Sunapee
Merrill will return to the World Armwrestling Championship in October, something she could only do with the help of friends and supporters, such as New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.
Merrill held a chicken wing cook-off fundraiser on Sunday at Sunapee’s Dexter’s Inn. The three-time grand masters class gold medalist has hosted similar events in the past and said the most lucrative fundraiser yielded $4,000, representing 80 percent of the international trip’s cost. This year’s contest, auction and donations raised about $1,500, Merrill said on Sunday night.
Some 100 friends and supporters bought $10 admission tickets and gathered under a large white tent for Sunday’s event, which featured chicken wings prepared by various area restaurants. A panel of judges was on hand to choose a winner and a people’s choice category gave everyone in attendance a chance to cast their vote for their favorite.
One of the judges was Sununu — a friend and follower of Merrill’s — who locked arms with the champ before a crowd of onlookers and photographers. The two public figures started with right arms, then switched to their left before ultimately calling a truce 20 seconds or so into the match.
“You’re never going to find someone with a bigger heart or a bigger bicep, frankly,” Sununu said. “We’ve just been friends for a long time and I’ve always said, anything we can do to help her out … because she’s just a great representative of the 603.”
Sununu, who in December won a Lebanese cook-off on the Seacoast, describes himself as an arm-wrestling “geek.” The governor also has been known to ham it up on social media, which may help his image as he faces a challenge from either former Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand or former state Sen. Molly Kelly, who are competing in the Sept. 11 Democratic primary.
In one corner of Sunday’s venue was a rectangular table adorned with the American flag and a trove of arm-wrestling hardware Merrill has amassed since she began the sport at the Cornish Fair on a whim. Among the souvenirs on hand were 40 or so medals, two USA team jerseys, a few newspaper clippings, a framed certificate of commendation from former Gov. Maggie Hassan, and a trophy from the World Armwrestling Federation for first place among masters women’s teams.
“My two gold medals shot us to the top of the leader board last year, out of 64 countries,” Merrill said of the competition in Budapest, Hungary. “They gave me (the trophy) to take home.”
Merrill, who was clearly grateful for the community support she received on Sunday, spoke briefly about her recipe for success.
“Practice, do what your coach tells you to do, learn technique,” she said. “Having the strength that I have has been a plus. … I’ve always been a strong person my whole life.”
The 53-year-old Merrill discovered her interest at the fairgrounds, then honed her newfound craft under the tutelage of Badger Drewes, coach of the Manchester-based Granite Arms team. Drewes, who has qualified for countless arm-wrestling world championships, will be joining Merrill in Turkey for October’s competition.
“It just happened and I just fell in love with the sport,” said Merrill, who works as a bus driver for the Sunapee School District. “And what I like about it is it’s a family event, it is just awesome. To see the kids doing it, they’re the next generation. It’s just phenomenal, it really is.”
One of Merrill’s arm-wrestling buddies, Kayla Waterman, was on hand at Dexter’s selling tickets for the wing competition and accompanying Chinese auction.
Both are members of Granite Arms, whose membership ranges from 30-50 people. Only a handful of members are women, according to Waterman.
The pair travels to Manchester weekly to practice with teammates.
“That’s usually our girls’ night,” Waterman said. “Wednesday nights, we go down and arm wrestle together.”
Waterman, 29, said her matches generally range from two to 30 seconds in duration, depending on multiple factors.
“I love how it’s kind of an even sport,” Waterman said. “You don’t necessarily have to be the strongest person ever. You have to have a little bit of strength, but it’s all about technique.”
Patty Whipple was another one of Merrill’s many friends who turned out for Sunday’s festivities. The two have known each other for more than two decades, ever since their children began attending school together.
“She’s just determined,” Whipple said of her old friend. “If anybody can make anything happen, it would be Cathy.”
Adam Boffey can be reached at boffeyadam@gmail.com.