Kelly, Beauperthuy and Simpson among champions at the 2016 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
| Mike Kelly works from side control against Thomas Domerese at the 2016 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials. Photo: Robbert Wijtman, CSC Sports Photography. |
Winners at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials qualified to represent the United States at the 2016 Senior Grappling World Championships in Minsk, Belarus, Sept. 30-Oct. 3.
Sunday’s competition featured tournaments in three different styles: No-Gi Grappling, Gi Grappling and Belt Wrestling.
Competing for Old School Wrestling, Kelly, a 2015 Grappling World silver medalist, won the No-Gi 77 kg round robin weight class by winning all three of his bouts on the day. He defeated runner-up Robert McIntyre, 5-0, for the gold medal.
“It was a pretty good day for me. I stuck to what I do and try to wrestle inside a little box and never step out, get to my positions and score. It’s worked well for me,” said Kelly.
Kelly has earned seven World Grappling medals for the U.S., two silver and five bronze, and will have the opportunity to chase gold once more.
Joining Kelly as a repeat U.S. World Team member, Beauperthuy of Edge MMA & Fitness scored four big wins at 100+ kg/unlimited, including three submission victories and an overtime win over runner-up Joshua Barnett to take gold.
Beauperthuy also claimed top prize in the Gi Grappling and Belt tournaments. Mark Hulus of Edge MMA & Fitness, competing at 62 kg, was the only other competitor to win first place in all three styles.
Obie Simpson of the Harvey Twisters WC picked up three victories at 84 kg to win his first U.S. Grappling World Team Trials championship and qualify for his first World Team.
“This weekend was definitely a good experience,” Simpson said. “It was really more of a personal choice to just really grow. This is my first time competing in two years. I just wanted to prove something to myself. I told myself I could do this.”
Other No-Gi Senior Men securing U.S. World Team berths were Aaron Johnson of Team James Clingerman at 66 kg, Daniel Rodruigez of Rodriguez BJJ at 71 kg, Josh Eckmann of Old School Wrestling at 92 kg and Carlos Soto of Atos at 100kg.
In the No-Gi Senior Women’s division, Lisa Ward of United Training Center won two straight matches by submission over 2015 World bronze medalist Jessica Philippus of Edge MMA & Fitness at 53 kg.
Ward’s United Training Center teammate Laree Callihan took the 71+ kg/unlimited division over runner-up Angela Marino of Bakersfield.
Winning the U.S. Grappling Cup as the team champions for the third straight year was Edge MMA and Fitness. United Training Center finished in second place.
The U.S. Air Force won its second-straight U.S. Military Cup, given to the branch of the U.S. Military which scored the most points.
For complete brackets and results in all three style from the 2016 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials visit Trackwrestling.com.
U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS
May 22 at Wilmington, N.C.
No-Gi Grappling
Senior Men
62 kg
1st Place - Mark Huls of Edge MMA & Fitness
66 kg
1st Place - Aaron Johnson of Team James Clingerman
71 kg
1st Place - Daniel Rodriguez of Rodriguez bjj
2nd Place - Mitch Peterson of Edge MMA & Fitness
77 kg
1st Place - Michael Kelly of Old School Wrestling
2nd Place - Robert McIntyre of United training Center
3rd Place - Thomas Domerese of Air Force Wrestling Club
4th Place - Russ Tabaka of Old School Wrestling
84 kg
1st Place - Obie Simpson of Harvey Twisters WC
2nd Place - Dan Brecht of Edge MMA & Fitness
3rd Place - Richard Tado of Old School Wrestling
4th Place - Kyle Gage of Edge MMA & Fitness
92 kg.
1st Place - Josh Eckmann of Old School Wrestling
2nd Place - Shaun W Scott of Team Palay
100 kg
1st Place - Carlos Soto of Atos
2nd Place - Kenneth Gamble of Awaken
100+ kg/unlimited
1st Place - Gabe Beauperthuy of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Joshua Barnett of CSW
3rd Place - Jason Needham of United training Center
4th Place - Gabe Barahona of Edge MMA & Fitness
5th Place - Jared Loper of Fort Wayne
Senior Women
53 kg
1st Place - Lisa Ward of United training Center
2nd Place - Jessica Philippus of Edge MMA & Fitness
71+ kg/unlimited
1st Place - Laree Callihan of United training Center
2nd Place - Angela Marino of Bakersfield
Gi Grappling
Senior Men
62 kg
1st Place - Mark Huls of Edge MMA & Fitness
66 kg
1st Place - Aaron Johnson of Team James Clingerman
71 kg
1st Place - Mitch Peterson of Edge MMA & Fitness
77 kg
1st Place - Russ Tabaka of Old School Wrestling
2nd Place - Michael Kelly of Old School Wrestling
3rd Place - Thomas Domerese of Air Force Wrestling Club
4th Place - Robert McIntyre of United training Center
84 kg
1st Place - Dan Brecht of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Richard Tado of Old School Wrestling
3rd Place - Obie Simpson of Harvey Twisters WC
4th Place - Kyle Gage of Edge MMA & Fitness
92 kg
1st Place - Josh Eckmann of Old School Wrestling
2nd Place - Shaun W Scott of Team Palay
100 kg
1st Place - Carlos Soto of Atos
100+ kg
1st Place - Gabe Beauperthuy of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Gabe Barahona of Edge MMA & Fitness
3rd Place - Jared Loper of Fort Wayne
Senior Women
53 kg
1st Place - Jessica Philippus of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Lisa Ward of United training Center
70+ kg
1st Place - Laree Callihan of United training Center
Belt Wrestling
Senior Men
70 kg
1st Place - Mark Huls of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place – Mitch Peterson of Edge MMA & Fitness
80 kg
1st Place - Michael Kelly of Old School Wrestling
90 kg
1st Place - Josh Eckmann of Old School Wrestling
2nd Place - Shaun W Scott of Team Palay
3rd Place - Richard Tado of Old School Wrestling
90+ kg
1st Place - Gabe Beauperthuy of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Carlos Soto of Atos
Senior Women
53 kg
1st Place - Jessica Philippus of Edge MMA & Fitness
2nd Place - Lisa Ward of United training Center
