Skip to content
USA Wrestling
International
College
High School & Youth
Grappling
USAW

Who will be the 2015 Grappling Trials and Beach Nationals champions in North Carolina, May 29-30?

Share:

by Alexandra Pernice

Who will be this year’s national champions in the non-Olympic styles of Grappling and Beach Wrestling?


We will know this weekend after the No-Gi Grappling World Team Trials are held in Wilmington, N.C. on May 29, and the U.S. Beach Nationals are held in Carolina Beach, N.C. on May 30.


And will there be any double champions, winners in both the Grappling and Beach events this weekend?


Online discounted registration for both events closes at midnight tomorrow, Wednesday, May 27.

Click here to register for the 2015 U.S. Grappling Trials and Beach National Championships.


There will be on-site registration for both events, but with an additional cost in the entry fees.


Last year, many U.S. Grappling World Team champions went on to win gold medals at the 2014 World Championships in No-Gi Grappling in Kecskemet, Hungary, Oct. 24.


Men’s World gold medalists included Matt Betzold of Team EDGE at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., Jayson Patino of American Top Team at 71 kg/169.5 lbs. and James Clay of Gene Lebell at 84 kg/185 lbs. Women’s gold medalists included Laura Anderson of Brea Wrestling Club at 53 kg/116.5 lbs and Colleen Schneider of Combat Submission Wrestling at 64 kg/146.75 lbs.


Other 2014 Senior Grappling World Team Trials champions were John Albert of Team EDGE at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Michael Kelly of Old School Wrestling at 77 kg/169.5 lbs., Scott Garcia of American Pankration at 92 kg/202.5 lbs., Vaider Kymera of American Pankration at 100 kg/220 lbs., Brandon Ruiz of Team EDGE at unlimited and Angela Marino of American Pankration at Over 71 kg for women.


Champions at the 2015 U.S. Grappling World Team trials will earn their place on the Grappling World Team. They will go on to compete at the Grappling World Championship in Antalya, Turkey, Oct. 9-12, 2015.


The Beach Nationals in 2014 featured two Senior champions who are past Beach World medalists, Jeff Funicello of American Pankration at 90 kg and Ike Okoli of Southern Hawk Wrestling at Over 90 kg. The other two Senior Beach National champions were Jason Joyce of Carolina Elite Wrestling at 70 kg and Jarrett Payne of RAM at 80 kg.


Champions from this year’s event will have first opportunity to participate in any U.S. teams that attend international Beach Wrestling competitions.


What makes this event great is the opportunity for youth wrestlers to also participate.


In Beach Wrestling, there are age-divisions from Bantam up through Junior, as well as a Veterans division. In Grappling, for the first time, USA Wrestling will host competition for UWW Grappling Juniors (18-19 years old – Born 1996 and 1997) and UWW Grappling Cadets (16-17 years old- Born 1998 and 1999).


Weigh-ins for all participants in the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials 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 the Beach National Championships. 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.


In addition to the Grappling weigh-in, there are two other options for attending weigh-ins 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.


For more information, visit the official website for each tournament.

U.S. Grappling World Team Trials website

U.S. Beach Nationals website

2014 NO-GI GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS CHAMPIONS

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO., AUGUST 31, 2014



Men


62 kg/136.5 lbs - Matt Betzold of EDGE MMA & Fitness (Team EDGE)

66 kg/145.5 lbs - John Albert of EDGE MMA & Fitness (Team EDGE)

71 kg/156 lbs - Jayson Patino of American Top Team

77 kg/169.5 lbs - Michael Kelly of Old School Wrestling

84 kg/185 lbs - James Clay of Gene Lebell

92 kg/202.5 lbs - Scott Garcia of American Pankration

100 kg/220 lbs - Vaider Kymera of American Pankration

100+ kg/unlimited - Brandon Ruiz of EDGE MMA & Fitness (Team EDGE)

Women

58 kg/127.5 lbs - Laura Anderson of Brea Wrestling Club

64 kg/140.75 lbs - Colleen Schneider of Combat Submission Wrestling

71+ KG/unlimited - Angela Marino of American Pankration

2014 BEACH NATIONALS CHAMPIONS

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C., MAY 31, 2014



Senior


70 KG - Jason Joyce of Carolina Elite Wrestling

80 KG - Jarrett Payne of RAM

90 KG - Jeff Funicello of American Pankration

+90 KG - Ike Okoli of Southern Hawk Wrestling

Junior

107-113 - Jake Clary of Top Dawg

126-134 - Matthew Gibbon of Cary Academy

140-147 - Joe Mondragon of Dixie Red Storm

148-158 - Tristen King of Independent

158-163 - Logan Nelson of Unattached

164-183 - Rowdy Harman of Independent

204-217 - Brian Capps of Port city pirates

224-244 - Christopher Valverde of North Brunswick

284-299 - Nicholas Wimmer of Unattached

Cadet

117-131 - Terrell Mondragon of Dixie Red Storm

133-147 - Robbie Hallman of Top Dawg

141-148 - Julian Sodano of Holly Springs Golden Hawks

154-161 - Isaiah Johnson of Independent

184-185 - Tyrone Watson of North Brunswick

200-212 - Kaleb Giles of Dixie Red Storm

Schoolboy/Girl

90-93 - Gavin Bipes of Goon Squad

113-119 - Chapman Fitzgerald of Cary Academy

140-143 - Cameron Baucom of Piedmont Middle School Wrestle

Novice

68-69 - Richard Treanor of Team Cabarrus

80-86 - Nate St. Bernard of Darkhorse wrestling

94-107 - Jackson Boles of Carolina Elite Wrestling Club

Intermediate

53-61 - Reid Pons of Freedom Wrestling Club

66-73 - Elijah Harris of Titan Wrestling Club

Bantam

50-53 - Sawyer Banks of Hominy Valley Wrestling

56-57 - Burke Wilson of Freedom Wrestling Club

Veteran

Division C - Vince Defreitas of Kure Beach

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)

Read More#