U.S. Masters National Championships return to Las Vegas, Nev., April 24-25

The U.S. Masters Freestyle and Greco-Roman Nationals returns to Las Vegas, Nev., April 24-25.

The event, which is for adult athletes 25-years-old and above, is part of the 2018 Open Wrestling Championships at the South Point Hotel.

The Open, 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.

In 2017 there were a total of 17 double champions who are anticipated to return for this year’s competition.

Double-title division A winners included Andrew Nicola (Concordia Wrestling Club) at 69 kg, Marcus Cobbs (Truett Wrestling Clubs) at 63 kg and Ike Okoli (Chicago Wrestling Club) at heavy weight.

Other double-title winners of Divisions B and C anticipated to return for this year’s competitions include Jason Goldman (Team JGold) at 50-58 kg, Antonino Calandra (The Wrestling Family – Italia) at 69 kg, Kevin Pine (Las Vegas WC) at 85 kg, Roman Vodoviz (Chicago Wrestling Club) at 69 kg, Brett Clark (Team Fluffy) at heavy weight, Joe Raia (Chicago Wrestling Club) at 63 kg, Igor Llin (Chicago Wrestling Club) at 76 kg and George Porter (Chicago Wrestling Club) at heavyweight.

Division D, and E double-title winners included James Kasser (Crush Wrestling Club) at 69 kg, Bill Newton (Team Fluffy) at 76 kg, Brian Jones (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling) at heavyweight, Valery Sorokov (Chicago Wrestling Club) at 85 kg, Steve Contarino (Palmetto) at 97 kg and Jack Schwartz (USC) at heavyweight.

All competitors in Masters Class C, D and E must present a letter of medical clearance at USA Wrestling National Events medical check to Weigh in that states the competitor is cleared to compete without any restriction.

The letter must state that the competitor has the cardiovascular ability to compete in an intense, vigorous competition per UWW Federation Regulations. The letter must be dated within 90 days of competition. The letter must clearly identify the MD or DO with location and contact information for MD or DO.

All eligible athletes can register for all events online at FloWrestling until 9:00 a.m. PT on Thursday, April 24. Onsite registration is available for a higher price.

Click HERE to register for the Masters National Championship

Chicago Wrestling Club walked away in 2017 with two team trophies, winning the Greco-Roman Masters Cup with 125 points and taking the Freestyle Masters Cup with 135 points.

Many of the competitors who compete in the Masters National Championships are also expected to enter the UWW Veterans World Championships. Freestyle will be held in Skopje, Macedonia, September 28-30. Greco-Roman will be held in Perm, Russia, October 5-7. 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.

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

2018 MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS EVENT SCHEDULE (Pacific Time)
LAS VEGAS, NEV., APRIL 24-25

Tuesday, April 24
Masters Greco-Roman:
9:00 AM (Pacific Time) – Online Athlete Registration Deadline
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (Pacific Time) – Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off
12:30PM - 1:00PM (Pacific Time) – Medical Check and Weigh-In

Important Weigh-in Information
• Masters Greco-Roman Nationals Medical Check and Weigh-in
• Athletes competing in BOTH Masters Greco-Roman Nationals and Masters Nationals 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 Freestyle only must weigh in on Tuesday during the scheduled time.
2:30PM - 3:00PM –Nationals Rules Clinic for Athletes and Coaches
3:00PM – 8:00PM – (All Session) Preliminaries – Finals

Masters Freestyle:
5:30PM - 6:00PM (Pacific Time) – Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off
6:00PM - 6:30PM (Pacific Time) – Medical Check and Weigh-in

Wednesday, April 25
Masters Freestyle:
8:30AM - 9:00AM (Pacific Time) – Nationals Rules Clinic for Athletes and Coaches
9:00AM – 1:00PM (Pacific Time) – (Session 1) Preliminaries, Consolation, Semi-Finals
2:00PM – 6:00PM – (Session 2) Consolation Semi-Finals Finals, Medal Rounds

2017 Masters Greco-Roman National Champions

Division A (Ages 25-34)
63 kg – Marcus Cobbs (Truett WC)
69 kg – Andrew Nicola (Concordia Wrestling Club)
76 kg – Alex Rinas (GHW)
85 kg – Nathaniel Augustson (505 Wrestling Club)
97 kg – Sean Nonamaker (Unattached)
97-130 kg – Ike Okoli (Chicago Wrestling Club)

Division B (Ages 35-43)
50-58 kg – Jason Goldman (Team JGold)
63 kg – Aleksandr Serebrinnikov (Chicago Wrestling Club)
69 kg – Roman Vodoviz (Chicago Wrestling Club)
76 kg – Norman Manning (Unattached)
85 kg – Leif Williams (Fin Spin Elite)
97 kg – James Mediros (SK Goldenboys)
97-130 kg – Brett Clark (Team Fluffy)

Division C (Ages 44-52)
50-58 kg – Ric Fehr (Relentless Wrestling Club)
63 kg – Joe Raia (Chicago Wrestling Club)
69 kg – Antonino Calandra (The Wrestling Family - Italia)
76 kg – Igor Llin (Chicago Wrestling Club)
85 kg – Kevin Pine (Las Vegs WC)
97 kg – Gelu Bors (Las Vegas WC)
97-130 kg – George Porter (Chicago Wrestling Club)

Division D (Ages 53-61)
63 kg – Hedj Nelson (INWTC)
69 kg – James Kasser (Crush Wrestling Club)
76 kg – Bill Newton (Team Fluffy)
85 kg – Montymonty Graham (Rick Sanders Wrestling)
97 kg – Larry Robertson (Rick Sanders Wrestling)
130 kg – Brian Jones (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling)

Division E (Ages 62-70)
63 kg – Steve Barkman (Hunterdon Hills Wrestling Club)
69 kg – Kenneth Bonte (Unattached)
76 kg – Lyubomir Lambov (Chicago Wrestling Club)
85 kg – Valery Sorokov (Chicago Wrestling Club)
97 kg – Steve Contarino (Palmetto)
130 kg – Jack Schwartz (USC)

2017 Masters Freestyle National Champions

Division A (Ages 25-34)
63 kg – Marcus Cobbs (Truett Wrestling Clubs)
69 kg – Andrew Nicola (Concordia Wrestling Club)
76 kg – Jordin Humphrey (TMWC)
85 kg – Andre Blake (Relentless Wrestling Club)
97 kg – Frank Richmond (Nor Cal Wrestling Academy)
97-130 kg – Ike Okoli (Chicago Wrestling Club)

Division B (Ages 35-43)
50-58 kg – Jason Goldman (Team JGold)
63 kg – David Yi (Mad Dawg Wrestling Club)
69 kg – Roman Vodoviz (Chicago Wrestling Club)
76 kg – Rudy James (Apple Valley Wrestling Club)
85 kg – Jeff Estrada (Sons of Thunder Academy)
97 kg – James Medeiros (SK Goldenboys)
97-130 kg – Brett Clark (Team Fluffy)

Division C (Ages 44-52)
50-58 kg – Carson Gainey (Ohio Core)
63 kg – Joe Raia (Chicago Wrestling Club)
69 kg – Antonino Calandra (The Wrestling Family – Italia)
76 kg – Igor Llin (Chicago Wrestling Club)
85 kg – Kevin Pine (Las Vegas WC)
97 kg – Jeff Anderson (Chicago Wrestling Club)
97-130 kg – George Porter (Chicago Wrestling Club)

Division D (Ages 53-61)
50-58 kg – Zhora Hovhannisyan (Arm)
63 kg – Keith Stagg (Township of Washington)
69 kg – James Kasser (Crush Wrestling Club)
76 kg – Bill Newton (Team Fluffy)
85 kg – Jose Betancourt (Robbinsville)
97 kg – James Clark (Valhalla Wrestling Team)
97-130 kg – Brian Jones (Santa Monica Bay Wrestling)

Division E (Ages 62-70)
50-58 kg – Robert Karstetter (Team BIG)
69 kg – Craig Johnson (Unattached)
76 kg – Jeff Jacobs (Brown Bears)