lynn Koscielak of Wilmette was one of only two ladies in the tournament. She beat her opponent. "I had a lot of fun. I've never done it before. It (the machine) was comfortable, but I was nervous." mom