USA Grappling sets qualifying standards for 2009 U.S. Grappling World Team
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by Gary Abbott
U.S. Grappler Matt Sanchez (left) competes at the 2008 FILA Grappling World Championships. Sanchez won the World gold medal. Photo courtesy of FILA
The U.S. World Team qualifying standards for the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials in Phoenix, Ariz., October 22-24 have been established.
The top three place finishers in each weight class will qualify for the U.S. team at the FILA Grappling World Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dec. 11-13.
This is a change from last year, when only the top two in each division earned spots on the U.S. Grappling World Team.
In addition, there will be a fourth athlete in each weight class who may be able to compete at the Grappling World Championships through an application process.
The final position (the fourth in each weight class) on the U.S. Grappling World Team shall be selected by a three-person committee which will include National Coach Ricardo Liborio, along with two others from the USA Grappling community. Those who will be considered for selection can include those who did not attend the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials. Those who did not attend the Trials must have a legitimate reason for missing them, which could include injury or a professional conflict.
There will also be more opportunity to qualify for the U.S. team, because FILA has increased the number of weight classes in international Grappling.
There are now seven weight classes in the men's No-Gi and Gi divisions: 60 kg (132 lbs.), 66 kg (145.5 lbs.), 74 kg (163 lbs.), 84 kg (185 lbs.), 96 kg (211.5 lbs.), 120 kg (264.5 lbs.), and OPEN.
For the Women's No-Gi and Gi divisions there are six weight classes: 50 kg (110 lbs.), 55 kg (121 lbs.), 59 kg (130 lbs.), 63 kg (138.75 lbs.), 67 kg (147.5 lbs.) and OPEN.
The OPEN division is new to FILA's Grappling program. It can consist of athletes who weigh more than the highest division, as well as others from the lower divisions. This means an athlete can choose to wrestle in one of the other weight classes and also enter the OPEN division. (They will have to pay two entry fees if they enter two divisions).
The champions in the No-Gi division in each weight class at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials will be eligible to receive support for their participation at the World Championships.
USA GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM QUALIFYING PROCEDURES
The champions in each weight class from the 2009 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials qualify for the U.S. Grappling World Team. The champions in No-Gi will receive funding for participation, while the champions in Gi Grappling receive no funding.
The first three positions on U.S. Grappling World Team will be determined from athletes who place in the top five of their weight class at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials. The opportunity to compete in each weight class will be offered in order based upon their finish at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials.
The final position (the fourth in each weight class) on the U.S. Grappling World Team shall be selected by a three-person committee which will include National Coach Ricardo Liborio, along with two others from the USA Grappling community. Those who will be considered for selection can include those who did not attend the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials. Those who did not attend the Trials must have a legitimate reason for missing them, which could include injury or a professional conflict.
Selection Committee procedures include:
- All those who wish to be considered for selection by the three-person committee must make a written request for the position via FAX, mail or email to Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling by November 16. The request must indicate why this athlete deserves to be selected, including biographical information and past event results. Those who did not attend the Trials must have a legitimate reason for missing them, which could include injury or a professional conflict. The applicant also must state that they will be able to pay for the costs of their participation in the World Championships.
- The committee can fill up to two open spots per weight class. There is no requirement that committee fill any open spots.
-----
The United States is the defending world champions in both No-Gi and Gi Grappling, winning the first World Grappling Championships in Lucerne, Switzerland in December 2008. This year, the World Championships is expected to grow in size and prestige when it is held in the United States.
The U.S. Grappling World Team Trials will be held alongside the Sunkist Kids International Wrestling Championship in Phoenix, Ariz. at the Phoenix Convention Center.
No-Gi Grappling weigh-ins are on Thursday, Oct. 22, with competition on Friday, Oct. 23.
Gi Grappling weigh-ins are Friday, Oct. 23, with competition on Saturday, Oct. 24.
For athletes competing in both styles, the Thursday night weigh-in will count for both No-Gi and Gi competitions as long as the athlete ACTIVELY competes in both styles.
Online pre-registration cost is $75 per style, while onsite registration cost is $85.
Click here to register online for the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials
Additionally, in order to compete, each grappler must have a current USA Wrestling membership card, which can be purchased online at TheMat.com, or will be available on site.
Click for U.S. Grappling World Team Trials website
Questions can be made to the Event Director, Tim Gressley at (480) 205-3015 or via email at gressley@sunkistkids.org.
The U.S. World Team qualifying standards for the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials in Phoenix, Ariz., October 22-24 have been established.
The top three place finishers in each weight class will qualify for the U.S. team at the FILA Grappling World Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dec. 11-13.
This is a change from last year, when only the top two in each division earned spots on the U.S. Grappling World Team.
In addition, there will be a fourth athlete in each weight class who may be able to compete at the Grappling World Championships through an application process.
The final position (the fourth in each weight class) on the U.S. Grappling World Team shall be selected by a three-person committee which will include National Coach Ricardo Liborio, along with two others from the USA Grappling community. Those who will be considered for selection can include those who did not attend the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials. Those who did not attend the Trials must have a legitimate reason for missing them, which could include injury or a professional conflict.
There will also be more opportunity to qualify for the U.S. team, because FILA has increased the number of weight classes in international Grappling.
There are now seven weight classes in the men's No-Gi and Gi divisions: 60 kg (132 lbs.), 66 kg (145.5 lbs.), 74 kg (163 lbs.), 84 kg (185 lbs.), 96 kg (211.5 lbs.), 120 kg (264.5 lbs.), and OPEN.
For the Women's No-Gi and Gi divisions there are six weight classes: 50 kg (110 lbs.), 55 kg (121 lbs.), 59 kg (130 lbs.), 63 kg (138.75 lbs.), 67 kg (147.5 lbs.) and OPEN.
The OPEN division is new to FILA's Grappling program. It can consist of athletes who weigh more than the highest division, as well as others from the lower divisions. This means an athlete can choose to wrestle in one of the other weight classes and also enter the OPEN division. (They will have to pay two entry fees if they enter two divisions).
The champions in the No-Gi division in each weight class at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials will be eligible to receive support for their participation at the World Championships.
USA GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM QUALIFYING PROCEDURES
The champions in each weight class from the 2009 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials qualify for the U.S. Grappling World Team. The champions in No-Gi will receive funding for participation, while the champions in Gi Grappling receive no funding.
The first three positions on U.S. Grappling World Team will be determined from athletes who place in the top five of their weight class at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials. The opportunity to compete in each weight class will be offered in order based upon their finish at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials.
The final position (the fourth in each weight class) on the U.S. Grappling World Team shall be selected by a three-person committee which will include National Coach Ricardo Liborio, along with two others from the USA Grappling community. Those who will be considered for selection can include those who did not attend the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials. Those who did not attend the Trials must have a legitimate reason for missing them, which could include injury or a professional conflict.
Selection Committee procedures include:
- All those who wish to be considered for selection by the three-person committee must make a written request for the position via FAX, mail or email to Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling by November 16. The request must indicate why this athlete deserves to be selected, including biographical information and past event results. Those who did not attend the Trials must have a legitimate reason for missing them, which could include injury or a professional conflict. The applicant also must state that they will be able to pay for the costs of their participation in the World Championships.
- The committee can fill up to two open spots per weight class. There is no requirement that committee fill any open spots.
-----
The United States is the defending world champions in both No-Gi and Gi Grappling, winning the first World Grappling Championships in Lucerne, Switzerland in December 2008. This year, the World Championships is expected to grow in size and prestige when it is held in the United States.
The U.S. Grappling World Team Trials will be held alongside the Sunkist Kids International Wrestling Championship in Phoenix, Ariz. at the Phoenix Convention Center.
No-Gi Grappling weigh-ins are on Thursday, Oct. 22, with competition on Friday, Oct. 23.
Gi Grappling weigh-ins are Friday, Oct. 23, with competition on Saturday, Oct. 24.
For athletes competing in both styles, the Thursday night weigh-in will count for both No-Gi and Gi competitions as long as the athlete ACTIVELY competes in both styles.
Online pre-registration cost is $75 per style, while onsite registration cost is $85.
Click here to register online for the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials
Additionally, in order to compete, each grappler must have a current USA Wrestling membership card, which can be purchased online at TheMat.com, or will be available on site.
Click for U.S. Grappling World Team Trials website
Questions can be made to the Event Director, Tim Gressley at (480) 205-3015 or via email at gressley@sunkistkids.org.
