Anniversary wrestling festival in Appenzell: Muni as the only prize

The participants: Even a Canadian joins in

122 wrestlers have been given a place to start, the largest delegations are from Bern and Central Switzerland (32 each), followed by Northeastern Switzerland (31). 14 athletes represent Northwestern Switzerland, 12 from Southwestern Switzerland. Thomas Badat, a Canadian, is also taking part. The son of Swiss emigrants, dominates the small wrestling scene overseas at will and also excels as a judoka. He will not have an easy time of it: in two federal competitions he has lost seven out of eight rounds. A place to start would also have been reserved for an American, but the US wrestlers have decided not to take it.

The favorites: A sextet with chances

He has already won the Unspunnen and Kilchberger Schwinget, and now Samuel Giger could win a federal event for the third time. He is the most frequently mentioned favorite, with Fabian Staudenmann right behind him. Or is it the other way around? Staudenmann has had a brilliant season with six festival victories – and he was able to defeat Giger for the first time in the final round of the Bernese Cantonal.

Schwinger king Joel Wicki is also given a chance, and Adrian Walther, Armon Orlik and Werner Schlegel, the dominator of the early summer, are also among the contenders for victory. And yes, apart from the victory, there is nothing at stake on Sunday: no wreaths will be awarded.

The prices: For once no gift temple

What is there to win at a federal competition? The million-dollar temple of gifts offers amenities such as small cars, Harley-Davidsons, garden houses, whirlpools, Florida holidays, ride-on lawn mowers, kitchens, chicken coops and even toilet bowls. There is nothing like that in Appenzell. In agreement with the wrestlers, everyone receives the same prize – a studded Appenzeller belt. Each participant was able to state his size in advance. The good piece is supposed to be taken out.

However, there is no complete deviation from tradition: the winner receives Muni Alpstein, and there are also five other live prizes to be won.

The importance: difficult to assess

The prelude took a long time. In 2020, the wrestling was supposed to take place in Appenzell, just in time for the 125th anniversary of the Swiss Swiss Wrestling Association. Due to the pandemic and because there was already a major competition on the program in the three following seasons – Kilchberger Schwinget, the Swiss Swiss and the Unspunnen-Schwinget – the event was postponed by four years.

On Sunday, in front of 18,000 spectators, it’s all about winning a festival of federal character, but the importance of this is debatable. There are several wrestlers who rate a triumph on the Brünig or at a regional festival more highly. The last time there was a similar competition was in 2002 with the Expo-Schwinget in Murten, which was won by Martin Grab.

The Absent: Reichmuth’s latest setback

On Wednesday, Pirmin Reichmuth announced what had long been suspected: the Zug native had to abandon the season due to persistent knee problems – he has already suffered four cruciate ligament tears. The symptoms of overexertion that appeared after his victory at the Brünig-Schwinget have not subsided sufficiently. With Christian Schuler, the Central Swiss are missing a second trump card. The five-time Swiss champion abandoned the season at the end of July due to muscular problems.

The northwestern Swiss team will have to do without Joel Strebel, who started the season brilliantly with three Kranzfest victories, but then tore his cruciate ligament. Swiss compatriot Andreas Döbeli (shoulder) is also unable to take part. The Bernese and northeastern Swiss team can draw on a full squad.

The Bernese: In the role of the hunter

Between 2013 and 2022, a Bernese was always allowed to be shouldered at an event of federal character. Tempi passati. At the Federal Event in Pratteln, the successful sub-association had to give way to Joel Wicki, and last year at the Unspunnen-Schwinget there was no way past Giger.

And yet the Bernese are setting off on their journey to Eastern Switzerland with confidence. This is not least due to the victories of Walther at Schwarzsee and Staudenmann at the Bernese Cantonal over the overshooter Giger and the message they have sent out: Yes, Giger also has a back.

The Bernese technical director, Roland Gehrig, nevertheless gives the Thurgau player the role of favourite, as tactical skirmishes are necessary after all. “Giger is under more pressure. We are now the hunters, no longer the hunted.”

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