Pizano, Coptsias, Shalack among Senior champions at USA Wrestling Beach Nationals in North Carolina

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. – The twentieth year of Beach Wrestling began with the 2025 USA Wrestling Beach Nationals in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, on Saturday. There were multiple tournaments held alongside each other, with 8 rings and over 300 participants taking part in the action.

Not only was this the 20th anniversary of the first-ever Beach National Championships, created in 2006 in Riviera Beach, Florida, but this was the 10th time the event has been held in Carolina Beach, the most of any city.

A beach wrestling match is three minutes long, but ends when one athlete scores three points.

The U.S. Senior Nationals is a qualifying event for the U.S. teams at the 2025 Beach World Series, with champions automatically qualified for any Beach World Series event they wish to enter.

The Senior Women’s division saw four champions crowned in the afternoon.  At 50 kg, Adriana Gomez of Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club secured back-to-back victories over Leila Rosas of Power Training Center. She opened with a 3-0 win in round one, and took home the title after Rosas was unable to wrestle in round two.

Ciara Riner of West Virginia was unstoppable in the Senior division. In the finals at 60 kg, Riner won both matches by forfeit. She also competed in the U20 division on Saturday.

Olivia Pizano, competing for Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC, battled through two rounds against Sadie Evans of Ford Dynasty Wrestling Club, securing her national title with consecutive wins, including a 4-1 victory followed by a 3-0 win.

In the Over 70 kg division, Isabeau Shalack of Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club, an experienced beach competitor, won her first match over Anastasia Hardin, 2-1. Shalack claimed the title after Hardin forfeited the final bout.

David Coptsias of North Carolina claimed the title in the 70 kg Senior Men’s division with a hard-fought series win over Wyatt Abele of Southeast Ohio WC. Coptsias secured the series lead with a 3-1 win in the first round. In a decisive third round match, Coptsias edged out Abele, 3-2, winning the title.

Coptsias competed at the 2024 U20 World Championships in Beach Wrestling, placing 16th. This is his first year moving into the Senior Men’s division.

At 80 kg, West Virginia’s Cameron Pine was strong against Keenan Graef of Kansas, winning in two matches. He took the first round 3-1 and held on for a tight 3-2 win in the second, clinching the title in two.

Jacob Bumgardner of Bremen Takedown Club, competing at 90 kg, defeated Trevor Hoffmier of New York in the championship series. Bumgardner opened with a 3-1 win before finishing the series with a 3-0 shut out over Hoffmier to claim the title.

Brandon Williams of North Carolina won both matches by injury default in the Over 90 kg best-of-three series.

For full results, visit USA Bracketing.

2025 Senior Beach Nationals

At Carolina Beach, N.C., May 10, 2025

Senior Men’s Results

70 kg

Champ. Round 1 - David Coptsias (North Carolina) VSU1 Wyatt Abele (Southeast Ohio WC), 3-1

Champ. Round 2 - David Coptsias (North Carolina) Rule Wyatt Abele (Southeast Ohio Wrestling Club)

Champ. Round 3 - David Coptsias (North Carolina) VSU1 Wyatt Abele (Southeast Ohio WC), 3-2

80 kg

Champ. Round 1 - Cameron Pine (West Virginia) VSU1 Keenan Graef (Kansas), (3-1)

Champ. Round 2 - Cameron Pine (West Virginia) VSU1 Keenan Graef (Kansas), (3-2)

90 kg

Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Bumgardner (Bremen Takedown Club) VSU Trevor Hoffmier (New York), 3-1

Champ. Round 2 - Jacob Bumgardner (Bremen Takedown Club) VFA Trevor Hoffmier (New York), 3-0

+90 kg

Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Williams (North Carolina) VIN Dylan Hefner (Ohio),

Champ. Round 2 - Brandon Williams (North Carolina) VIN Dylan Hefner (Ohio),

Senior Women’s Results

50 kg

Champ. Round 1 - Adriana Gomez (Colorado Mesa WC) VFA Leila Rosas (Power Training Center), 3-0

Champ. Round 2 - Adriana Gomez (Colorado Mesa WC) VIN Leila Rosas (Power Training Center)

60 kg

Champ. Round 1 - Ciara Riner (West Virginia) VFO Kennedie Snow

Champ. Round 2 - Ciara Riner (West Virginia) VFO Kennedie Snow

70 kg

Champ. Round 1 - Olivia Pizano (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC) VFA1 Sadie Evans (Ford Dynasty WC), 4-1

Champ. Round 2 - Olivia Pizano (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC) VFA Sadie Evans (Ford Dynasty WC), 3-0

+70 kg

Champ. Round 1 - Isabeau Shalack (Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club) VSU1 Anastasia Hardin, (2-1)

Champ. Round 2 - Isabeau Shalack (Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club) over Anastasia Hardin, forf.