More than 300 people attended the eighth annual Ryan Sheets South Valley Arm Wrestling tournament held at the Norris Veterans Center on April 10 in Bakersfield.
Several national and world-class arm wrestlers competed in the tournament including 26-time world champion Allen Fisher and national title-holder Brandon Dye.
The invitational averages about $10,000 which is then donated to high school full-body wrestling teams across Bakersfield in memory of Sheets. Sheets suffered a neck injury during a wrestling match and later died from the injury that was worsened by a car accident.
Rick Stoltz, Bakersfield resident and arm wrestling enthusiast, was happy that the money goes to local high schools.
“This is awesome. I’ve been here before, but I never knew the money was donated to local high schools,” he said. “I’m definitely going to be supporting this tournament from now on.”
Georgia Yale, Sacramento resident, attended the tournament to support friends who were competing.
“It’s so much fun, and the fact that the money goes to local high schools makes it even better,” she said. “I spend as much money as I can simply because I know it goes to a good cause.”
During the tournament halftime break, New England Patriots guard Stephen Neal, who wrestled for Cal State Bakersfield and didn’t play football, took the microphone and spoke on behalf of the CSUB sports cuts.
“We’re planning several events to try and save the sports programs at CSUB,” he said. “We’re going to win this fight and all we need is your help. Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated.”
After Neal finished signing autographs and taking pictures with fans, he conveyed how much was still needed to save the CSUB sports programs.
“$1.4 million is needed to fund men’s and women’s golf, women’s tennis and wrestling all for two years,” he said. “We have until May 21 to raise the money, and we’ve raised about $300,000 so far.”
When the tournament resumed, several people were eliminated that were expected to win. Dye, who’s 23 and has been trying to defeat Fisher since the age of 18, finally succeeded during the qualifying matches.
“I drove 12 hours from Portland to be here, and it felt really good to finally beat Fisher,” he said. “I’ve been trying to beat him for five years, and he gave me kudos, said I felt really strong.”
Dye is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force and is stationed at Kingsley Air Force Base in Portland.
The final match of the tournament came down to Dye and Jerry Cadorette, who is also known as “The Beast.”
Cadorette competed in the super heavyweight division, and although he ended up with the overall win, it wasn’t an easy victory.
Blake Thompson, Bakersfield resident, commented on the final match with a slow exhale.
“I thought for sure Jerry was going to just flip and end it, I mean he’s huge,” he said. “But I have a new respect for Brandon, he fought him, didn’t give up.”
Those interested in more information regarding the tournament can visit www.calarmwrestling.org and for those interested in learning more about donating to the CSUB sports programs, you can click the How Can I Help link located at www.savebakersfieldwrestling.com.