Welcome to the pros: Tom McClure won the NAS Nationals, which gives him his pro card.

NAS president Dione Wessels said, "Nats was great!" and she is very enthusiastic about the new champion, whom she describes being "the next JP."

"He is 334 pounds and no FAT! He is a crossover from boxing and kickboxing," Wessels said, so from the sound of things, Tom McClure will have no trouble maintaining the tradition of NAS stars going on to compete successfully at the top ranks of the international strongman circuit.

Congratulations, also, to Rick Freitag, winner of the NAS lightweight title.