Enjoying a cold beer after her big win, Kimmy said, "My arm hurts. That b**** brought heat!"
She was referring, of course, to Fat Jesus (2015 champion), who travels all the way from Rittman, Ohio each year just to combine her beach vacation with the annual WOVV Women's Arm Wrestling Tournament.
Fat Jesus, a.k.a. Mel Owsley, reportedly worked out this year and entered a few other women's arm wrestling contests for practice. Though Wrestles With Bears had beaten her twice before (in 2017 and 2016), it was a hard win this year. The final round took three tries (there were two fouls -- one to each of the wrasslers), and the battle for the belt took a whopping 1 minute 35 seconds. (You can watch it on the Ocracoke Current Facebook page.)
Kimmy's winnings include a great photo opportunity, a year's worth of bragging rights, and very temporary custody of the WOVV championship belt. Proceeds from the competition benefit Ocracoke's own community radio station, on the air at 90.1FM or heard around the world at wovv.org.
Giles Russell was back again to referee the contest and make sure the ladies behaved themselves -- at least while they were wrestling. He's a pro and he's got the biceps to prove it! He takes on all comers between the rounds of females, but nobody ever beats him. As a ranked arm wrestler, Giles competes in many tournaments. He said he rarely sees more than two or three women in each weight category. He likes that on Ocracoke all the women wrestle each other, regardless of size. "We're here to find out the toughest person in the room," he declared to great applause.
I'd add that we also come out to see the costumes, which comprise a companion competition. Katy Mitchell took home the first place prize (in her tiny hands) for her Cheato-in-Chief costume (she even had a Trophy Wife prop)! Second place went to Red Sonja, a warrior goddess played by Kimberly "Red Sonja" Emery, and 3rd place was the very scary Sara Batchelor disguised as violent criminal Alex DeLarge. Congrats, ladies!
"I think it will continue past ten years," said Jenny Scarborough, of the event she helped to create. Jenny's a former WOVV board member who put the fun in fundraiser with the first Women's Arm Wrestling Tournament the night that WOVV went live on air in 2009. Two years at SmacNally's, two years at the Community Square, one year at Gaffer's, two years at the Beachcomber Campground, two years at the Community Center, and now, finally, the event has found the perfect venue in the new Berkley Barn. Big, bright, open, and airish, the barn offers a way to control the entry (everyone must pay!) and place the stage where all can see.
Deejay Tommy Hutcherson, emcee Bill Cole, and scorekeeper/hype man Charles Temple kept the fun going throughout the 3-hour double-elimination tournament.
Wrestles With Bears remains undefeated as the 10th Annual WOVV Arm Wrestling Tournament goes down in the herstory books. Bring it next year, Fat Jesus!
