Akron Stronghands Wrap Up

[bubba29]

This past Saturday, 4-27, I (my name is Chuck Penzenik btw) held the Akron Stronghands grip competition at Evolve Fitness in Median, OH. All the profit from the event is going to the Wounded Warrior Project. I am happy to say with the help of many people, we raised $716 so far. I hope get a few more dollars with the sale of some remaining T shirts. By all accounts from competitors, the event went really well. Of course, I see the many areas for improvement (especially the fundraisng side) but I am satisfied that there were many happy customers. I know I cannot thank everyone enough but I will mention a few people specifically.

John Cook, Owner of Evolve Fitness and MMA, he provided the facility and helped get some auction prizes. if you in the area please check him out

Andrew Durniat, provided event organization advice (via many phone calls and IMs) and also brought some event equipment

Chris Rice, he also helped me a lot with event organization and he donated a hand mand dumbbell handle for the auction

Chez, he also brought much equipment and was a huge help on event day. Can't thank you enough.

Brent Barbe and Mary Ann McKee, they brought some equipment for the women's medley and were also a huge help with running events

Ryan Pitts of Strongergrip came through with some huge donations for the auctions prizes

Matt Cannon of Cannonpowerworks.com donated some grippers.

Ironmind also donated some grippers

Eli Butcher of Ohio Atlas Stones hauled some very heavy stones that he donated for the auction

Nick Rosendaul also brought of his own equipment that we used in the medley

My wife Tina for being patient with me leading up to this event, I spent much of my free time trying to gather interest in this competition and cause

I am sure I left some out and for that, I apologize. It was a great day that started early and ended pretty damn late.

Here are the final standings from last night using percentage based scoring system.

Open Results After All 4 events:

#1 Andrew Durniat (bw 234) 40 pts.

#2 Brent Barbe (230) 34.193

#3 Paul Knight (222) 32.169

#4 Nic Bronkall (229) 29.481

#5 Nick Rosendaul (254) 29.399

#6 Nick Pivato (274) 27.763

#7 Brandon Gerber (196) 26.794

#8 Luke Rose (259) 25.979

#9 Chuck Penzenik (188) 24.412

#10 Chez (259) 23.622

#11 Eli Butcher (208) 21.043

Novice:

#1 Josh Henze (230) 37.833

#2 Gary Bess (290) 37.422

#3 Kurt Heubeck (242) 32.250

#4 Anthony Kelly (270) 26.271 (dnp event 4)

#5 Jerry Kusar (225) 20.706 (dnp event 4)

Women:

#1 Mary Sparks 39.171

#2 Mary Ann McKee 35.121

[bubba29]

Now on to describing the results of the event. The first 2 events were 2 hand pinch and Rolling Thunder (new handle style). The 2 HP was a fixed width of 44 mm for women and 52 mm for men and I did not hear one complaint about it...thx. Both the first 2 events were rising bar last man standing with 10 pound jumps.

2 HP Women 44 MM:

Mary Sparks 121.8 lbs.

Mary Ann McKee 117

2 HP Men 52 MM:

Andrew Durniat 232.1 lbs.

Brent Barbe 222.2

Nick Rosendaul 202.4

Brandon Gerber 202.4

Nick Pivato 202.4

Paul Knight 202.4

Chez 192.1

Gary Bess (novice) 192.1

Josh Henze (novice 192.1

Nic Bronkall 182

Luke Rose 182

Chuck Penzenik 172.2

Kurt Heubeck (novice) 172.2

Eli Butcher 162.1

Anthony Kelly (novice) 162.1

Jerry Kusar (novice) 131.6

[bubba29]

The Rolling Thunder was also rising bar with placing determined by total of bests by right and left hands.

Women:

Mary Sparks right hand 100 left hand 100 total 200

Mary Ann McKee 80 + 90 = 170

Men:

Andrew Durniat right hand 230 left hand 250 total 480

Paul Knight 190 + 170 = 360

Brent Barbe 180 + 180 = 360

Nick Pivato 180 + 170 = 350

Nick Rosendaul 180 + 160 = 340

Gary Bess 180 + 160 = 340

Chez 160 + 160 = 320

Nic Bronkall 170 + 160 = 330

Luke Rose 160 + 160 = 320

Brandon Gerber 160 + 160 = 320

Josh Henze 160 + 160 = 320

Anthony Kelly 160 + 160 = 320

Jerry Kusar 160 + 150 = 310

Chuck Penzenik 150 + 130 = 280

Eli Butcher 140 + 130 = 270

Edited April 29, 2013 by bubba29

[bubba29]

Medley 29 feats in 3 minutes, 29 total points available:

Women:

Mary Sparks 21

Mary Ann McKee 21

Men:
Andrew Durniat 29 (with about 20 seconds to spare)

Brent Barbe 26

Paul Knight 24

Nic Bronkall 22

Nick Rosendaul 21

Brandon Gerber 21

Gary Bess 19

Luke Rose 18

Chez 17

Josh Henze 16

Anthony Kelly 16

Nick Pivato 15

Chuck Penzenik 12

Eli Butcher 12

Kurt Heubeck 10

Jerry Kusar 9

[bubba29]

Final Event, "Farmer's Carries"

Women carry 20 lb. dumbbell by hex head per hand max distance in 30 seconds, carry farmer's handles 105 lb. per hand max distance in 30 seconds:

Mary Sparks 132 feet + 158 feet = 290 feet

Mary Ann McKee 114 + 78 = 192

Men carry 25 lb. plate by hub per hand max distance in 30 seconds, carry farmer's handles with FatGripz (diameter was probably around 2.75") 105 lb. max distance in 30 seconds:

Andrew Durniat 227 + 210 = 437

Brent Barbe 168 + 195 = 363

Paul Knight 120 + 222 = 342

Chuck Penzenik 90 + 222 = 312

Nic Bronkall 97 + 205 = 302

Nick Pivato 42 + 252 = 294

Josh Henze 46 + 241 = 287

Nick Rosendaul 76 + 208 = 284

Kurt Heubeck 41 + 223 = 264

Luke Rose 57 + 179 = 236

Gary Bess 53 + 160 = 213

Eli Butcher 55 + 136 = 191

Brandon Gerber 31 + 157 = 188

Chez 0 + 129 = 129

Anthony Kelly DNP

Jerry Kusar DNP

[bubba29]

I want to commend all the new competitors. I think it takes some balls to try something new against so many experienced lifters. Thank you for coming out, you did great and I hope to see you at more competitions.

I learned a lot from this. I have a new found respect for guys who do events every year and try to increase interest in this niche sport. Although we enjoy it, others feel it is kinda nuts. I also have to hand it to people who run large fundraisers, it is hard to ask people to give and give every day.

In the end, I am happy with the results. We will come back bigger and better next year.

Please post event videos, pictures and PRs in this thread.

Edited April 29, 2013 by bubba29

[Jedd Johnson]

Awesome job, Chuck. Great job to all the competitors as well. Sounds like there were some awesome sponsors and donors of equipment. Very cool.

Is Eli Butcher a member of the board? I recognize his name and would like to touch base with him.

Thanks.

[climber511]

I want to commend all the new competitors. I think it takes some balls to try something new against so many experienced lifters. Thank you for coming out, you did great and I hope to see you at more competitions.

I learned a lot from this. I have a new found respect for guys who do events every year and try to increase interest in this niche sport. Although we enjoy it, others feel it is kinda nuts. I also have to hand it to people who run large fundraisers, it is hard to ask people to give and give every day.

In the end, I am happy with the results. We will come back bigger and better next year.

Please post event videos, pictures and PRs in this thread.

Congratulations - sounds like your first contest turned out great - well done!!!

[bubba29]

Awesome job, Chuck. Great job to all the competitors as well. Sounds like there were some awesome sponsors and donors of equipment. Very cool.

Is Eli Butcher a member of the board? I recognize his name and would like to touch base with him.

Thanks.

i am not sure if he is. He owns Ohio Atlas Stones and said he did a grip comp in 2007 (not sure which one). If you are on Facebook, you can find him there.

[andurniat]

Awesome job, Chuck. Great job to all the competitors as well. Sounds like there were some awesome sponsors and donors of equipment. Very cool.

Is Eli Butcher a member of the board? I recognize his name and would like to touch base with him.

Thanks.

i am not sure if he is. He owns Ohio Atlas Stones and said he did a grip comp in 2007 (not sure which one). If you are on Facebook, you can find him there.

He comes into Durniat Strength every now and then to train. Think he did a comp of mine a few year back. Hope to see him back at it. He's been more of a powerlifter in the past years, but working him to expand outward.

[barbe705]

it was really good comp, especially for the first time out. It's always good to get together and see how people's training is going in person.

[acorn]

Congrats on the successful comp! Just one question though, was the Rolling Thunder event also run as Last Man Standing format?

Thanks,

Aaron

[andurniat]

Congrats on the successful comp! Just one question though, was the Rolling Thunder event also run as Last Man Standing format?

Thanks,

Aaron

Yes it was. We started at 100# and went from there.

[jvance]

awesome competition - wish i could've made it up there, congrats to all

[nickr104]

It was a great comp! Everyone did great! Awesome job Chuck!

[acorn]

Thanks Andrew.