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NEWS FLASH: U.S. takes six more Grappling golds, wins No-Gi team title and is team runner-up in Gi

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by Gary Abbott

Mario Rinaldi (left) and Jessica Aguilar (right) won both the No-Gi and Gi gold medals at their weights at the 2010 Grappling Worlds

The United States won five individual gold medals in the Gi Grappling competition, and added a fourth No-Gi title, at the FILA Grappling World Championships in Krakow, Poland on Sunday.

It was a strong weekend for the U.S. team, which won the team title in No-Gi competition, and placed second in the Gi division. Team USA finished with nine individual gold medals in both styles over the two-day event.

To start the action on Sunday, the finals of the men's No-Gi Open division were held. Mario Rinaldi, (Port St. Lucia, Fla./American Top Team) captured the gold medal. He defeated an opponent from Sweden in overtime in the finals, and quickly hit a back handspring in celebration. Rinaldi was a 2009 World silver medalist in No-Gi at the Open division.

Next came the Gi division, and the U.S. had the most individual champions with five.

Capturing Gi gold medals were Rinaldi, plus Zachary Makovsky (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia Fight Factory) at 60 kg/132 lbs., Brian Mahecha (Coconut Creek, Fla./American Top Team) at 65 kg/143 lbs., Scott Garcia (Mesa, Ariz./American Pankration) at 80 kg/176 lbs. and Jessica Aguilar (Coconut Creek, Fla./American Top Team) at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Rinaldi and Aguilar's won two gold medals during the weekend, winning both the No-Gi and the Gi tournaments.

The U.S. also added a pair of bronze medals in the Gi division: Jeff Funicello (Mesa, Ariz./American Pankration) at 90 kg/198 lbs. and Lisa Ward (Lacey, Wash./Victory Athletics) at 50 kg/110 lbs.

FILA announced the team champion in the No-Gi tournament at the conclusion of the Open division. The United States finished with 81 points, ahead of runner-up teams Poland and Sweden with 72 points.

Poland won the Gi division, edging second place United States. France finished third.

In the three years since FILA has hosted official Grappling World Champions, the USA has won the No-Gi team title all three times. In the Gi division, the USA won the first two team titles (2008 and 2009) and placed second this year.

More information to be posted when available.

FILA GRAPPLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Krakow, Poland, March 28, 2010

U.S. performances

No-Gi Men

Open - Mario Rinaldi, Port St. Lucia, Fla. (American Top Team), 1st
Gold medal finals on Sunday"" WIN Sweden dec. overtime

Gi Men

60 kg/132 lbs. - Zachary Makovsky, Philadelphia, Pa. (Philadelphia Fight Factory), 1st

65 kg/143 lbs. - Brian Mahecha, Coconut Creek, Fla. (American Top Team), 1st

70 kg/154 lbs. - Din Thomas, Coconut Creek, Fla. (American Top Team), dnp

75 kg/165 lbs. - Michael Kelly, Hebron, Ill. (Gilbert Grappling), dnp

80 kg/176 lbs. - Scott Garcia, Mesa, Ariz. (American Pankration), 1st

90 kg/198 lbs. - Jeff Funicello, Mesa, Ariz. (American Pankration), 3rd

Open - Mario Rinaldi, Port St. Lucia, Fla. (American Top Team), 1st

Gi Women

50 kg/110 lbs. - Lisa Ward, Lacey, Wash. (Victory Athletics), 3rd

55 kg/121 lbs. - Jessica Aguilar, Coconut Creek, Fla. (American Top Team). 1st

60 kg/132 lbs. - Tara LaRosa, Woodstown, N.J. (Philadelphia Fight Factory), dnp

Final No-Gi Team standings
United States, 81, Poland 72, Sweden 72, France 56, Germany 24, Serbia 18, Ukraine 17, Italy 17, Hungary 17, Greece 16, Bulgaria 16, Japan 9, Croatia 8, Russia 8

Gi Team top three teams
1. Poland; 2. United States; 3. France (complete results to be posted when available)

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