The John Brzenk Challenge
One of the most impressive displays of armwrestling dominance occurred on April 12th, 2003. The Arman Grading “John Brzenk Challenge” was held in conjunction with the California State Pro-Am Armwrestling Championship, hosted by John Burgeson Sr. and his team. The tournament itself was a big one, with over $13,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. But the “John Brzenk Challenge” was what drew the most curiosity. John Brzenk would pull 102 matches in a row with his right arm, King-of-the-Table-style, and $1,500 was available to be won by the first person to defeat him.
Anyone interested in entering the John Brzenk Challenge was free to bid on any of the 102 spots via a silent auction process. The minimum bid for a spot was $10, but some sold for as much as $100. There were no eligibility restrictions – any puller from anywhere in the world was allowed to enter the competition (so long as they bid enough to secure a spot). The winning bids were announced just prior to the start of the challenge.
The challenge format made it very intriguing, as participants could try to employ a variety of strategies to secure a victory. Because only the first person to beat John would get the money, there was some incentive to not wait too long to face him. But there was also benefit of facing him later, as in theory, he would be more fatigued and easier to beat. Purchasing many spots throughout was an option, but it could become expensive. Teams could try to stack up their matches back-to-back in the hopes that one team member would win and the prize money could be split.
People of various levels of armwrestling experience and talent took part in the challenge, from first-timers to accomplished pullers like Travis Bagent, Don Underwood, Tom Nelson, and Kenny Hughes. Several world champions of the past also tried their luck, including Virgil Arciero, Ron Bennett, and John Woolsey. But one by one, match after match, they all fell to the mighty right arm of John Brzenk.
Below is the list of people who participated in the challenge in the order they faced John, along with the amount they paid for their spot.
1. John Burgeson Sr. - $100
2. Pat Arman - $100
3. Ken Greco - $100
4. John Burgeson Sr. - $100
5. Bob Shaffer Jr. - $30
6. Travis Bagent - $20
7. Kriss Keogh - $100
8. Ron Bennett - $20
9. Charles Murphy - $15
10. David Adams - $20
11. Charles Murphy - $15
12. David Miller - $15
13. Jeff Tackett - $10
14. Jeff Benson - $15
15. Don Underwood - $20
16. Bob Shaffer Sr. - $40
17. Virgil Arciero - $20
18. John Woolsey - $20
19. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
20. Don Underwood - $20
21. Scott Partington - $20
22. John Burgeson Sr. - $10
23. Don Underwood - $20
24. Don Fritcshe - $20
25. Britton Matthews - $20
26. Don Firtsche - $20
27. Joe Veres - $20
28. Scott Fleming - $25
29. Bob Shaffer Sr. - $30
30. Jon Land - $15
31. Eric Wolfe - $15
32. Scott Partington - $15
33. John Stanton - $15
34. Patrick Peters - $10
35. Bill Fitzpatrick - $10
36. Joe ? - $10
37. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
38. Joe ? - $10
39. Tom Nelson - $20
40. Mike McGraw - $20
41. Nate Goodman - $20
42. Kenny Hughes - $20
43. Dan Reynolds - $20
44. Kenny Hughes - $20
45. Johnny Burgeson - $10
46. Britton Matthews - $15
47. Steve Inzalaco - $15
48. Craig Greene - $15
49. Tom Nelson - $15
50. Simon Berriochoa - $20
51. Alan Tresser - $15
52. John Burgeson Sr. - $10
53. Marvin Cohen - $10
54. Allen Fisher - $15
55. Craig Greene - $15
56. Devin Bair - $15
57. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
58. Paul M. - $10
59. Bill Sekeros - $20
60. Tony Rasmussen - $20
61. Paul M. - $10
62. Devin Bair - $15
63. Paul M. - $10
64. Josh Vandeventer - $10
65. Eric Guevin - $10
66. Rick ? - $10
67. Ed Levitt - $15
68. Marvin Cohen - $10
69. Terry Shapiro - $15
70. Greg Curatola - $10
71. Dennis White - $10
72. Josh Vandeventer - $10
73. Manuel Cortez - $10
74. Paul Sanchez - $10
75. Johnny Burgeson - $10
76. Lyle Schmidtchen - $10
77. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
78. Tom Nelson - $15
79. Travis Bagent - $15
80. Travis Bagent - $15
81. Britton Matthews - $15
82. Lyle Schmidtchen - $10
83. Doug Berry - $15
84. Lyle Schmidtchen - $10
85. Lyle Schmidtchen - $10
86. Carlos Rojas - $10
87. Lee Ecclesfield – 15
88. Carlos Rojas - $10
89. Carlos Rojas - $10
90. Carlos Rojas - $10
91. Lisa Bright - $20
92. Steve Jeffryes - $10
93. Scott Fleming - $10
94. Sterling Miles - $10
95. Doug Berry - $10
96. Steve Harriman - $20
97. Paul Stevens - $10
98. Jake Burton - $15
99. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
100. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
101. Craig Greene - $100
102. Pat Arman - $100
2. Pat Arman - $100
3. Ken Greco - $100
4. John Burgeson Sr. - $100
5. Bob Shaffer Jr. - $30
6. Travis Bagent - $20
7. Kriss Keogh - $100
8. Ron Bennett - $20
9. Charles Murphy - $15
10. David Adams - $20
11. Charles Murphy - $15
12. David Miller - $15
13. Jeff Tackett - $10
14. Jeff Benson - $15
15. Don Underwood - $20
16. Bob Shaffer Sr. - $40
17. Virgil Arciero - $20
18. John Woolsey - $20
19. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
20. Don Underwood - $20
21. Scott Partington - $20
22. John Burgeson Sr. - $10
23. Don Underwood - $20
24. Don Fritcshe - $20
25. Britton Matthews - $20
26. Don Firtsche - $20
27. Joe Veres - $20
28. Scott Fleming - $25
29. Bob Shaffer Sr. - $30
30. Jon Land - $15
31. Eric Wolfe - $15
32. Scott Partington - $15
33. John Stanton - $15
34. Patrick Peters - $10
35. Bill Fitzpatrick - $10
36. Joe ? - $10
37. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
38. Joe ? - $10
39. Tom Nelson - $20
40. Mike McGraw - $20
41. Nate Goodman - $20
42. Kenny Hughes - $20
43. Dan Reynolds - $20
44. Kenny Hughes - $20
45. Johnny Burgeson - $10
46. Britton Matthews - $15
47. Steve Inzalaco - $15
48. Craig Greene - $15
49. Tom Nelson - $15
50. Simon Berriochoa - $20
51. Alan Tresser - $15
52. John Burgeson Sr. - $10
53. Marvin Cohen - $10
54. Allen Fisher - $15
55. Craig Greene - $15
56. Devin Bair - $15
57. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
58. Paul M. - $10
59. Bill Sekeros - $20
60. Tony Rasmussen - $20
61. Paul M. - $10
62. Devin Bair - $15
63. Paul M. - $10
64. Josh Vandeventer - $10
65. Eric Guevin - $10
66. Rick ? - $10
67. Ed Levitt - $15
68. Marvin Cohen - $10
69. Terry Shapiro - $15
70. Greg Curatola - $10
71. Dennis White - $10
72. Josh Vandeventer - $10
73. Manuel Cortez - $10
74. Paul Sanchez - $10
75. Johnny Burgeson - $10
76. Lyle Schmidtchen - $10
77. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
78. Tom Nelson - $15
79. Travis Bagent - $15
80. Travis Bagent - $15
81. Britton Matthews - $15
82. Lyle Schmidtchen - $10
83. Doug Berry - $15
84. Lyle Schmidtchen - $10
85. Lyle Schmidtchen - $10
86. Carlos Rojas - $10
87. Lee Ecclesfield – 15
88. Carlos Rojas - $10
89. Carlos Rojas - $10
90. Carlos Rojas - $10
91. Lisa Bright - $20
92. Steve Jeffryes - $10
93. Scott Fleming - $10
94. Sterling Miles - $10
95. Doug Berry - $10
96. Steve Harriman - $20
97. Paul Stevens - $10
98. Jake Burton - $15
99. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
100. Lee Ecclesfield - $15
101. Craig Greene - $100
102. Pat Arman - $100
In all, a total of $2,135 was raised – all of which was donated to the Santa Clarita Boys & Girls Club. The Guinness Book of World Records had already recognized John Brzenk as the most successful puller in the history of the sport back in 1999. This performance provided further proof of his incredible skill.
Researched and Written by Eric Roussin
In all, a total of $2,135 was raised – all of which was donated to the Santa Clarita Boys & Girls Club. The Guinness Book of World Records had already recognized John Brzenk as the most successful puller in the history of the sport back in 1999. This performance provided further proof of his incredible skill.
Researched and Written by Eric Roussin