Arm wrestling is a sport.

There’s no doubt about that for Deena Haynes, a competitive arm wrestler for 10 years. The 48-year-old Archbold resident has traveled the country and even gone overseas to compete in tournaments.

“It’s just for the love of the sport and the competition,” said Haynes, who is recognized as one of the top women arm wrestlers in the nation. “It’s in your DNA.”

Like Haynes, Joel Hudik, of Berkey, is among a few dozen people from throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan who flock to arm wrestling competitions on a regular basis throughout the year. They’re members of an avid arm-wrestling group who often meet in Stryker to train together.

However, most are not like Haynes or Hudik, who have earned a national ranking in a sport that calls for a good combination of strength, leverage, and technique to really excel.

Hudik, ranked No. 6 in the World Arm Wrestling League — WAL — middleweight division (166-195 pounds), is a 13-time state champion. During his career he’s claimed six state titles in Ohio, four in Michigan, two in Indiana, and one in Wisconsin. He was a WAL 2014 finalist and 2015 WAL northern regional finalist.

“I’ve always arm-wrestled my whole life,” Hudik said.

Both plan to participate at the Arnold Classic Sports Festival, March 2-5 in Columbus. Haynes will compete in two women’s competitions, and Hudik is looking to finish high in the men’s competition, which traditionally draws arm wrestlers from all over the world.

“It’s a pretty prestigious deal,” Haynes said of the Arnold Classic competition. “You have to go and qualify for it.”

Hudik agrees and is looking forward to the challenge that comes with competing at the Arnold Festival.

“To be able to compete at the Arnold is an honor,” he said. “To make it to the main stage [at the Arnold Festival], that’s a big deal for all arm wrestlers.”

The Arnold Classic is only one of many competitions Haynes and Hudik intend to participate in this year. They, along with Quinlan Mendez, of Swanton, travel to competitions throughout the year. It’s typically at least one event per month. They consider themselves the “Road Warriors,” because it’s not uncommon for them to try to participate in as many competitions as possible that are within a four-hour drive of northwest Ohio.

Haynes, who is a bartender at VFW Post 289 in Bryan, said she practically schedules her work hours around her arm wrestling schedule.

“The job that I have suits my lifestyle to go arm wrestling,” she said.

Haynes, who competes in the women’s division ranging from 146-176 pounds, traveled to Italy as a member of an American arm wrestling team that competed in the 2007 World Arm Wrestling championships, where 52 countries were represented. She didn’t return as a world champion, but she brought back plenty of memories from the 12-day trip as a member of Team USA.

“I never would have thought I’d ever get the chance to go to Italy,” she said. “It’s still mind-boggling to me that I got to do that. It’s still surreal.”

Hudik, who works in his family’s dry wall business, also makes time to hone his No. 1 endeavor.

“I think about arm wrestling almost constantly,” Hudik said. “I train six days a week.”

Training for arm wrestling is not much different from training for a marathon or any other physically demanding exercise. To train for arm wrestling requires discipline and practice. The biggest biceps don’t always come out on top.

It’s about refining your grip when locking hands with an opponent. It’s about learning and mastering leverage and weight distribution. It’s about being quicker to action when an official signals the start of a match. Training can even be about staring down your opponent to intimidate and gain a mental edge.

Hudik, 36, played football in high school and has participated in Tough Man competitions only just a few years ago. Always the competitor, Hudik said arm wrestling fulfills the need to compete against others, as well as himself.

“It’s not like football, when you’re in your 30s and you’re done,” he said. “And I’m too old to get punched in the face any more. It ain’t no fun.”

It’s clear to Hudik that arm wrestling is a sport.

And it’s clear to the many that are like him and Haynes, who do it simply for “the love” of it.

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com, 419-724-6302 or on Twitter @DemmonsBlade.

First Published February 28, 2017, 5:32 a.m.