POWERGRAMS

18 Adams said even more crucial than exercising in the gym is spending lots of time "on the table." He and other area arm wrestlers meet every one to two weeks and spend up to four hours honing their techniques. Adams has driven as far as Mississippi for a regional practice session. He often uses the time to train less experienced arm wrestlers. He offers tips, demonstrates technique and answers questions. It pays to train and stay in shape, Adams said. Although the pressure on the tendons and wrist during a match can cause immense pain, he has never broken any bones, thanks to his focus. "You've got to trust your training, and you've got to train harder than your opponent," said Adams. "You've got to train when you don't want to train to win." Although practice and exercise are important, Adams said winning is impossible without natural ability. "Nothing replaces horsepower and strength," he said. "Technique is something you add to the mix to gain an advantage." Adams is proof that technique can be the deciding factor in a close competition. In the recent regional tournament in Dallas, he defeated two arm wrestlers who each weigh more than 400 pounds. His proudest moment, Adams said, was beating the reigning world champion, Travis Bagent, twice – each time with a different arm – in an Alabama tourney in Pelham last fall. Adams' passion for arm wrestling began as a boy, when the 7-year-old learned the skill from one of his dad's friends. As a teenager, Adams was trouncing all of his buddies at school and even winning against grown men. "Nobody ever beat me from the time I was 14 years old," Adams said. "I was beating everybody, and I liked to do it." Then, 17 years ago, Adams got his start on the competitive circuit when his father-in-law saw an ad announcing the Alabama state arm wrestling championship and convinced him to enter. Adams won the title despite having only three days' advance notice. "I won that first championship for my dad who had passed away several years earlier," said Adams. "He never got to see me compete. But he always motivated me, promoted me and influenced me." That first tournament win got Adams "hooked" on the sport. "There's a certain amount of rush," Adams said. "It's one of the greatest satisfactions when you're in front of friends and family and you do good. That's rewarding." Adams' wife, Darla, and his children, Cade, 18, and Gracie, 11, are his biggest fans. "It's fun to watch him," said Darla, metering services assistant, Corporate Headquarters. "I'm happy that he gets to do what he loves because he enjoys it so much." Along with the thrill of competition, Adams said he especially enjoys the camaraderie. The sport has brought him new friends from around the nation and provided him with many travel opportunities. Now that he has competed on the world level, Adams is already looking ahead to next year. "Having beaten the world champ, I feel like I can beat him again," Adams said. "It's a matter of being dedicated and putting in the time." Adams is an assistant plant control operator at Plant Gaston's NCCC.

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