STUDENT OF THE SPORT: I started arm wrestling in high school with two friends in English class. I started beating bigger kids in school, so senior year I found some tournaments. I put "arm wrestling" into Wikipedia, and [eventually] I got a number for a guy who puts on tournaments in Wisconsin and Iowa, so I called him and he sent me a flier.ROAD TRIPPING: I try to go to one tournament a month. The farthest I've gone is Billings, Mont., for nationals. I got my butt kicked. But I don't always lose. Last year I won the South Dakota State Championships left-handed and the Minnesota States left-handed. This year I won South Dakota States right-handed and was runner-up left. [A few weeks ago] I took first place left-handed and third place right-handed at the Dublin Square Black Hills Armwrestling Championships, out of seven guys. I won $200 -- the most cash I have won at once so far.

STAYING IN SHAPE: I ran track for four years, from eighth grade through my junior year [at South High School]. I was a sprinter, and junior year I did shot put, but I wasn't that serious about it. We train about once a week, from one to three hours. We just arm wrestle. There are four or five guys at one table, and you just rotate around. I lift weights, and I do pull-ups and push-ups. Usually I only do cardio if I'm sore. I walk my dog and that's about it.

WHAT IT TAKES: You have to be a lot stronger than people realize, but it's a specific strength. It's mostly forearm strength. You use your hands, wrists, shoulders and back muscles too, and biceps, but not your biceps as much as people who don't arm wrestle would think.

SPEED MATTERS: There are lots of techniques, but you have to be strong to use the techniques or they won't work. And you need speed, too: Some guys can win in half a second. Usually it takes about two seconds. The longest at nationals was one minute.

GO, USA: This year, the [World Arm Wrestling Championship] is in Mesquite, Nev. Russia's usually the best, but this year we're on our territory. I'm going to watch.

SHEILA MULROONEY ELDRED, Special to the Star Tribune

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