Utah Summer Games: Arm wrestling returns as USG event

Utah Summer Games arm wrestling tournament at the Sharwan Smith Center Theater, Cedar City, Utah, June 7, 2014 | Photo taken by Kevin Robison, Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY – Southern Utah University’s Sharwan Smith Center Theater held a more non-traditional purpose Saturday afternoon, as it was the venue for the Utah Summer Games arm wrestling tournament.

Growing up, many people remember arm wrestling as a fun activity to do during recess and prove who was stronger. For the Kirby family, this definition goes way beyond the playground.

In it’s 28 years, the Summer Games has featured arm wrestling 21 years. Last year the event was cancelled, with no coordinator to take it over. Jeff and Summer Kirby, this year’s event coordinators, brought back the event.

Jeff Kirby competing in the Utah Summer Games arm wrestling tournament at the Sharwan Smith Center Theater, Cedar City, Utah June 7, 2014 | Photo taken by Kevin Robison, Cedar City News

“We were really bummed out that they didn’t have it last year,” Jeff Kirby said. “I started corresponding with Casey McClellan, the director of the Summer Games, and he asked me if I wanted to take it on. That’s when we stepped up and took it on as a husband-wife team.”

The turnout was similar to years past but the number of matches largely increased.

“The difference here is I got everyone to compete left handed as well as right handed,” he said. “So it doubled the matches that we had.”

While it came as no disadvantage, seeing he won the gold in his division, Jeff Kirby was born without his right arm. By wrapping his leg around the leg of the arm wrestling table, he is able to anchor himself and gain the leverage he needs.

He is also not new to the sport.

“I started arm wrestling in 2001,” he said. “Actually my first tournament was in the nationals. I placed third in that.”

Arm wrestling was put on the back burner as Jeff Kirby faced difficult times.

“I went through some mishaps in my life with going down the wrong roads and things like that,” he said.

Kirby’s life turned around by “calling on God and getting out of that, getting married and having kids.”

Although Jeff Kirby was able to prevail through difficult times, he said arm wrestling was something he had lost from his past.

Summer Kirby competing in the Utah Summer Games arm wrestling tournament at the Sharwan Smith Center Theater, Cedar City, Utah June 7, 2014 | Photo taken by Kevin Robison, Cedar City News

“I started looking at arm wrestling tournaments online and my wife, Summer, said, ‘Why don’t you start doing it again,’” Jeff Kirby said.

Four years ago he found the Utah Summer Games tournament. The event and the sport have now become a family affair.

“We just have our garage set up to be kind of a trophy and workout room,” Summer Kirby said. “We have our tables set up in there. It’s a big part of our lives. It takes up a whole room in our house.”

The sport is something that you can do together and grow together as a family, she said.

Along with Jeff Kirby, Summer Kirby, daughters Alexis (16-years old) and Alissa (6) and son Jarett (11) also competed, bringing home a silver medal each.

“I really like doing this because it’s just like something we can all do together,” Alexis said. “We all practice for it together, we all support each other and it’s something we do as a family.”

Summer said she was proud of her kids and hopes to make the event better each year.

Along with arm wrestling, the second day of competition included adult bowling, equestrian all breed open show, horseshoes, mototrails, power lifting and trap shooting.

No events will take place Sunday through Tuesday, with competition resuming Wednesday.

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