The Stapleton household recently welcomed three more American Armsport Association national championships. Going into the AAA National Championships on Aug. 10 and 11 in Indianapolis, father Eddie Stapleton and son Storm Stapleton already had national titles to their names, as did mom Tammy Stapleton. Although mom took the latest tournament off, Eddie won the Men’s Left-Hand title at 85 kilograms, while Storm won the Junior Right Hand (60 kg) and Junior Left Hand (60 kg), although he’s not really counting one of them. “For his strength, and his weight, the (right-handed) kids were easy for him,” Eddie said about Storm. “It was bittersweet for him. He said, ‘Yeah dad, but it wasn’t really challenging.’” Storm put more stock in his left-handed championship, but it wasn’t just juniors he was facing. This year, the 16-year-old took part in the men’s tournament, finishing third in the Men’s Left Hand (60 kg) and fourth in the Men’s Right Hand (60 kg). “Those guys are bad dudes,” Eddie said about Storm’s older competitors. “They are some of the baddest in the nation, so to place anywhere with them is incredible.” Storm’s first junior title came in Aug. 2010 in Billings, Mont., the same place Tammy won a Masters title, while Eddie’s first national title was in June 2011 in Buffalo, N.Y. Having won last year’s title in the Masters Right Hand (90 kg), this year Eddie placed second in that division, as well as fourth in Men’s Masters Left Hand (100 kg), while winning the Men’s Left Hand (85 kg). Although the title came in a different division, he still entered the competition as a returning champ. “There’s always pressure, but I prepared for it,” he said. “I really didn’t know what to expect. There was pressure to repeat, because that’s tough. If you can get back-to-back national championships, that is hard.” Eddie also fluctuated between divisions, dropping as low as 85 kilograms and going up to 100 kilograms. “If you think you’re good enough, you can do it,” he said about competing in the different weight classes. “I don’t think I’ll pull four weight classes at a national again, because it’s almost super human. You have to be superman.” And while he won’t be doing that many divisions at any more tournaments, he’ll definitely be joining his son for some competitions. “We’re going to keep this going indefinitely,” Eddie said. “I don’t plan on stopping arm wrestling until the powers-to-be see fit. I’ve never been hurt, so I can’t see that happening.”
