STRONG ARM — Walton's Carey Nick to arm wrestle at Power Expo

The bigger bicep doesn’t always take home the money.

 “It’s not about how big you are” when it comes to arm wrestling, “it’s about technique and quickness,” said Freeport’s Carey Nick.

Nick, is one of more than 50 who will be competing Aug. 28 in the Emerald Coast Power Expo/VII Battle at The Beach Armwrestling Championships at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island.

Nick, who stands 6 foot, 3 inches tall and weighs 315, is the wrestling coach and an assistant football coach at South Walton High School.

And competition is in his blood.

Nick played football at Freeport High and then went on to play football at the University of West Alabama in Livingston, Ala.

And in 1997, he participated in his first-ever arm wrestling tournament at The Block in Fort Walton Beach, where he went two-for-two and finished fourth.

“I was done playing football, but I still had that athletic drive … that competitive spirit was still there.”

So he started arm wrestling.

In 1999, he began training with Jim Battles of Fort Walton Beach, and in 2002 he qualified for the World Armwrestling Federation Championships in Egypt. Nick placed fourth in the right-arm competition.

Then, in 2004, he made it to the World Championships again, this time in Brazil. Nick again placed fourth.

On Aug. 28, Nick will be back on the tables for the Armwrestling Championships on Okaloosa Island.

He describes arm wrestling as a “friendly competition … no matter who and where they are from. Win or lose, you can always talk to them about what they did right or wrong. It’s more like a brotherhood.”

In his 13-year span on the tables, Nick has earned about 50 trophies for his efforts.

“But my wife has only let me keep about 15,” he said.

For the most part, Nick said he takes the nameplates off the trophies then puts them on a poster board plaque. “But I have to keep that out in the garage,” he laughingly said.

To prepare for tournaments, he said, he works out about once a week on the arm wrestling table at his buddy and mentors house, Jim Battles.

“We do pulls and work through situations that you might get caught in,” he said. They talk about who is coming to the events and go over techniques as well as practice moves.

“I attribute a lot of my success to Jim Battles,” Nick said. “He’s the only reason I am where I am today.”

Nick, who is 34, is still on the young side of arm wrestling.

“Most don’t hit their peak until about 40,” he said. “Forty is prime.”

However, he’s doing quite well and is the player many look to beat.

“I like having the bull’s-eye on my back,” Nick said. “I’m like a measuring stick to them now.”

Nick says he hits about four or five tournaments a year and nationals.

“I plan on doing it until my 2-year-old Charlie beats me. Then I’ll call it a career,” Nick said.

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POWER UP

•What: Emerald Coast Power Expo/VII Battle at The Beach Armwrestling Championships.

•When: 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28

•Where: Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island

•What: Armwrestling, Sports Modeling Competition, APA Powerlifting, NAS strongman, grappling, USA Wrestlng

•Spectator Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for 6-12, under five free.

•For more information or to enter, call Heather Battles at 850-368-2761 or e-mail bdm369@cox.net or Carey Nick at 850-217-9912.