World champions Betzold, Schneider claim Grappling World Team Trials titles in North Carolina
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by Gary Abbott
The 2015 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials champions, who qualified for the World Championships in Turkey, pose together. Top row (l to r) Gabe Beauperthuy, Michael Haman, Frank Lavoie. Middle row: Mitch Peterson, Matt Betzold, Mike Kelly, Matt Holt. Front row: Bethany Marshall, Marina Shafir, Colleen Schneider.
WILMINGTON, N.C. – 2014 No-Gi Grappling World champions Matt Betzold and Colleen Schneider, both who compete for Edge MMA & Fitness, were among the champions at the Grappling World Team Trials held on Friday at Eugene Ashley High School.+
Senior winners earned a spot on the U.S. team which will compete at the Grappling World Championships in Antalya, Turkey, October 9-12. The United States is the reigning UWW World champion team in No-Gi Grappling.
Betzold won the 66 kg division, scoring submission wins over Zachary Taylor of Modern American MMA and Jack Chandler of Leicester. Betzold won his World title in 2014, and has won five career World medals for the USA in the past.
“I was at flyweight last year. I am really hungry about the 136 pound division this year. I am done with flyweight, and so is the UWW organization. I am going to finish where I started. This could be my last time competing on the World Team,” said Betzold.
Schneider won the 64 kg women’s division uncontested.
“It was great last year. I had not had a chance to do anything like that before. I won the trials, got to go with the team to Hungary and come back with the gold medal personally and the team gold medal. It was a great experience. To compete against other women from all over the world is such an awesome opportunity,” said Schneider.
Repeating as champion was Michael Kelly of Edge MMA and Fitness, who defeated Thomas Domerese of the Air Force Wrestling Club in two straight matches at 77 kg, both by decision. In his career, Kelly has won six World Grappling medals for the United States, a silver and five bronzes.
“I have always said, like my little brother told me, when you quit having things to do, you gave up on life. I like to keep going and prove I can still win. I am 41 years old and I can still wrestle good and compete. That is what I wanted to do,” said Kelly.
2013 World bronze medalist Matt Holt of Checkmat won the 66 kg title, scoring a submission and a decision in winning his three-athlete roundrobin. Holt did not try out for the 2014 U.S. Grappling Team.
Qualifying for their first U.S. World Teams were Mitch Peterson of Edge MMA & Fitness at 71 kg, Michael Haman of Modern American MMA at 84 kg, Frank LaVoie of Littleton at 96 kg and Gabe Beauperthuy of Edge MMA and Fitness at Unlimited.
Peterson won a three-athlete roundrobin, scoring a pair of submissions. Haman swept a best-of-three series over Scott Wendel of Pan Am Wrestling, with two submissions.
LaVoie won his first match of Shaun Scott of Team Palay by submission, then won bout two by a 9-2 margin. Beauperthuy had a pair of submissions over Terrell Young of Gracie Barra Spring Lake.
Two other women qualified for the U.S. World Team with uncontested wins, Bethany Marshall of Modern American MMA at 58 kg and Marina Shafir of Edge MMA & Fitness at 71 kg
Winning the U.S. Grappling Cup as the team champions for the second straight year was Edge MMA and Fitness with 12 points, with Modern American MMA in second place with 8 points.
Winning the first U.S. Military Cup, given to the branch of the U.S. Military which scored the most points, was the U.S. Air Force.
The U.S. Beach Nationals Championships will follow in Carolina Beach, N.C. on Saturday. U.S. Grappling Trials champions who enter the Beach tournament have a chance to earn a special double title with a Beach Nationals win on Saturday.
U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Wilmington, N.C., May 29
Senior Men
62 KG/136.5 lbs
1st Place - Matt Betzold of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Jack Chandler of leicester
3rd Place - Zachary Taylor of modern american mma
Round 1 - Matt Betzold (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Zachary Taylor (modern american mma) (Submission 4:50)
Round 2 - Jack Chandler (leicester) won by decision over Zachary Taylor (modern american mma) (Dec 2-0)
Round 3 - Matt Betzold (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Jack Chandler (leicester) (Submission 0:25)
66 KG/145.5 lbs
1st Place - Matt Holt of Checkmat
2nd Place - Gatlin Clifton of modern american mma
3rd Place - Jason Joyce of Carolina Elite Wrestling Club
Round 1 - Gatlin Clifton (modern american mma) won by submission over Jason Joyce (Carolina Elite Wrestling Club) (Submission 1:11)
Round 2 - Matt Holt (Checkmat) won by decision over Gatlin Clifton (modern american mma) (Dec 5-1)
Round 3 - Matt Holt (Checkmat) won by submission over Jason Joyce (Carolina Elite Wrestling Club) (Submission 4:17)
71 KG/156.5 lbs
1st Place - Mitch Peterson of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Zachary Allen of modern american mma
3rd Place - Zane Knight of Alexander Central High School
Round 1 - Zachary Allen (modern american mma) won by submission over Zane Knight (Alexander Central High School) (Submission 0:44)
Round 2 - Mitch Peterson (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Zane Knight (Alexander Central High School) (Submission 0:41)
Round 3 - Mitch Peterson (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Zachary Allen (modern american mma) (Submission 1:47)
77 KG/169.5 lbs
1st Place - Michael Kelly of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Thomas Domerese of Air Force Wrestling Club
Round 1 - Michael Kelly (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by decision over Thomas Domerese (Air Force Wrestling Club)
Round 2 - Michael Kelly (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by decision over Thomas Domerese (Air Force Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-0)
84 KG/185 lbs
1st Place - Michael Haman of modern american mma
2nd Place - Scott Wendel of Pan Am Wrestling
Round 1 - Michael Haman (modern american mma) won by submission over Scott Wendel (Pan Am Wrestling ) (Submission 1:14)
Round 2 - Michael Haman (modern american mma) won by submission over Scott Wendel (Pan Am Wrestling ) (Submission 3:11)
92 KG/202.75 lbs
1st Place - Frank LaVoie of Littleton
2nd Place - Shaun W Scott of Team Palay
Round 1 - Frank LaVoie (Littleton) won by submission over Shaun W Scott (Team Palay) (Submission 0:33)
Round 2 - Frank LaVoie (Littleton) won by decision over Shaun W Scott (Team Palay) (Dec 9-0)
100+ KG/unlimited
1st Place - Gabe Beauperthuy of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Terrell Young of Gracie Barra Spring Lake
Round 1 - Gabe Beauperthuy (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Terrell Young (Gracie Barra Spring Lake) (Submission 1:06)
Round 2 - Gabe Beauperthuy (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Terrell Young (Gracie Barra Spring Lake) (Submission 1:01)
Senior Women
58 KG/127.9 lbs
1st Place - Bethany Marshall of modern american mma
64 KG/141 lbs
1st Place - Colleen Schneider of Edge MMA & Fitness
71 KG/156.5 lbs
1st Place - Marina Shafir of Edge MMA & Fitness
UWW Juniors (18-19 years)
71 KG/156.5 lbs
1st Place - Zane Knight of Alexander Central High School
UWW Cadets-Boys (16-17 years old)
58 KG/127.75 lbs
1st Place - Jazziel Ortiz of Team R.O.C
U.S. Grappling Cup Standings
1. Edge MMA and Fitness, 12 pts.
2. Modern American MMA, 8 pts.
3. Checkmat, 3 pts.
4. (tie) Littleton, Leicester, 2 pts.
6. (tie) Carolina Elite, Air Force WC, Pan Am Wrestling, Team Palay, Gracie Barra Spring Lake, 1 pt.
WILMINGTON, N.C. – 2014 No-Gi Grappling World champions Matt Betzold and Colleen Schneider, both who compete for Edge MMA & Fitness, were among the champions at the Grappling World Team Trials held on Friday at Eugene Ashley High School.+
Senior winners earned a spot on the U.S. team which will compete at the Grappling World Championships in Antalya, Turkey, October 9-12. The United States is the reigning UWW World champion team in No-Gi Grappling.
Betzold won the 66 kg division, scoring submission wins over Zachary Taylor of Modern American MMA and Jack Chandler of Leicester. Betzold won his World title in 2014, and has won five career World medals for the USA in the past.
“I was at flyweight last year. I am really hungry about the 136 pound division this year. I am done with flyweight, and so is the UWW organization. I am going to finish where I started. This could be my last time competing on the World Team,” said Betzold.
Schneider won the 64 kg women’s division uncontested.
“It was great last year. I had not had a chance to do anything like that before. I won the trials, got to go with the team to Hungary and come back with the gold medal personally and the team gold medal. It was a great experience. To compete against other women from all over the world is such an awesome opportunity,” said Schneider.
Repeating as champion was Michael Kelly of Edge MMA and Fitness, who defeated Thomas Domerese of the Air Force Wrestling Club in two straight matches at 77 kg, both by decision. In his career, Kelly has won six World Grappling medals for the United States, a silver and five bronzes.
“I have always said, like my little brother told me, when you quit having things to do, you gave up on life. I like to keep going and prove I can still win. I am 41 years old and I can still wrestle good and compete. That is what I wanted to do,” said Kelly.
2013 World bronze medalist Matt Holt of Checkmat won the 66 kg title, scoring a submission and a decision in winning his three-athlete roundrobin. Holt did not try out for the 2014 U.S. Grappling Team.
Qualifying for their first U.S. World Teams were Mitch Peterson of Edge MMA & Fitness at 71 kg, Michael Haman of Modern American MMA at 84 kg, Frank LaVoie of Littleton at 96 kg and Gabe Beauperthuy of Edge MMA and Fitness at Unlimited.
Peterson won a three-athlete roundrobin, scoring a pair of submissions. Haman swept a best-of-three series over Scott Wendel of Pan Am Wrestling, with two submissions.
LaVoie won his first match of Shaun Scott of Team Palay by submission, then won bout two by a 9-2 margin. Beauperthuy had a pair of submissions over Terrell Young of Gracie Barra Spring Lake.
Two other women qualified for the U.S. World Team with uncontested wins, Bethany Marshall of Modern American MMA at 58 kg and Marina Shafir of Edge MMA & Fitness at 71 kg
Winning the U.S. Grappling Cup as the team champions for the second straight year was Edge MMA and Fitness with 12 points, with Modern American MMA in second place with 8 points.
Winning the first U.S. Military Cup, given to the branch of the U.S. Military which scored the most points, was the U.S. Air Force.
The U.S. Beach Nationals Championships will follow in Carolina Beach, N.C. on Saturday. U.S. Grappling Trials champions who enter the Beach tournament have a chance to earn a special double title with a Beach Nationals win on Saturday.
U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Wilmington, N.C., May 29
Senior Men
62 KG/136.5 lbs
1st Place - Matt Betzold of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Jack Chandler of leicester
3rd Place - Zachary Taylor of modern american mma
Round 1 - Matt Betzold (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Zachary Taylor (modern american mma) (Submission 4:50)
Round 2 - Jack Chandler (leicester) won by decision over Zachary Taylor (modern american mma) (Dec 2-0)
Round 3 - Matt Betzold (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Jack Chandler (leicester) (Submission 0:25)
66 KG/145.5 lbs
1st Place - Matt Holt of Checkmat
2nd Place - Gatlin Clifton of modern american mma
3rd Place - Jason Joyce of Carolina Elite Wrestling Club
Round 1 - Gatlin Clifton (modern american mma) won by submission over Jason Joyce (Carolina Elite Wrestling Club) (Submission 1:11)
Round 2 - Matt Holt (Checkmat) won by decision over Gatlin Clifton (modern american mma) (Dec 5-1)
Round 3 - Matt Holt (Checkmat) won by submission over Jason Joyce (Carolina Elite Wrestling Club) (Submission 4:17)
71 KG/156.5 lbs
1st Place - Mitch Peterson of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Zachary Allen of modern american mma
3rd Place - Zane Knight of Alexander Central High School
Round 1 - Zachary Allen (modern american mma) won by submission over Zane Knight (Alexander Central High School) (Submission 0:44)
Round 2 - Mitch Peterson (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Zane Knight (Alexander Central High School) (Submission 0:41)
Round 3 - Mitch Peterson (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Zachary Allen (modern american mma) (Submission 1:47)
77 KG/169.5 lbs
1st Place - Michael Kelly of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Thomas Domerese of Air Force Wrestling Club
Round 1 - Michael Kelly (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by decision over Thomas Domerese (Air Force Wrestling Club)
Round 2 - Michael Kelly (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by decision over Thomas Domerese (Air Force Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-0)
84 KG/185 lbs
1st Place - Michael Haman of modern american mma
2nd Place - Scott Wendel of Pan Am Wrestling
Round 1 - Michael Haman (modern american mma) won by submission over Scott Wendel (Pan Am Wrestling ) (Submission 1:14)
Round 2 - Michael Haman (modern american mma) won by submission over Scott Wendel (Pan Am Wrestling ) (Submission 3:11)
92 KG/202.75 lbs
1st Place - Frank LaVoie of Littleton
2nd Place - Shaun W Scott of Team Palay
Round 1 - Frank LaVoie (Littleton) won by submission over Shaun W Scott (Team Palay) (Submission 0:33)
Round 2 - Frank LaVoie (Littleton) won by decision over Shaun W Scott (Team Palay) (Dec 9-0)
100+ KG/unlimited
1st Place - Gabe Beauperthuy of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Terrell Young of Gracie Barra Spring Lake
Round 1 - Gabe Beauperthuy (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Terrell Young (Gracie Barra Spring Lake) (Submission 1:06)
Round 2 - Gabe Beauperthuy (Edge MMA & Fitness) won by submission over Terrell Young (Gracie Barra Spring Lake) (Submission 1:01)
Senior Women
58 KG/127.9 lbs
1st Place - Bethany Marshall of modern american mma
64 KG/141 lbs
1st Place - Colleen Schneider of Edge MMA & Fitness
71 KG/156.5 lbs
1st Place - Marina Shafir of Edge MMA & Fitness
UWW Juniors (18-19 years)
71 KG/156.5 lbs
1st Place - Zane Knight of Alexander Central High School
UWW Cadets-Boys (16-17 years old)
58 KG/127.75 lbs
1st Place - Jazziel Ortiz of Team R.O.C
U.S. Grappling Cup Standings
1. Edge MMA and Fitness, 12 pts.
2. Modern American MMA, 8 pts.
3. Checkmat, 3 pts.
4. (tie) Littleton, Leicester, 2 pts.
6. (tie) Carolina Elite, Air Force WC, Pan Am Wrestling, Team Palay, Gracie Barra Spring Lake, 1 pt.
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