CEDAR CITY, Utah (June 13, 2026) – The energy inside the Southern Utah University J.L. Sorenson P.E. Building was electric on Saturday as the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games hosted its annual arm wrestling competition. A packed room of 26 different competitors, spanning a variety of ages, weights, and sizes, gathered to lock hands in a fierce high-stakes atmosphere.

From the opening rounds, the crowd erupted with massive cheers for every match, signaling a day of intensity, even from the sidelines. Yet, underneath the physical strain and roaring fans, the true heart of the event lay in the stories of why these athletes pull.

For some, the sport is a brand-new adventure sparked by family. First-year competitor Noah Gregory captured championships in both the Boys Age 5-12 Left division and the Boys Age 11-13 Right division. When asked what brought him to his first Summer Games, Noah credited his brothers. 

Family ties also brought the Di Regolo family to the tables. Joey Di Regolo, who claimed the Men's 221+ Left and Right titles along with the Overall Left championship, noted this was his fourth year competing alongside his boys.

"My son got me started on it," Joey Di Regolo said. "[Agostino] started watching videos on YouTube of Devin Larratt, and then, next thing you know, we're joining tournaments. This was actually our first one."

Agostino Di Regolo proved the training paid off, capturing the Boys Age 14-17 Right division, the Mens 177-198 Right division, and the Overall Right championship. According to Agostino, reaching the top tier requires a meticulous mindset.

"To become an arm wrestling champion, it just takes a lot of dedication and focusing on technique and the little details," Agostino Di Regolo said.

For others, the path to the table was paved by transition and a desire for community. Women's 155+ Left champion Camille Palmer found the sport after powerlifting left the Summer Games lineup.

"I just knew I was strong... so I just scrolled through the website, and I was like, 'oh, arm wrestling. That sounds awesome,'" Camille Palmer shared.

The definitions of a true champion varied across the room, but they all centered on mental fortitude. Camille Palmer pointed to "heart" and the willingness to never give up, while David Louis Wilson, who won the Men's 199-220 Left and Right divisions after picking up the sport at age 55, emphasized consistency and enjoying the community.

Shane Palmer, who dominated the Men's 0-154 Left and Right divisions as well as the Boys 13-17 Left division, offered a deeper perspective on the mindset of a true titleholder. After getting "destroyed" at a tournament five years ago, he initially trained out of pride, but eventually shifted to an unadulterated love for the sport.

"You can be a champion in your own heart, but to be a champion amongst people, you have to win their hearts," Shane Palmer said. "Humility is a really big part of being a champion because, you know, no one likes a sore winner."

Long after the final medals were handed out and the official brackets closed, a large crowd of athletes stuck around the venue, pulling and practicing with each other for fun. It is this exact culture that makes the sport a cornerstone of the USG schedule.

"It's a sport, too, where you can compete against somebody," Arm Wrestling Sport Coordinator Jeff Kirby said. "The person that might beat you in the tournament is going to teach you and work with you and help you right after the tournament. So everybody's helpful and it's almost like a big friendship or family in a sense."

Up Next

Competition hits the gridiron June 15-16 as the USG Girls Flag Football Tournament, presented by the Las Vegas Raiders, comes to Eccles Coliseum. Teams and individuals interested in registering for any of the remaining sports can sign up at utahsummergames.org.

Photos by Shania Hopkins: