RAGIN LOSES STRONGEST ARM TITLE TO CUNNINGHAM, BUT OUTRACES BOISE’S HALL FOR “FASTEST MAN”; SHODA RE-CAPTURES “STRONGEST MAN” AS RMFL HONORS TOP TALENTS

 

MARSH VALLEY – It’s long been thought that the Salt Lake Seminoles’ Harold Ragin was probably the league’s “Fastest Man”, however, he had never lined up in an actual race to prove it.  On Saturday, July 12th, 2008… long after he was past his speediest prime, he proved it.  Getting strong competiion from Boise’s, Britt Hall, so strong, in fact, an extra heat was ran between Ragin and Hall as the original final was declared a “dead heat”. Ragin edged out Hall and staked claim to his second competitions title, having won the “Strongest Arm” competition in 2007 over then defending champion, Shane Jursasek. The current title holder, Anthony Stewart, of the Bears did not return to defend his title.

 

FINAL RESULTS:

 

  1. Harold Ragin – Salt Lake Seminoles
  2. Britt Hall – Boise Speed
  3. Steve Andrews – Stripling Warriorz
  4. Mike Kuehne – Glacier Knights
  5. Roger Shulze – Utah Wolverines


Harold Ragin just edges out Boise's Britt Hall for the Fastest Man Title.

 

With defending champion, Ryan Lingenfelder not returning to defend his strongest man title, the opening was there for 2-time defending “Strongest Man” title holder, Matt Shoda to step up and re-claim his mantle of glory… and he did.  Benching the standard 225-lb weights a total of 34 repetitions, he out-lifted, runner-up, Steve Biggs of Glacier by 5 (Biggs getting 29).  It was the narrowest of Shoda’s 3 victories as he as been a staple in the competition for years.  Pocatello’s Jason Durham was right behind with 25 and the Utah Wolverines’, Brady Nielsen had 21.

FINAL RESULTS:

1.                  Matt Shoda – Utah Wolverines - 34

2.                  Steve Biggs – Glacier Knights - 29

3.                  Jason Durham  - Pocatello Predators - 25

4.                  Brady Nielsen – Utah Wolverines - 21

5.                  Golden Whetman – Utah Wolverines – 15

6.                  Brandon Carlisle – Logan Stampede – 15

7.                  Justin Oswald – Idaho Falls Mustangs - 10


Utah Wolverines Linebacker, Matt Shoda, accepts another "Strongest Man" title while also hoisting his other biggest award.

In the RMFL’s “Strongest Arm” competition, Harold Ragin, returned to defend his title, wrestled away from Shane Jurasek in 2007.  Jursasek, like Shoda in the Strongest Man, had been the only title holder for that competition until Ragin took it from him and held it this past year.  In 2008, Jurasek was a “no show” for the all-star game and the competition and it seemed to be Ragin’s to lose.  Ragin, however, tossed up a net 74 yard pass, exactly tying, upstart Utah Heat quarterback, Adam Cunningham.  Cunningham, however, with a toss slightly wind-aided awed all spectators with a throw of 82 yards in the air, adjusted to an even 80 yards for accuracy, far and away an RMFL record and took down the champion, Ragin (who would later go on to win the “fastest man” race).  No other competitors could even pass the 70-yard mark..

FINAL RESULTS:

1.                  Adam Cunningham – Utah Heat – 74, 80

2.                  Harold Ragin – Salt Lake Seminoles – 74, 68

3.                  Justin Oswald – Idaho Falls Mustangs  - 62, 65

4.                  Jordan Peterson – Pocatello Predators – 64, 63

5.                  Jarrod Briggs – Snake River Sabercats – 60, 56

1.                  Nate Cone – Salt Lake Seminoles – 54, 59

 




Utah Heat's Adam Cunningham electrified the crowed with monstor tosses; winning the competition going away with an 80-yard net throw.