Ten great reasons to enter the U.S. Grappling Trials and Beach Nationals in North Carolina, May 29-30
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by Gary Abbott and Alexandria Pernice
There is still time to register for this year’s U.S. Grappling World Team Trials and Beach Nationals. Both competitions will be held in North Carolina, with the Grappling Trials at Eugene Ashley High School in Wilmington, N.C. on May 29 and the Beach Nationals following the next day at Carolina Beach, N.C. on May 30.
There are many great reasons that athletes should enter this competition, which is a festival of the popular and growing non-Olympic styles of wrestling. We’ll give you 10 right off the bat.
1. Beach wrestling is fun and highly competitive. What better place could you have a wrestling event than on a beach next to the ocean? When you need to cool off after a match, you can jump right into the water. Carolina Beach has proven to be a great host for this event and the location is beautiful. Those who have tried Beach wrestling really enjoy it. Come out and try it yourself.
2. Think you are tough? Try to become a double champion, winning gold medals in both the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials and the Beach Nationals. Join an elite group who can dominate both on the mat and in the sand.
3. Try out for the World Champion No-Gi Grappling Team – The United States is the defending World champions on the Senior level in No-Gi Grappling, taking top honors at the 2014 World event in Hungary. Since Grappling was added as a style of international wrestling, the USA has been World Team champions six times. This year, the team will compete in Antalya, Turkey, October 9-12.
4. The Beach Wrestling rules have been adjusted to encourage more action. In the past, it took two points to win a Beach Wrestling match. United World Wrestling has changed the rule, with three points required for victory. This will lead to longer, more competitive matches at all levels.
5. For the first time, there is age-group Grappling at the World Team Trials. In the past, the Grappling event has only been available for Senior-level athletes. This time around, two new age groups have been included in the tournament, the UWW Junior age (18-19 years old – Born 1996 and 1997) and UWW Cadet level (16-17 years old- Born 1998 and 1999).
6. Your club or military branch can vie for a national team title in Grappling. For the second straight year, the Grappling Clubs Cup will be awarded to the club which scores the most points at the Grappling Trials. Last year’s winner was Edge MMA & Fitness of Denver, Colo. For the first time, the Grappling Military Cup will be awarded to the branch of the Armed Forces which scores the most points at the Grappling Trials. Come as a team, and together you can go home with some hardware.
7. Want to compete in MMA some day? Grappling is a core skill for Mixed Martial Arts. Many of the athletes who have competed for the U.S. Grappling World Team have gone on to MMA success. Consider these USA Grapplers who have won World Grappling medals and are now in MMA: Ben Askren, Meisha Tate, Zach Makovsky, Sara McMann, Jeff Monson, Jessica Aguilar, Jacob Volkmann, Tara LaRosa, Colby Covington and many more.
8 Anybody can do Beach Wrestling. The rules are real simple. You get one point for a takedown and one point for forcing the opponent out of the circle. First to three points wins. It doesn’t matter if you like freestyle, Greco-Roman, folkstyle, Grappling, sumo, judo. Name the style, you can use those skills in a beach wrestling match.
9. Athletes from MMA gyms can do well in the UWW Grappling style. Entering the U.S. Grappling Trials allows those who are learning the submission arts to test themselves. Submission holds are allowed in this style. If you enjoy the idea of making your opponent tap out, that is part of international Grappling. Likewise, wrestling skills translate well to international Grappling. If you are good on your feet and can score takedowns, you will be successful in Grappling.
10. Why not? Willing to try something new? How will you know if you like it if you don’t try it? Take a chance, and see if Beach Wrestling and Grappling are for you.
These two fun and exciting events will be held in conjunction with one another, and wrestlers are encouraged to participate in both competitions. It is a weekend that athletes and fans alike will not want to miss.
Click here to register for the 2015 U.S. Grappling Trials and Beach Nationals.
Weigh-ins for all Grapplers will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29. Please be advised that wrestlers who weigh-in for the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials may also use that weigh-in for Beach Nationals.
Grappling competition for all divisions will follow weigh-ins on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and will wrestle through to the conclusion of the event.
Beach Nationals will feature an entertaining day of beach wrestling competition, with the Carolina Beach Boardwalk providing the perfect atmosphere for all in attendance.
In addition to the Grappling weigh-in, there are two other options for weighing in for Beach Wrestling. The Early weigh-ins for beach wrestlers is the night before on Friday night at the Lazy Pirate in Carolina Beach from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p. m. The final weigh-in will occur at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 for all divisions down on Carolina Beach’s Boardwalk Stage. The competition will follow the Saturday weigh-ins, starting at 12:00 p.m. and continuing until the final bouts of the tournament.
Athletes may register online at TrackWrestling for both tournaments until 11:59 p.m. CST on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Click here to Register On-Line for Grappling Trials and Beach Nationals.
On-site registration will also be available at an additional cost for those who do not pre-register online at TrackWrestling.
For more information, visit the official website for each tournament.
U.S. Grappling World Team Trials website
U.S. Beach Nationals website
U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS EVENT SCHEDULE
At Wilmington,. N.C., May 29
Friday, May 29
4:00 p.m. – Doors open at Eugene Ashley High School. No Grappler permitted on campus prior to 4:00 p.m.
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Registration and weigh-in, all divisions.
6:30 p.m. – conclusion – World Team Trials competition, all divisions.
U.S. BEACH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS EVENT SCHEDULE
At Carolina Beach, N.C., May 29-30
Friday, May 29
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Early Beach Nationals Registration and Weigh-in at the Lazy Pirate (Optional, all divisions)
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Coach and Competitor Social at the Lazy Pirate (Optional, all divisions)
Saturday, May 30
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Registration and weigh-in at Carolina Beach Boardwalk Stage (all divisions)
12:00 noon – conclusion – Beach National Championships (all divisions)
6:00 p.m. – Post Tournament Social at Good Hops Brewing Company (Optional, all divisions)
There are many great reasons that athletes should enter this competition, which is a festival of the popular and growing non-Olympic styles of wrestling. We’ll give you 10 right off the bat.
1. Beach wrestling is fun and highly competitive. What better place could you have a wrestling event than on a beach next to the ocean? When you need to cool off after a match, you can jump right into the water. Carolina Beach has proven to be a great host for this event and the location is beautiful. Those who have tried Beach wrestling really enjoy it. Come out and try it yourself.
2. Think you are tough? Try to become a double champion, winning gold medals in both the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials and the Beach Nationals. Join an elite group who can dominate both on the mat and in the sand.
3. Try out for the World Champion No-Gi Grappling Team – The United States is the defending World champions on the Senior level in No-Gi Grappling, taking top honors at the 2014 World event in Hungary. Since Grappling was added as a style of international wrestling, the USA has been World Team champions six times. This year, the team will compete in Antalya, Turkey, October 9-12.
4. The Beach Wrestling rules have been adjusted to encourage more action. In the past, it took two points to win a Beach Wrestling match. United World Wrestling has changed the rule, with three points required for victory. This will lead to longer, more competitive matches at all levels.
5. For the first time, there is age-group Grappling at the World Team Trials. In the past, the Grappling event has only been available for Senior-level athletes. This time around, two new age groups have been included in the tournament, the UWW Junior age (18-19 years old – Born 1996 and 1997) and UWW Cadet level (16-17 years old- Born 1998 and 1999).
6. Your club or military branch can vie for a national team title in Grappling. For the second straight year, the Grappling Clubs Cup will be awarded to the club which scores the most points at the Grappling Trials. Last year’s winner was Edge MMA & Fitness of Denver, Colo. For the first time, the Grappling Military Cup will be awarded to the branch of the Armed Forces which scores the most points at the Grappling Trials. Come as a team, and together you can go home with some hardware.
7. Want to compete in MMA some day? Grappling is a core skill for Mixed Martial Arts. Many of the athletes who have competed for the U.S. Grappling World Team have gone on to MMA success. Consider these USA Grapplers who have won World Grappling medals and are now in MMA: Ben Askren, Meisha Tate, Zach Makovsky, Sara McMann, Jeff Monson, Jessica Aguilar, Jacob Volkmann, Tara LaRosa, Colby Covington and many more.
8 Anybody can do Beach Wrestling. The rules are real simple. You get one point for a takedown and one point for forcing the opponent out of the circle. First to three points wins. It doesn’t matter if you like freestyle, Greco-Roman, folkstyle, Grappling, sumo, judo. Name the style, you can use those skills in a beach wrestling match.
9. Athletes from MMA gyms can do well in the UWW Grappling style. Entering the U.S. Grappling Trials allows those who are learning the submission arts to test themselves. Submission holds are allowed in this style. If you enjoy the idea of making your opponent tap out, that is part of international Grappling. Likewise, wrestling skills translate well to international Grappling. If you are good on your feet and can score takedowns, you will be successful in Grappling.
10. Why not? Willing to try something new? How will you know if you like it if you don’t try it? Take a chance, and see if Beach Wrestling and Grappling are for you.
These two fun and exciting events will be held in conjunction with one another, and wrestlers are encouraged to participate in both competitions. It is a weekend that athletes and fans alike will not want to miss.
Click here to register for the 2015 U.S. Grappling Trials and Beach Nationals.
Weigh-ins for all Grapplers will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29. Please be advised that wrestlers who weigh-in for the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials may also use that weigh-in for Beach Nationals.
Grappling competition for all divisions will follow weigh-ins on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and will wrestle through to the conclusion of the event.
Beach Nationals will feature an entertaining day of beach wrestling competition, with the Carolina Beach Boardwalk providing the perfect atmosphere for all in attendance.
In addition to the Grappling weigh-in, there are two other options for weighing in for Beach Wrestling. The Early weigh-ins for beach wrestlers is the night before on Friday night at the Lazy Pirate in Carolina Beach from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p. m. The final weigh-in will occur at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 for all divisions down on Carolina Beach’s Boardwalk Stage. The competition will follow the Saturday weigh-ins, starting at 12:00 p.m. and continuing until the final bouts of the tournament.
Athletes may register online at TrackWrestling for both tournaments until 11:59 p.m. CST on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
Click here to Register On-Line for Grappling Trials and Beach Nationals.
On-site registration will also be available at an additional cost for those who do not pre-register online at TrackWrestling.
For more information, visit the official website for each tournament.
U.S. Grappling World Team Trials website
U.S. Beach Nationals website
U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS EVENT SCHEDULE
At Wilmington,. N.C., May 29
Friday, May 29
4:00 p.m. – Doors open at Eugene Ashley High School. No Grappler permitted on campus prior to 4:00 p.m.
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Registration and weigh-in, all divisions.
6:30 p.m. – conclusion – World Team Trials competition, all divisions.
U.S. BEACH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS EVENT SCHEDULE
At Carolina Beach, N.C., May 29-30
Friday, May 29
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Early Beach Nationals Registration and Weigh-in at the Lazy Pirate (Optional, all divisions)
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Coach and Competitor Social at the Lazy Pirate (Optional, all divisions)
Saturday, May 30
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Registration and weigh-in at Carolina Beach Boardwalk Stage (all divisions)
12:00 noon – conclusion – Beach National Championships (all divisions)
6:00 p.m. – Post Tournament Social at Good Hops Brewing Company (Optional, all divisions)
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