By Vern May There is no obstacle that dissuades Dan DiLucchio.  In fact, the biggest the challenge, the better he likes it.  He’s already conquered most of the circumstances in life that many suspected would limit his career opportunities.  On July 14th, he’s aiming to conquer a few more in Brandon. DiLucchio, known professionally as Short Sleeve Sampson, has made his living as a professional wrestler since 1999 and has ascended to become the franchise player of a touring circuit that has been gaining momentum across western Canada.  During his seventeen year career, he has appeared for World Wrestling Entertainment, Impact Wrestling and has worked with some of the industry’s most recognized stars like Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker. Not bad for a kid that wasn’t expected to have a career in professional sports.  It’s a pretty sensational accomplishment when you recognize that DiLucchio stands only 4’2” and is considered to be a “midget” during an era of political correctness – which made the “m” word taboo in many circles.  It’s a challenge he doesn’t expect to be a problem in Brandon. “First off, we need to get past what’s politically correct and get people comfortable with the word midget again,” says DiLucchio from a tour stop in Las Vegas, recently.  “We’re midgets, we’re wrestlers, neither of those things is a demeaning term.  It’s what sets us apart from the crowd and we’re proud of it.  Brandon isn’t hung up on political correctness is it?” While not a household name, Short Sleeve Sampson is one of the busiest wrestlers of his generation, regularly criss-crossing the continent for matches, personal appearances and television projects.  He is featured in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Texas, is an honoree in the New England Professional Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Circle of Friendship, celebrating his achievements in the sport at a ceremony in Las Vegas.  He comes to Brandon as a headliner for the Midget Wrestling Warriors tour, an event featuring a roster comprised entirely of short-statured athletes. The all-midget wrestling circuit is based in Syracuse, New York, but has seen its greatest success on tours in the western Provinces, including Calgary, where they play to sold out audiences on a bi-monthly basis.  Many other tour stops have followed suit with turn away crowds in Kelowna, Penticton, Edmonton and Saskatoon.  In fact, when the tour tested the waters in Manitoba last spring with a date in Minnedosa, they sold out the arena to beyond fire code capacity.  They would like to eclipse that success in Brandon. “We chose Brandon over Winnipeg for this tour largely because of the reputation of the Keystone Centre as a premiere entertainment venue.  Anyone we’ve talked to in the entertainment business or in sport that has performed here rave about the facility and the environment that it creates for a great show.  I’d like to see the biggest crowd for professional wrestling that Brandon has ever seen.” The July 14 event will feature male and female athletes from Canada, the U.S. and will include the debut of a pair of Mexican luchadores which add a particular high flying element to the proceedings.  It’s a hand-picked combination of talent that DiLucchio feels will delight wrestling fans of all ages.  The Brandon event is the last stop of a tour which starts at the Calgary Stampede and includes events in Edmonton and Saskatoon as well. Tickets are on sale through the Keystone Centre box office and online and have seen encouraging interest in the first week.  The event will be held in the Manitoba Room and bell time is at 7:00 pm  VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/vern.may.9/videos/1028857603863327/

The action and excitement of live professional wrestling returns to Brandon with an event for the whole family. The Midget Wrestling Warriors will invade the Keystone Centre’s Manitoba Room on Thursday, July 14 as part of their western Canadian Apocalypse tour. Featuring an international roster from Canada, the United States and Mexico, this event marks the first Brandon appearance of the “Mighty Midgets” of professional wrestling in several years. Get your tickets now! The Midget Wrestling Warriors are group of professional midget wrestlers that tour the globe performing shows at event centers, casino's, clubs, & bars.  Some of the wrestlers on their roster include Short Sleeve Sampson, Rob the Giant, Prince Akeem, Loco and Shovelhead Chuck.  Short Sleeve Samson may be the most recognizable face as he has appeared number times on WWE Raw as well as WWE Smackdown.  His career also reaches into TV and Sitcoms having appeared on shows such as Jerry Springer and NBC’s ‘Here & Now’. Click here for a sneak preview of the action that you can expect on July 14 at the Keystone Centre. Keystone Centre - Manitoba Room Doors Open: 6:00 pm, Bell Time 7:00 pm All ages appropriate Tickets: $22.00 *Note: Tickets subject to Keystone Centre service fee.

A PEAK Boxing Event is set to take place at the Roadhouse inside the Canad Inns this Saturday June the 25th. Organizers are looking to offer a total of 15 bouts with both junior (under 18) and adult matches filling the night’s fun.   The Jr division will feature rounds lasting one minute and will serve as a proving ground for these fighters to fight before a live crowd as well as gaining some valuable experience inside the ring against boxers of a similar skill level. This event is sanctioned by Boxing Manitoba and there are many options when it comes to purchasing tickets.  The VIP ring side table option not only gives you VIP express entry, you will also receive food service, merchandise and much more.  Interested attendees will also have the option of purchasing a regular table or a general admission ticket. Many local boxers are set to enter the squared circle as well as boxers from Sask., Alberta and parts of the US. The prelims for the juniors are scheduled to get underway at 6:00 pm followed by the adult/main card which is to get underway at 9:00 pm.

Garth Collings shot an impressive four under 68 Sunday on his way to capturing his 11th Grey Owl Championship at the Clear Lake Golf Course.  Collings shot a 70 on Saturday and found himself in a three-way tie atop the leader board with Brandon's Jared Jacobson and Brian Clark of Cold Lake, Alberta. Other notables making the 56th Championship round on Sunday included David Glenn and Nolan Tutkaluk who both golf out of the Shilo Golf & Country Club.  They each found themselves two strokes back of the leaders after carting a 72 in their opening rounds. David Glenn fired a three under par on Sunday and finished as the runner-up to Collings.  Steven Young and Jared Jacobson each finished with two day totals of 145 after shooting 71 and 75 respectively on the final day of the competition.  Dwight Kearns captured the Greyer Owls division with a two day total of 155 while the media division was won by Kirk Penton, of the Winnipeg Sun, with a 170. The Grey Owl golf tournament annually features 320 golfers of varying skill level and is considered one of the Manitoba's premiere golf events of the season.   Junior Golf in Manitoba and the Prostate Cancer division of the Canadian Cancer Society of Manitoba are two charity organizations who are supported by money raised during the tournament.

The most talented and dedicated motocross racers in the province are set to wage war at Farm Boys Raceway in Brandon, Manitoba on Sunday June the 19th.   Farm Boys Raceway is an amazing facility located only minutes from downtown Brandon and features rich black loamy soil, no rocks, a 40 bike starting gate, rhythm section, uphill rollers and a finish line jump.  It is one of a handful of sanctioned Manitoba Motocross Association tracks in Manitoba and this season will mark the 18th consecutive year the raceway has hosted an event making it the longest serving track on the MMA circuit. The annual event will feature hundreds of riders in as many as 15 different classes including ladies and a plus 40 category.  The weekend's showcase will be the 6th event in a 12 event race season for the Manitoba Motocross Association and will feature many different vendors and a full concession. Directions:6.4 km south of Brandon on Hwy #10 turn east at the white semi-trailer bill board (parked in west ditch). Go 4.8km east to the Hargreaves’ mailbox (on south side) and drive into the track site approx 1.2 km south