Isbell-Kemp, Sword, Bradley, Betanzo make historic women’s team with World Beach Games Trials victories
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Top Photo: The USA Wrestling Beach World Games Trials champions (left to right): Donell Bradley (+70 kg), Ashley Sword (60 kg), Shauna Isbell-Kemp (50 kg), Kristal Betanzo (50 kg), with Associated Styles Committee member Rusty Davidson.
Bottom Photo: Shauna Isbell-Kemp hits a high single leg against Estrella Maestas at the Beach World Games Trials.
Photos by Robbert Wijtman
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Four women won gold medals at the historic Women’s Beach World Games Trials in the sand pit at the Priefort Pavilion.
The U.S. Women’s Beach World Games Trials champions are Kristal Betanzo of Hillsborough, Calif. at 50 kg, Shawna Isbell-Kemp of Jamestown, N.D. at 60 kg, Ashley Sword of Decatur, Ga. at 70 kg and Donell Bradley of Hephzibah, Ga. at Over 70 kg.
These athletes qualified to represent the United States at a new multi-sport international event, the ANOC World Beach Games, set for Mission Beach in San Diego, Calif., October 12-13.
Each of these athletes have competed at a high level within USA Wrestling in the past, and are becoming pioneers in the development of women’s Beach wrestling in the United States.
Isbell-Kemp is the head coach for women’s wrestling at Jamestown University in North Dakota, and is a past member of the U.S. Senior Women’s National Team.
Isbell-Kemp won her best-of-three Championship series in two straight matches, beating Estrella Maestas of Las Vegas, Nev., 3-0 in bout one and 3-0 in bout two.
VIDEO: Shauna Isbell-Kemp interview
Sword is the head coach for women’s wrestling at Life University in Georgia, and is also a past member of the U.S. Senior Women’s World Team. She also coaches with Team Georgia.
Sword won her best-of-three Championship series over Kayla Weed of Chehalis, Wash., 3-0 in the first and 3-0 in the second.
VIDEO: Ashley Sword interview
Bradley was an athlete on the early Missouri Valley College women’s wrestling team and also qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s National Team. She is currently coaching with Harlem High School in Georgia and is a coach with Team Georgia.
Bradley won a semifinal match over Miranda Brown of Olympia, Wash. to qualify for the best of three Championship Series. She defeated Diana Betanzo of Hillsborough, Calif. in two straight, 5-0 and 3-0.
VIDEO: Donell Bradley interview
Betanzo was a 2017 UWW Cadet Nationals silver medalist and a CIF state qualifier in California. Her mom, Beach Trials silver medalist Diana Betanzo, competed for on a number of U.S. Senior Women’s World Teams in freestyle.
VIDEO: Kristal Betanzo interview
Beach Wrestling is one of only 15 sports which will be included in this historic first-ever Beach World Games. The competition is endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, with the Beach Wrestling competition being organized by United World Wrestling. The U.S. team in all of the participating sports will be managed by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
WOMEN’S BEACH WORLD GAMES TRIALS
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 28
Results
50 kg
Gold – Kristal Betanzo, Hillsborough, Calif. (Leviathon WC)
60 kg
Gold – Shauna Isbell-Kemp, Jamestown, N.D. (Titan Mercury WC)
Silver – Estrella Maestas, Las Vegas, Nev.
Bronze – Lisa Ellis, Olympia, Wash. (United Training Center)
Championship Series – Kemp dec. Maestas, 2 matches to 0
Bout 1 – Kemp dec. Maestas, 3-0
Bout 2 – Kemp dec. Maestas, 3-0
Semifinals - Semifinals – Maestas dec. Ellis, 3-0
70 kg
Gold – Ashley Sword, Decatur Ga. (Valkyrie WC)
Silver – Kayla Weed, Chehalis, Wash. (United Training Center)
Championship Series – Sword dec. Weed, 2 matches to 0
Bout 1 – Sword dec. Weed, 3-0
Bout 2 – Sword dec. Weed, 3-0
Over 70 kg
Gold – Donell Bradley, Hephizibah, Ga. (Morris Fitness)
Silver – Diana Betanzo, Hillsborough, Calif. (Leviathon WC)
Bronze – Miranda Brown, Olympia, Wash. (United Training Center)
Championship Series – Bradley dec. Betanzo, 2 matches to 0
Bout 1 – Bradley dec. Betanzo, 5-0
Bout 2 – Bradley dec. Betanzo, 3-0
Semifinals – Bradley dec. Brown, 3-0
Bottom Photo: Shauna Isbell-Kemp hits a high single leg against Estrella Maestas at the Beach World Games Trials.
Photos by Robbert Wijtman
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Four women won gold medals at the historic Women’s Beach World Games Trials in the sand pit at the Priefort Pavilion.
The U.S. Women’s Beach World Games Trials champions are Kristal Betanzo of Hillsborough, Calif. at 50 kg, Shawna Isbell-Kemp of Jamestown, N.D. at 60 kg, Ashley Sword of Decatur, Ga. at 70 kg and Donell Bradley of Hephzibah, Ga. at Over 70 kg.
These athletes qualified to represent the United States at a new multi-sport international event, the ANOC World Beach Games, set for Mission Beach in San Diego, Calif., October 12-13.
Each of these athletes have competed at a high level within USA Wrestling in the past, and are becoming pioneers in the development of women’s Beach wrestling in the United States.
Isbell-Kemp is the head coach for women’s wrestling at Jamestown University in North Dakota, and is a past member of the U.S. Senior Women’s National Team.
Isbell-Kemp won her best-of-three Championship series in two straight matches, beating Estrella Maestas of Las Vegas, Nev., 3-0 in bout one and 3-0 in bout two.
VIDEO: Shauna Isbell-Kemp interview
Sword is the head coach for women’s wrestling at Life University in Georgia, and is also a past member of the U.S. Senior Women’s World Team. She also coaches with Team Georgia.
Sword won her best-of-three Championship series over Kayla Weed of Chehalis, Wash., 3-0 in the first and 3-0 in the second.
VIDEO: Ashley Sword interview
Bradley was an athlete on the early Missouri Valley College women’s wrestling team and also qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s National Team. She is currently coaching with Harlem High School in Georgia and is a coach with Team Georgia.
Bradley won a semifinal match over Miranda Brown of Olympia, Wash. to qualify for the best of three Championship Series. She defeated Diana Betanzo of Hillsborough, Calif. in two straight, 5-0 and 3-0.
VIDEO: Donell Bradley interview
Betanzo was a 2017 UWW Cadet Nationals silver medalist and a CIF state qualifier in California. Her mom, Beach Trials silver medalist Diana Betanzo, competed for on a number of U.S. Senior Women’s World Teams in freestyle.
VIDEO: Kristal Betanzo interview
Beach Wrestling is one of only 15 sports which will be included in this historic first-ever Beach World Games. The competition is endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, with the Beach Wrestling competition being organized by United World Wrestling. The U.S. team in all of the participating sports will be managed by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
WOMEN’S BEACH WORLD GAMES TRIALS
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 28
Results
50 kg
Gold – Kristal Betanzo, Hillsborough, Calif. (Leviathon WC)
60 kg
Gold – Shauna Isbell-Kemp, Jamestown, N.D. (Titan Mercury WC)
Silver – Estrella Maestas, Las Vegas, Nev.
Bronze – Lisa Ellis, Olympia, Wash. (United Training Center)
Championship Series – Kemp dec. Maestas, 2 matches to 0
Bout 1 – Kemp dec. Maestas, 3-0
Bout 2 – Kemp dec. Maestas, 3-0
Semifinals - Semifinals – Maestas dec. Ellis, 3-0
70 kg
Gold – Ashley Sword, Decatur Ga. (Valkyrie WC)
Silver – Kayla Weed, Chehalis, Wash. (United Training Center)
Championship Series – Sword dec. Weed, 2 matches to 0
Bout 1 – Sword dec. Weed, 3-0
Bout 2 – Sword dec. Weed, 3-0
Over 70 kg
Gold – Donell Bradley, Hephizibah, Ga. (Morris Fitness)
Silver – Diana Betanzo, Hillsborough, Calif. (Leviathon WC)
Bronze – Miranda Brown, Olympia, Wash. (United Training Center)
Championship Series – Bradley dec. Betanzo, 2 matches to 0
Bout 1 – Bradley dec. Betanzo, 5-0
Bout 2 – Bradley dec. Betanzo, 3-0
Semifinals – Bradley dec. Brown, 3-0
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