On August 19, 2017 Bj Fokakis, owner of Downtown Hattiesburg's Restaurant Coney Island, dreadfully watched his lifelong friend, Sean Hancock, world come tumbling down. Hancock, a YMCA Trainer, was performing in a tournament in Shreveport, Louisiana, thinking ahead to his next match, the state championship.
But suddenly, tragedy struck. Sean's worst nightmare had come true. He broke his arm. It was over. Sean knew his career was finished. Even more, his dreams were shattered.
Unfortunately, Hancock didn't even make to the Mississippi State Championship Tournament the following month in October 2017. Even more heartbreaking, Hancock's dream of winning the World Arm Wrestling League World Championship Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada quickly went rushing down the drain.
Hancock injury was detrimental. It wasn't an simple fix. There was no band-aid big enough to heal his injury. Hancock discovered he had bad muscle damaged. Muscle damage so bad, he knew that no matter how hopeful he was, no matter how strong his faith, no matter how equipped he was mentally, deep down in his heart, he knew it would take a long time for his tendons and bones to heal.
How long? Could it be days? Could it be a quick surgery? Perhaps he would be ready in a matter of weeks. Sports medicine is so advanced now a days, surely with today's technology, he would be back performing in no time. But Hancock was wrong. Normal procedure in arm wrestling is 12 months full rehab. A whole year.
Heartbroken, disappointed, and injured, his friend Bj Fokakis had to drive him home. By now, as anyone can image and as most would had done in his position, Hancock had given up. Hancock was experiencing his lowest point in his career. He had mad up in his mind, there's no coming back from here.
But that's when his life long friend Bj Fokakis stepped in and refused to allow him to give up. Fokakis, a champion in his own right, understood the concept of teammates. He understood what it meant to be even stronger when your teammate is down. He saw Hancock's future. He believed in his friend, even when it was difficult for Hancock to believe in himself. Fokakis had performed and won at the Mississippi State Championship. But he didn't feel complete or comfortable without Hancock by his side.
A year full of exercising, mind boggling rehab, and a true friend in Hancock who wouldn't take no for an answer, Hancock had healed physically even better than before, although mentally, he still had a ways to go. He didn't think he was ready. He needed more time. But Fokakis refused and pushed him even further, drilling in his mind that his time was now.
That time was just a few weeks ago on September 29, 2018. It was Hancock's first tournament since over a year ago in 2017. So just how emotional was Hancock? As he was standing in front of the crowd getting ready to perform, he recalls, "Here comes doubt, the fear, the wondering what will happen, the unknown. I've never been here before. What's gonna happen? Am I gonna get up there in front of my home town crowd and chicken out? Am I gonna get hurt again?" Hancock said. He went on to say, "The word scared is an understatement. I have literally worried myself sick for the past two weeks. Anyone that was at the tourney could see the nerves racking through me. The very first match meant the world to me!"
Then the most heart wrenching moment finally came. The first match had ended. "Leonard Harkless pointed my way and said the word 'winner!'; a thousand pounds came off of my shoulders. All the fear was gone!" Hancock recalled.
"For this whole next year I get to be a champion again! Feels great! I want to thank Bj for believing in me and getting me back out there!" exclaimed Hancock. Sean Hancock went on to become a winner. Not just any winner and not alone. Two Petal, MS natives, Bj Fokakis and Sean Hancock, not only won their matches, but are the current multiple time Mississippi State Companions.
Hancock and Fokakis are now preparing for the Louisiana State championship in November followed by the Alabama State Championship in February. Then there's the Nationals in April 2019 with a bunch of smaller tournaments in between followed by the ultimate tournament, the world championships in Poland August 31- September 7, 2019.
But the Pine Belt don't have to wait that long to see their state champions. Both Fakakis and Hancock will perform during Hubfest 2019 in front of Coney Island. Two friends, two champions, and a friend who saw a champion in his long life friend despite life's rumble.
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