Grappling World Team Trials to air on two FloSports sites, with talented field in Las Vegas, April 27-29
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
For the first time, the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials will be broadcast by both FloWrestling and FloGrappling. This will bring USA Wrestling’s premier Senior-level Grappling competition to a wide wrestling audience on FloWrestling, and a large and passionate audience from the Grappling and Jiu-Jitsu community on FloGrappling.
USA Wrestling will host its U.S. Grappling World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., April 27-29 at the South Point Hotel and Casino. The event features the two recognized styles of UWW Grappling, with the Gi competition on Thursday, April 27 and the No-Gi division set for Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29. It is an Open competition for both men and women, with no pre-qualification necessary.
Winners of the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials will qualify to represent the United States on the Senior level at the 2017 United World Wrestling (UWW) Grappling World Championships set for Baku, Azerbaijan, October 18-21.
Although the field is expected to grow and strengthen in the next week leading up to the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials, a number of past UWW Grappling World medalists and World Team members have already signed up for the competition, with more expected to register in the coming days.
On the women’s side, Lisa Ward Ellis of the United Training Center in Washington, is entered. She has won the most Grappling World gold medals in USA Wrestling history with five, including four World titles in No-Gi and one in Gi. Overall, she has eight career UWW World Grappling medals, No. 2 on USA Wrestling’s all-time list behind only Tara LaRosa with nine.
Two other past UWW Grappling World champions have signed up to compete, Jason Patino of Edge MMA/American Top Team at 71 kg and Brandon Ruiz of Edge MMA at the unlimited class. Patino was a No-Gi World champion for the USA in 2014 and is a three-time World medalist. Ruiz won the No-Gi World title in 2011 and boasts five career UWW Grappling World medals.
Mike Kelly of Old School in Illinois, who has won the most No-Gi World medals in USA Wrestling history with seven, returns to compete at 77 kg. Kelly boasts two World silver medals and five World bronze medals during his career. He also won a UWW Veterans Grappling gold medal two seasons ago.
Also pre-registered for the e vent is two-time UWW Grappling World medalist Laree Calihan of United Training Center in the women’s 70+ division. Bobby Yamashita of All-Navy, a 2013 UWW Gr Grappling World medalist, is competing in the men’s division.
A pair of 2016 Grappling World Team members, Dan Brecht of Edge MMA at 84 kg and Gabe Beauperthuy of United Training Center at heavyweight are also in the field. Beauperthuy also added a No-Gi Grappling World title at the Veterans age-level in 2016.
Many years, past wrestling stars have entered the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials to test their skills. Most prominent among those already registered is Hudson Taylor of Edge Hoboken in New Jersey, who was a three-time NCAA All-American for the University of Maryland and a talented freestyle wrestler as well.
For the third 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. Among the teams looking to battle for the team title this year are American Top Team, United Training Center, Old School, James Clingerman and other clubs. Clubs will be required to submit their full roster of entries in advance of the tournament in order for points to be awarded. Points will be scored in both the Gi and No-Gi division.
The Grappling Military Cup will again be awarded to the branch of the Armed Forces which scores the most points at the Grappling Trials. Last year’s winner was the U.S. Air Force. Athletes from a number of service branches have registered already.
Click here for the UWW Grappling Rules
The event will be held alongside the Open Wrestling Championships, a celebration of wrestling which features nine different competitions coming together. This includes competition in numerous age levels and styles, going from youth to high school to Senior-level to the Masters division. Styles to be contested are freestyle, Greco-Roman, folkstyle and Grappling. There is competition available for both men and women, boys and girls.
On-line registration is still open for both the Gi and No-Gi divisions at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials, which remains open through Tuesday, April 25 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ON-LINE
Grapplers can also register on-site during the registration time for each discipline, but discounted entry fee will not be available.
Those with additional questions can contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at 719-659-9637 cell.
U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS EVENT SCHEDULE
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 27-29
GI GRAPPLING
Thursday, April 27
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off for Grappling World Team Trials- Gi
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- Gi Medical Check & Weigh-in
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Mat Officials and Coaches Clinic for Grappling World Team Trials. All coaches are welcome to attend this meeting
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- Gi Rules Clinic for Athletes and Coaches
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- Gi– Preliminaries, Consolations and Medal Matches
Important Weigh-in Information
• Athletes competing in BOTH Grappling World Team Trials- Gi and No-Gi will only weigh-in once for both events.
• Athletes are responsible for picking up both weigh-in cards in order to have single weigh-in count.
• This is contingent upon the athlete actively competing in the first of the two wrestling styles scheduled.
• Athletes competing in No-Gi only must weigh in on Friday during the scheduled time.
NO-GI GRAPPLING
Friday, April 28
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. - Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off for Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi Medical Check & Weigh-in
12:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi Rules Clinic for Athletes and Coaches
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. - Session I - Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi – Preliminaries
Saturday, April 29
1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. - Session II - Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi – Finals and all Medals
Important Note: Athletes competing in both Gi and No-Gi who weigh-in on Thursday do not have to weigh-in again on Friday if they use both weigh-in cards on Thursday.
USA Wrestling will host its U.S. Grappling World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., April 27-29 at the South Point Hotel and Casino. The event features the two recognized styles of UWW Grappling, with the Gi competition on Thursday, April 27 and the No-Gi division set for Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29. It is an Open competition for both men and women, with no pre-qualification necessary.
Winners of the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials will qualify to represent the United States on the Senior level at the 2017 United World Wrestling (UWW) Grappling World Championships set for Baku, Azerbaijan, October 18-21.
Although the field is expected to grow and strengthen in the next week leading up to the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials, a number of past UWW Grappling World medalists and World Team members have already signed up for the competition, with more expected to register in the coming days.
On the women’s side, Lisa Ward Ellis of the United Training Center in Washington, is entered. She has won the most Grappling World gold medals in USA Wrestling history with five, including four World titles in No-Gi and one in Gi. Overall, she has eight career UWW World Grappling medals, No. 2 on USA Wrestling’s all-time list behind only Tara LaRosa with nine.
Two other past UWW Grappling World champions have signed up to compete, Jason Patino of Edge MMA/American Top Team at 71 kg and Brandon Ruiz of Edge MMA at the unlimited class. Patino was a No-Gi World champion for the USA in 2014 and is a three-time World medalist. Ruiz won the No-Gi World title in 2011 and boasts five career UWW Grappling World medals.
Mike Kelly of Old School in Illinois, who has won the most No-Gi World medals in USA Wrestling history with seven, returns to compete at 77 kg. Kelly boasts two World silver medals and five World bronze medals during his career. He also won a UWW Veterans Grappling gold medal two seasons ago.
Also pre-registered for the e vent is two-time UWW Grappling World medalist Laree Calihan of United Training Center in the women’s 70+ division. Bobby Yamashita of All-Navy, a 2013 UWW Gr Grappling World medalist, is competing in the men’s division.
A pair of 2016 Grappling World Team members, Dan Brecht of Edge MMA at 84 kg and Gabe Beauperthuy of United Training Center at heavyweight are also in the field. Beauperthuy also added a No-Gi Grappling World title at the Veterans age-level in 2016.
Many years, past wrestling stars have entered the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials to test their skills. Most prominent among those already registered is Hudson Taylor of Edge Hoboken in New Jersey, who was a three-time NCAA All-American for the University of Maryland and a talented freestyle wrestler as well.
For the third 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. Among the teams looking to battle for the team title this year are American Top Team, United Training Center, Old School, James Clingerman and other clubs. Clubs will be required to submit their full roster of entries in advance of the tournament in order for points to be awarded. Points will be scored in both the Gi and No-Gi division.
The Grappling Military Cup will again be awarded to the branch of the Armed Forces which scores the most points at the Grappling Trials. Last year’s winner was the U.S. Air Force. Athletes from a number of service branches have registered already.
Click here for the UWW Grappling Rules
The event will be held alongside the Open Wrestling Championships, a celebration of wrestling which features nine different competitions coming together. This includes competition in numerous age levels and styles, going from youth to high school to Senior-level to the Masters division. Styles to be contested are freestyle, Greco-Roman, folkstyle and Grappling. There is competition available for both men and women, boys and girls.
On-line registration is still open for both the Gi and No-Gi divisions at the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials, which remains open through Tuesday, April 25 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ON-LINE
Grapplers can also register on-site during the registration time for each discipline, but discounted entry fee will not be available.
Those with additional questions can contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at 719-659-9637 cell.
U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS EVENT SCHEDULE
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 27-29
GI GRAPPLING
Thursday, April 27
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off for Grappling World Team Trials- Gi
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- Gi Medical Check & Weigh-in
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Mat Officials and Coaches Clinic for Grappling World Team Trials. All coaches are welcome to attend this meeting
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- Gi Rules Clinic for Athletes and Coaches
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- Gi– Preliminaries, Consolations and Medal Matches
Important Weigh-in Information
• Athletes competing in BOTH Grappling World Team Trials- Gi and No-Gi will only weigh-in once for both events.
• Athletes are responsible for picking up both weigh-in cards in order to have single weigh-in count.
• This is contingent upon the athlete actively competing in the first of the two wrestling styles scheduled.
• Athletes competing in No-Gi only must weigh in on Friday during the scheduled time.
NO-GI GRAPPLING
Friday, April 28
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. - Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off for Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi Medical Check & Weigh-in
12:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. - Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi Rules Clinic for Athletes and Coaches
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. - Session I - Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi – Preliminaries
Saturday, April 29
1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. - Session II - Grappling World Team Trials- No-Gi – Finals and all Medals
Important Note: Athletes competing in both Gi and No-Gi who weigh-in on Thursday do not have to weigh-in again on Friday if they use both weigh-in cards on Thursday.
