Texas Labor day Showdown

Recently Max and I (Eddie) traveled to Texas to compete in the annual Labor Day Showdown. We competed in the 13-17 teens class. Max got second place on the left hand, and I got first on the right hand. Massive respect to all our opponents, this was by far the best tournament I have participated in! Also, thank you to Texas for having us! The Texas Labor Day Showdown was the smoothest, most organized tournament both Max and I have seen. If any organizers of the tournament happen to be reading, props to you guys!

I went to the tournament on 5 hours of sleep, no food, a large cup of coffee, shivering from the cold, and a body over-saturated with adrenalin. I looked like I was on speed... but my reflexes have never been so fast in my life. My first two matches were flash pins and most others didn't last for more than 5 seconds. The fear of getting on stage at a tournament is real... Trust me I know. Just keep in your mind that nobody is judging you, and that the whole reason that armwrestling tournaments exist, is for fun.

Max on the other hand, drove for 17 hours before the tournament, didn't eat before the matches, recently got a hernia, and didn't get much sleep either. Yesterday I was thinking to myself, "If Max got 2nd place while he was injured and tired, what could he achieve if he wasn't??" Almost all of us have nerves before a tournament, if Max and I can pull through it, you can.

This was my 3rd tournament so far, every one has been better that the last. My only critique for Texas is that there should have been music! Phenomenal event otherwise. The organizers were so nice and engaging. A couple of the refs were some of the coolest I have met (almost as cool as John Belak from Arizona).

Thank you Texas!

-Edward Statzer, Co Founder Of AAL