2016 Akita International Sumo Basho

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2016 Akita International Sumo Basho
Sumo2016WrestlersAndJudges.jpg
Details
DateJune 11
LocationAkita Budokan
No. Men8
No. Women4
Men's Championship
ChampionChris McNeal
Runner-upDean Ruetzler
Fighting SpiritOwen Cunningham
No. of bouts19
Women's Championship
ChampionMichelle Berent
Runner-upNoelle Adams
Fighting SpiritConnie Look
No. of bouts7
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 Republic of Ireland Kilkenny North 相撲猿 SumOweN oishii dashi
Dean Ruetzler United States of America Vermont Morioka Musushimaru 七転八起 good things come to those who wait
Johnny Morris United Kingdom Shrewsbury Central 猟犬 The Hound Blink if you want me
Joey Griggs United States of America New Jersey Central 枝の力 Twigs Griggs "Not now, chief. I'm in the fuckin' zone."
Joe Di Martino United States of America New York Yamagata DIO  まさに!「世界を支配する力」だ!
Aaron Heldmyer United States of America Colorado North LeVar Beatdown Take a look, it's in a book.
Kei Lam United States of America California Central Kei "I play by my own rules. Nobody else's. Not even my own.
Chris McNeal United States of America Idaho Central Kamakazi Chris Just sumo it!
Women's
Name Country Hometown Akita Shikona Slogan
Michelle Berent United States of America Kentucky North 白ゴジラ White Godzilla Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.
Noelle Adams South Africa Durban North Impi You learn how to cut down trees by cutting them down.
Connie Look United States of America New York South Kazekani Crouching tiger, hidden crab
Jenny Campbell United States of America 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 USAUnited States of America 6 1 0.857
Michelle Berent USAUnited States of America 3 1 0.750
Noelle Adams South AfricaSouth Africa 3 1 0.750
Chris McNeal USAUnited States of America 5 2 0.714
Owen Cunningham IrelandRepublic of Ireland 3 3 0.500
Aaron Heldmyer USAUnited States of America 3 3 0.500
Johnny Morris UKFlag of the United Kingdom 1 2 0.333
Joey Griggs USAUnited States of America 1 2 0.333
Connie Look USAUnited States of America 1 2 0.333
Joe Di Martino USAUnited States of America 0 3 0.000
Kei Lam USAUnited States of America 0 3 0.000
Jenny Campbell USAUnited States of America 0 3 0.000

Country Records

Country Wrestlers Wins Losses PCT %
South Africa South Africa 1 3 1 0.750
Republic of Ireland Ireland 1 3 3 0.500
United States of America United States 9 5 6 0.455
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 1 1 2 0.333
  • Bouts between compatriots are not included.

Gallery

See also

Years of the Akita International Sumo Basho
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