| 2016 Akita International Sumo Basho |
|---|
 |
| Details |
|---|
| Date | June 11 |
| Location | Akita Budokan |
| No. Men | 8 |
| No. Women | 4 |
| Men's Championship |
|---|
| Champion | Chris McNeal |
| Runner-up | Dean Ruetzler |
| Fighting Spirit | Owen Cunningham |
| No. of bouts | 19 |
| Women's Championship |
|---|
| Champion | Michelle Berent |
| Runner-up | Noelle Adams |
| Fighting Spirit | Connie Look |
| No. of bouts | 7 |
| ← 2015 | 2017 → |
The 12th Annual Akita International Sumo Basho (第十二回秋田県国際相撲場所) was a charity sumo tournament that was held on June 11th by the Akita Association of JETs. Every year JETs and friends gather from all across Tohoku (and some farther still) to decide who is worthy of the title of Akita's Yokozuna.
Details
- Date: Saturday, June 11th 2016
- Place: Akita Budokan, Akita City
- Price:
- Rikishi (participants): ¥500. Arrive no later than 8:30. Upon arrival, volunteers will assist with putting on the mawashi, explain the rules governing the bouts, and give tips on how to fight.
- Spectators ¥1,000, high school and junior high school students ¥500, children free
- Volunteers ¥500
Wrestlers
Men's
| Name
|
Country
|
Hometown
|
Akita
|
Shikona
|
Slogan
|
| Owen Cunningham
|
|
Kilkenny
|
North
|
相撲猿
|
SumOweN
|
oishii dashi
|
| Dean Ruetzler
|
|
Vermont
|
Morioka
|
|
Musushimaru
|
七転八起 good things come to those who wait
|
| Johnny Morris
|
|
Shrewsbury
|
Central
|
猟犬
|
The Hound
|
Blink if you want me
|
| Joey Griggs
|
|
New Jersey
|
Central
|
枝の力
|
Twigs Griggs
|
"Not now, chief. I'm in the fuckin' zone."
|
| Joe Di Martino
|
|
New York
|
Yamagata
|
神
|
DIO
|
まさに！「世界を支配する力」だ！
|
| Aaron Heldmyer
|
|
Colorado
|
North
|
|
LeVar Beatdown
|
Take a look, it's in a book.
|
| Kei Lam
|
|
California
|
Central
|
|
Kei
|
"I play by my own rules. Nobody else's. Not even my own.
|
| Chris McNeal
|
|
Idaho
|
Central
|
|
Kamakazi Chris
|
Just sumo it!
|
Women's
| Name
|
Country
|
Hometown
|
Akita
|
Shikona
|
Slogan
|
| Michelle Berent
|
|
Kentucky
|
North
|
白ゴジラ
|
White Godzilla
|
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.
|
| Noelle Adams
|
|
Durban
|
North
|
|
Impi
|
You learn how to cut down trees by cutting them down.
|
| Connie Look
|
|
New York
|
South
|
|
Kazekani
|
Crouching tiger, hidden crab
|
| Jenny Campbell
|
|
Wisconsin
|
Central
|
|
Captain Hayabusa
|
Show me your moves!
|
Tournament format
The Men's tournament consisted of 8 men who were divided into 2 groups. Each group wrestled in a round-robin format, and the top 2 from each group moved on to the semi-finals. Here, there was a 4 person round-robin with the top 2 advancing to the finals for a winner-take-all bout.
The Women's tournament consisted of only 4 women (6 signed up, but 2 women from Aomori cancelled the morning of the tournament). All wrestlers competed in a round-robin format, and the top 2 moved on to the final.
Officials
The officiating for the 2016 tournament, as well as special prize decisions was overseen by past and present Akita JETs:
- Head Referee/Head Judge - Pat Costello ('07-'11)
- Ring-side Judge - John Cooper ('12-present)
- Ring-side Judge - John Lennon ('13-present)
- Ring-side Judge - Nicholas Asquith ('14-present)
Publicity
This years event was well publicised with the Sakigake newspaper and ABS TV station covering the event.
Sakigake
Sakikage Newspaper on Sunday June 12, 2016
Sakikage online news via News Goo
Bouts
Men's opening rounds
Men's Groups
| Group 1
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
Group 2
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
| Dean Ruetzler
|
3
|
0
|
Owen Cunningham
|
3
|
0
|
| Aaron Heldmyer
|
2
|
1
|
Chris McNeal
|
2
|
1
|
| Joey Griggs
|
1
|
2
|
Johnny Morris
|
1
|
2
|
| Kei Lam
|
0
|
3
|
Joe Di Martino
|
0
|
3
|
Round 1
| East
|
Video
|
West
|
| ○
|
Dean Ruetzler
|
watch
|
Joey Griggs
|
|
|
|
Kei Lam
|
watch
|
Aaron Heldmyer
|
○
|
| ○
|
Owen Cunningham
|
watch
|
Joe Di Martino
|
|
| ○
|
Chris McNeal
|
watch
|
Johnny Morris
|
|
Round 2
| East
|
Video
|
West
|
| ○
|
Dean Ruetzler
|
watch
|
Kei Lam
|
|
|
|
Joey Griggs
|
watch
|
Aaron Heldmyer
|
○
|
| ○
|
Owen Cunningham
|
watch
|
Chris McNeal
|
|
|
|
Joe Di Martino
|
watch
|
Johnny Morris
|
○
|
Round 3
| East
|
Video
|
West
|
| ○
|
Dean Ruetzler
|
watch
|
Aaron Heldmyer
|
|
| ○
|
Joey Griggs
|
watch
|
Kei Lam
|
|
| ○
|
Owen Cunningham
|
watch
|
Johnny Morris
|
|
|
|
Joe Di Martino
|
watch
|
Chris McNeal
|
○
|
Women's opening round
| Group
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
| Noelle Adams
|
3
|
0
|
| Michelle Berent
|
2
|
1
|
| Connie Look
|
1
|
2
|
| Jenny Campbell
|
0
|
3
|
| East
|
Video
|
West
|
| ○
|
Noelle Adams
|
watch
|
Connie Look
|
|
|
|
Jenny Campbell
|
watch
|
Michelle Berent
|
○
|
| ○
|
Noelle Adams
|
watch
|
Michelle Berent
|
|
|
|
Jenny Campbell
|
watch
|
Connie Look
|
○
|
| ○
|
Noelle Adams
|
watch
|
Jenny Campbell
|
|
| ○
|
Michelle Berent
|
watch
|
Connie Look
|
|
Men's semi finals
|
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
| Dean Ruetzler
|
3
|
0
|
| Chris McNeal
|
2
|
1
|
| Aaron Heldmyer
|
1
|
2
|
| Owen Cunningham
|
0
|
3
|
| East
|
Video
|
West
|
| ○
|
Dean Ruetzler
|
watch
|
Owen Cunningham
|
|
| ○
|
Chris McNeal
|
watch
|
Aaron Heldmyer
|
|
| ○
|
Dean Ruetzler
|
watch
|
Chris McNeal
|
|
|
|
Owen Cunningham
|
watch
|
Aaron Heldmyer
|
○
|
| ○
|
Dean Ruetzler
|
watch
|
Aaron Heldmyer
|
|
|
|
Owen Cunningham
|
watch
|
Chris McNeal
|
○
|
Finals
Women's final
| East
|
Video
|
West
|
| ○
|
Michelle Berent
|
watch
|
Noelle Adams
|
|
Men's final
| East
|
Video
|
West
|
|
|
Dean Ruetzler
|
watch
|
Chris McNeal
|
○
|
Awards
Men's Champion: Chris McNeal
Men's Runner-up: Dean Ruetzler
Men's Fighting Spirit Prize: Owen Cunningham
Women's Champion: Michelle Berent
Women's Runner-up: Noelle Adams
Women's Fighting Spirit Prize: Connie Look
Statistics
Individual Records
| Name
|
Country
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
PCT %
|
| Dean Ruetzler
|
USA
|
6
|
1
|
0.857
|
| Michelle Berent
|
USA
|
3
|
1
|
0.750
|
| Noelle Adams
|
South Africa
|
3
|
1
|
0.750
|
| Chris McNeal
|
USA
|
5
|
2
|
0.714
|
| Owen Cunningham
|
Ireland
|
3
|
3
|
0.500
|
| Aaron Heldmyer
|
USA
|
3
|
3
|
0.500
|
| Johnny Morris
|
UK
|
1
|
2
|
0.333
|
| Joey Griggs
|
USA
|
1
|
2
|
0.333
|
| Connie Look
|
USA
|
1
|
2
|
0.333
|
| Joe Di Martino
|
USA
|
0
|
3
|
0.000
|
| Kei Lam
|
USA
|
0
|
3
|
0.000
|
| Jenny Campbell
|
USA
|
0
|
3
|
0.000
|
Country Records
| Country
|
Wrestlers
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
PCT %
|
| South Africa
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
0.750
|
 Ireland
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
0.500
|
 United States
|
9
|
5
|
6
|
0.455
|
| United Kingdom
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0.333
|
- Bouts between compatriots are not included.
Gallery
Article covering the event in Sakigake Shinbun
See also
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Ireland
United States
2016 Basho
Sumo flyer front
Sumo flyer reverse
Article covering the event in Sakigake Shinbun
Final scoreboard
Bakesale
Group photo
