NEW HAVEN — Scores of Addison County’s strongest and toughest competitors put on their game faces last Friday night at the 35th annual armwrestling tournanent at the Addison County Fair and Field Days.
Number were down slightly from last year’s bonanza of participants — there were still 132 youth wrestlers and 112 adults. Nevertheless, Karen Brisson, who organized the event along with Patrick Coyle, said the show tent at the fairgrounds in New Haven was rockin’.
“The adult competition was full of excitement from the crowd,” she said. “The out-of-staters that come do so because of the enthusiasm and lots of competition. But the youth definitely stole the show.”
Brisson said the rain on Friday may have contributed to the slight decline in youth competitors from last year, when 158 kids took part.
If the results were any indication, experience helped in the youth competitions. Seven youths successfully defended their championships from last year: Isabella Gale (girls age 6 & 7), Avery Gale (girls 8 & 9), Taylor Reed (boys 10), Tyler Hotte (boys 12), Michael Morgan (boys 13), McKayla Gould (girls 13 & 14) and Ashley Taube (girls 15 & 16). In fact, Avery Gale, Taube and Hotte had all won their divisions in 2010, as well.
Three youngsters moved up from second place last year to champion in their age group this year: Hayden Farnham (boys 8), Abel Anderson (boys 9) and Jordan Hubbell (girls 14).
The Youth Armond Brisson Armwrestler of the Year award was given to Deanna Whalen, a 16-year-old who has been competing at Field Days for a long time and who has demonstrated good sportsmanship.
After the youngsters wrapped up, it was on to the men’s and women’s competitions, where 112 competed (compared with 121 last year).
Several men defended their titles from last year — including Travis Josselyn, Kris Mikels, Ron Klemba (in two divisions) and Kevin Siska — but only one of those was a local: George Sheldrick, who claimed the men’s right-handed 177-187-pound title.
Adult competitors came from as far away as Connecticut and Canada, and teams came from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York.
In recognition of the event’s 35th year at the fair, those present took a moment to honor Armond Brisson, who started this competition and other free youth activities. He believed that all youth should be able to be involved in competitions at no charge.
The top three finishers in each category were:
MEN’S RIGHT
•  0-143 pounds: 1. Travis Josselyn, 2. Mike Buchannon, 3. Anthony Tracy.
•  144-154: 1. Rob Ketcham, 2. Derrick Mattera, 3. Brian Siska.
•  155-164: 1. Kris Mikels, 2. Glenn Tupper, 3. Brian Siska.
•  165-176: 1. Ron Klemba, 2. Socrates Fronhoffer, 3. Marios Pylarinos.
•  177-187: 1. George Sheldrick, 2. Scott Latella, 3. Brayton Gillett.
•  188-198: 1. Kevin Siska, 2. Greg Sharon, 3. Tony Niemo.
•  199-220: 1. Rob Vigeant, 2. Frank Hirst, 3. Adam Barup.
•  221 and over: 1. Adam Barup, 2. Chris Burns, 3. Badger Drewes.
WOMEN’S RIGHT
•  0-143: 1. Ashley Meacham, 2. Yvonne Reyes, 3. Alysse Cushing.
•  144 and over: 1. Cathy Merrill, 2. Angela Sheldon, 3. Kristin Ketcham.
MEN’S LEFT
•  0-154: 1. Derrick Mattera, 2. Rob Ketcham, 3. Robert Whalen.
•  155-176: 1. Rob Klemba, 2. Ken McKinney, 3. Socrates Fronhoffer.
•  177-198: 1. Kevin Siska, 2. George Sheldrick, 3. Brayton Gillett.
•  199-220: 1. Rob Vigeant, 2. Adam Barup, 3. Frank Hirst.
•  221 and over: 1. Adam Barup, 2. Dustin Mason, 3. Brian Clark.
Armond Brisson Male Armwrestler of the Year: Greg Sharon.
Female Armwrestler of the Year: Sheila Larrow.
YOUTH RESULTS
•  Age 0-5 Boys & Girls: 1. Joseph Bergevin, 2. Tanner Burns, 3. Ethan Hallock.
•  Boys 6 & 7: 1. Carter Hubbell, 2. William Berry, 3. Timothy Whitney Jr.
•  Girls 6 & 7: 1. Bella Gale, 2. Riley Farrell, 3. Bella Bailey.
•  Boys 8: 1. Hayden Farnham, 2. Taylor Stearns, 3. James Lawton.
•  Boys 9: 1. Abel Anderson, 2. Aidan Blier, 3. Timothy Curran.
•  Girls 8 & 9: 1. Avery Gale, 2. Julianna Williams, 3. Lydia Deppman.
•  Boys 10: 1. Tailon Reed, Hunter Gale, 3. Lucas Farrell.
•  Boys 11: 1. Dominic Fleming, 2. Nick Mason, 3. Douglas Coburn.
•  Girls 10 & 11: 1. Kacee Hirst, 2. Anna Harrigan, 3. Bella Lawton.
•  Boys 12: 1. Tyler Hotte, 2. Robert Cook, 3. Brandon Plumadore.
•  Boys 13: 1. Michael Morgan, 2. Marty Niemo, 3. Jake Rosco.
•  Girls 12 & 13: 1. McKayla Gould, 2. Brooke Tupper, 3. Brooke Raiche.
•  Boys 14: 1. Paxton Taube, 2. Dawson Roberts, 3. Ryan Paquin.
•  Girls 14: 1. Jordan Hubbell, 2. Anna Fronhoffer, 3. Shelly Coburne.
•  Boys 15: 1. Colby Wadleigh, 2. Ethan Meacham, 3. Nathan Bertrand.
•  Boys 16: 1. Jordan Grant, 2. Izaac Young, 3. Dustin Brace.
•  Girls 15 & 16: 1. Ashley Taube, 2. Taylor Raiche, 3. Sarah Barker.
Youth Armwrestler of the Year: Deanna Whalen.