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Masters National Championships in freestyle and Greco-Roman set for Las Vegas, April 26-27

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by Kala Ibarra, USA Wrestling

2016 Masters double champion James Kasser of Ohio competing in Las Vegas last year. Photo by Robbert Wijtman.

The name is different, but the game is the same. The U.S. Masters Freestyle and Greco-Roman Nationals, formerly known as the Veterans National Championships, returns to Las Vegas, Nev., April 26-27.

The event, which is for adult athletes 25-years-old and above, is part of the 2017 Open Wrestling Championships at the South Point Hotel. The Open, billed as “All Ages, All Styles,” and offers competitions in men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, Greco-Roman, folkstyle and Grappling in a variety of age-group levels.

The Masters National Championships offers athletes chance to continue their inner warrior and prove they still have what it takes to win the coveted USA Wrestling “Stop Sign.”

One of the major achievements for the Masters wrestlers in Las Vegas will be an effort to win a double title, which goes to anybody who wins USA Wrestling titles in freestyle and Greco-Roman the same year.

Returning double-title winner Brett Clark (Team Fluffy) is making a run for a third double-title as a heavyweight. Clark is set to compete in Division B of the tournament.

Another double-title heavyweight wrestler that is registered for this year’s Masters National Championships is Sean Nonamaker (Unattached) in Division A. 2016 double-title winner at 63 kg, David Yi is also registered and expected to return to this year's Masters.

Other double-title winners of Divisions A and B anticipated to return for this year’s competitions include Josh Aarons (Buffalo Valley RTC) at 58 kg, Roger Stewart (Colorado) at 58 kg, Andrew Nicola (CBU WA) at 69 kg, and Ernie Vasheresse (Bay Area Dawgz) at 85 kg.

Division C, D, and E double-title winners anticipated to return include Jason Goldman (Team JGold) at 58 kg, Aleksander Serebrinnikov (Chicago WC) at 63 kg, Antonino Calandra (Italia) at 69 kg, James Kasser( Crush WC) at 69 kg, Bill Newton (Team Fluffy) at 76 kg, Eric Cluck (US Wrestling Club) at 76 kg, Kevin Pine (Las Vegas WC) at 85 kg, John Hanrahan (US Wrestling Club/NYAC) at 85 kg, and Jeff Anderson (Chicago WC) at 97 kg.

Many of the competitors who compete in the Masters National Championships are also expected to enter the UWW Veterans World Championships, which will be held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, October 10-15. Attending the Veterans Nationals is not required of wrestlers who go to the World meet, but most of the U.S. athletes at the Veterans level compete in Vegas as a way to help prepare for international competition.

All eligible athletes can register for all events online at TrackWrestling until 9:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday, April 25. Onsite registration is available for a higher price.

For more information on events please visit event website:
Masters National Championships

MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At South Point Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev., April 25-27


Wednesday, April 26
9:00 a.m.- Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off for Masters Greco-Roman and Freestyle Nationals
10:00 a.m.- Masters Greco-Roman Nationals Medical Check & Weigh-in
10:30 a.m.- Mat Officials and Coaches Clinic for Masters Greco-Roman Nationals (All coaches are welcome to attend this meeting)
12:30 p.m.- Masters Greco-Roman Nationals Rules Clinic for Athletes and Coaches
1:00 p.m.- Masters Greco-Roman Nationals – Preliminaries and Consolations (will wrestle as far as possible)
6:00 p.m.- Masters Greco-Roman Nationals –Medal Matches and Finals
7:30 p.m.- Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off for Masters Freestyle Nationals
8:00 p.m.- Masters Freestyle Nationals Medical Check & Weigh-in

Thursday, April 27
8:30 a.m.- Masters Freestyle Nationals Rules Clinic for Athletes and Coaches
9:00 a.m.- Masters Freestyle Nationals – Preliminaries
2:30 p.m.- Rules Clinic for Athletes & Coaches
3:00 p.m.- Masters Freestyle Nationals – Preliminaries, Medal Matches and Finals

Click here for full U.S. Open Championships Schedule

2016 Veterans Freestyle Nationals Champions

A Division
58 kg- Josh Aarons of Buffalo Valley RTC
63 kg- Richard Rios of Legends of Gold
69 kg- Andrew Nicola of CBU Wrestling Academy
76 kg- Jason Welch of Chicago RTC / Titan Mercury WC
85 kg- Ernie Vasheresse of Bay Area Dawgz
97 kg- Mitchell Marshall of Marshall
130 kg- Sean Nonamaker of Be a Champion in Life

B Division
58 kg- Roger Stewart of Colorado
63kg- David Yi of Pleasant Hill
69 kg- Jason Lowe of IEWA Veterans
76 kg- Rudy James of Apple Valley
85 kg- Brian Cobb of Team Fluffy
97 kg- Brad Steele of Rock Springs
130 kg- Brett Clark of Team Fluffy

C Division
58 kg- Jason Goldman of Team JGold
63 kg- Aleksandr Serebrinnikov of Chicago Wrestling Club
69 kg- Antonino Calandra of italia
76 kg- Jacob Hey of ILWACO
85 kg- Eric Cluck of US Wrestling Club
97 kg- Roger Shoup of Unattached
130 kg- Aaron Hayes of IEWA Veterans

D Division
58 kg- Nara Sihavong of Team Fluffy
63 kg- Keith Stagg of Township of Washington
69 kg- James Kasser of Crush WC
76 kg- Bill Newton of Team Fluffy
85 kg- Kevin Pine of Las Vegas WC
97 kg- Jeff Anderrson of Chicago Wrestling Club
130 kg- Samuel Thomas of No Team

E Division
58 kg- Derril Fry of Devil Dog Wrestling Club
69 kg- Didier Nicolas of Las Vegas WC
76 kg- Steve Morris of Rick Sanders Wrestling
85 kg- John Hanrahan of US Wrestling Club | NYAC
97 kg- Vito Errico of GPS Wrestling
130 kg- Lawrence Biggs of Santa Monica Bay Wrestling Club

Female Veterans Div. B - 58 KG
1st Place - Meghann Marchello of Battle Born Girls Wrestling

2016 Veterans Greco-Roman Nationals Champions

A Division
58 kg- Josh Aarons of Bison Legend Wrestling Club Jos
69 kg- Andrew Nicola of CBU Wrestling Academy
76 kg- Daniel Hernandez of Core Speed
85 kg- Ernie Vasheresse of Bay Area Dawgz
97 kg- Kevin Chilton of None
130 kg- Sean Nonamaker of Be a Champion in Life

B Division
58 kg- Roger Stewart of New York Athletic Club
63 kg- David Yi of Pleasant Hill
69 kg- Shawn Weltzin of Thompson High School
76kg- Jason Kleinschmidt of Aviators Wrestling
85 kg- Matthew Corona of Team Fluffy
97 kg- Jacob Clark of Wrestle-Jitsu/Minnesota Storm
130 kg- Brett Clark of Team Fluffy

C Division
58 kg- Jason Goldman of Team JGold
63 kg- Aleksandr Serebrinnikov of Chicago Wrestling Club
69 kg- Antonino Calandra of Italia
76 kg- Jacob Hey of ILWACO
85 kg- Eric Mancini of Nieves Wrestling Club
97 kg- Gelu Bors of Las Vegas WC
130 kg- Gabe Beauperthuy of Unattached

D Division
63 kg- Ric Fehr of Unattached
69 kg- James Kasser of Crush WC
76 kg- Bill Newton of Team Fluffy
85 kg- Kevin Pine of Las Vegas WC
97 kg- Jeff Anderson of Chicago Wrestling Club
130 kg- Petrica Constandache of Shelby Township

E Division
58 kg- Derril Fry of Devil Dog Wrestling Club
76 kg- Bruce Moe of None
85 kg- John Hanrahan of US Wrestling Club | NYAC
97 kg- Vito Errico of GPS Wrestling`
130 kg- Robert Clinkscales of Las Vegas WC

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