Front, Ezzy Worden of Ogdensburg. Middle, from left, Shane Kerry, Stacia Sheppard, Andrea Duvall and Brandi Jones, all of Ogdensburg. Back, Luc LaFlair, Chris LaFlair and Ian Lalonde, all of Ogdensburg and George Shantie of Norwood. Photo submitted by Chris LaFlair.

OGDENSBURG -- An arm wrestling team that includes seven Ogdensburg residents and a person from Norwood recently won awards at the state Arm Wrestling Championship, held in Syracuse at the state fair.

Several area residents who have formed their own team called “The North Country High Hookers” took part in the event. They take their name from a signature arm wrestling move the high hook and are affiliated with the Ottawa High Hookers as well.

“We are a newly formed team about a year old and had a very impressive showing at the state tournament,” team member Chris LaFlair said.

When the squad travels to Canada, they practice with the Ottawa High Hookers and Devon Larratt who is a world champion and has won the WAL World Armwrestling League championships for the 195-225 lbs. class left handed the last two years, LaFlair said.

“The sport is growing and we have jumped into it for the North Country,” he said.

Team results were as follows:

Chris LaFlair – First place, right handed men’s open pro class (195-225 lbs);

Luc LaFlair – First Place, right handed 11-13 yrs. children’s class;

EJ Worden – First place, right handed and first place, left handed men’s open pro class (0-165 lbs.);

Stacia Sheppard – Second place, right handed and third place, left handed women’s class (135-155 lbs.);

Ian Lalonde – Third place right handed and third place left handed open pro class (225 lbs. and up);

Andrea Duvall – Second place, left handed and third place right handed women’s class (135-155 lbs.);

Brandi Jones – Second place, left handed and third place, right handed women’s class (155 lbs. and up);

Shane Kerry – Second place, left handed and second place, right handed men’s amateur class (0-195 lbs.) and third place, left handed men’s pro class (0-165 lbs.);

George Shantie – Second place, right handed and second place, left handed men’s open pro class.