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RIVERSIDE — First-time grandparents Kim and Mike Strong had a great vacation in West Palm Beach, Fla., but the vacation played second fiddle to some work he had to do.

Mike Strong, still living up to his surname in the arm wrestling world, claimed his third successive American Arm Sports Association championship at the Marriott Inn.

Although the new little cheerleader in the family, 11-month-old Jaylynn Roof, wasn't quite sure what all the excitement was about, the 50-year-old Strong, competed mostly against 200-pounders in their 40s.

The 6-foot-2, 209-pound Strong, a former football fullback and a baseball catcher at the old Kiser High School, was knocked out of the lefty duels last year in Buffalo by two competitors he defeated this year.

In fact, he disposed of five straight opponents in the 209-pound division.

But Strong settled for a third-place finish in this year's righthanded competition.

"It was the same two guys that took care of me in the right-handed battles this year," Strong said. "But just being a winner again was something to celebrate and the family had a fine time ... so we really enjoyed the vacation."

Strong, a 14-year FedEx ground employee, trains year-around by swimming at the Eastview Swim Club in Riverside.

"The family enjoys the pool, too — but I also do a lot of water treading in addition to swimming. I believe in water training."

His wife, Kim, who gave her husband a tough pep talk last year after a loss, said: "I never had to chew him out this year. He was defeating his lefty foes in quick fashion. He cooked 'em."

Kim, a Fairmont East alumnus and a United Airlines baggage-check employee, said, "Mike has a flock of state titles he has won in the past — at least 20 — in both lefty and rightie competition."

Daughter Regina Roof, the mother of Jaylynn, is a 2007 Stebbins grad. Another son, Ross Strong, 11, will be a sixth-grader in Riverside, and older brother Ryan Strong, 17, will be a senior in September at Stebbins.

"Next year's AASA tournament is scheduled for South Carolina, and we're already looking forward to that," Mike Strong said. "As far as age is concerned, I watched a 60-year-old man easily beat his opponents in his age group. So maybe there's hope for me for the future, too."

Another family cheerleader is Mike Strong's father, Glenn Strong of Huber Heights.

"He has been there for me at almost every match I've had. But my mom (Georgine Strong) has Alzeimer's," said the family hero. "I won it for her."

Contact thi

s writer at (937) 236-6032 or mickeyz@zoomtown.com.