Beach Blog: Beach Team USA provides tons of WOW moments in Greece

Sunday, September 28, 2025…You’ve seen Gary’s results.  Team USA produced some ‘WOW !’ moments in Katerini over the last four days.

WOW!  Team USA fielded 51 entries, spread over three age groups.  This is, by far, the largest delegation our nation has ever produced. 

WOW!  Our U17 Women brought home a third-place trophy.  Maddie Hayden earned a Silver medal and our depth put us on the team podium.

WOW ! We added a second-place trophy in the Women’s U20s.  Lorelei Hartman and Adriana Gomez led the charge, each with a Bronze Medal.  On the men’s side Dom Porter got on the podium with a Bronze of his own.

WOW!  Gomez bumped up to the Seniors Saturday and Sunday and knocked down yet another Bronze.  I’d like to offer a thumbs up to Colorado Mesa University, Head Women’s Coach Travis Mercado, and his staff.  Mesa has added several key contributors to the American Women’s Beach Wrestling effort.  Thanks, Mesa!

WOW!  Gary Abbott, in addition to fielding all the headaches of being Team Leader on a scattered, self-funded tour, stayed up late and had daily results waiting for us all.  For the past four decades we have all learned to count on Gary’s tenacity.  He’s never let us down !

Saving one of the better ‘WOWs’ for last.  Every Wrestling tournament produces at least one great story.  Seems like Beach Wrestling gets more than our share.

Beach athletes tend to be the ‘Gypsies’ of our sport.  A few athletes enjoy support from their collegiate programs, notably Stanford and Colorado Mesa.  For the most part, Beach competitors are entirely self-funded.

Clearly, the amount of Wrestling in their bloodstreams prompts these brave few to take extraordinary steps in answering wrestling’s call.  These ‘Gypsies’ make crazy sacrifices to feed their need to bring true wrestling values to life.

Missouri’s Kyle Brown has earned our ‘Spotlight on Crazy Wrestling Stunts’ Award of the last month or two!  On August 15^th Kyle and his girlfriend, Kaydon, strolled Huntington Beach while on vacation.  They walked up on the set-up of California’s Beach Nationals.

That ‘Mystery Agent’ in Wrestlers’ blood moved Kyle to ask all the right questions.  A few hours later he was Tournament Champion and a U.S. World Team Qualifier.  Did he make the trip to Greece?  Come on…  Of course he did!

Kyle wrestled for Blue Springs High School in Missouri, under the person Eva refers to as ‘My Other Wife’.  I speak of Coach Mike Hagerty, one of the pillars of USA Wrestling’s philosophy and one of our finest technicians.

Coach Hags built his career on teaching the principals of love, commitment to excellence, and integrity.  It’s no surprise what any of Blue Springs’ Alumni do to pay back.  Kyle Brown’s story simply illustrates it.

Please visit Missouri Wrestling’s website (https://www.missouriwrestling.com) to learn more details of Kyles exceptional story.

Thanks to all who built this ‘WOW!’ week for us:  Athletes, parents and club coaches for your personal investment and commitment;  Coach Timmy for being the glue that holds us together; Ed Duncan for your leadership on the UWW Beach Wrestling Commission and your tireless effort building opportunities for American athletes through USA Beach Wrestling and the Toru of America; and to Gary for being Gary !

In just under three weeks, I’ll light you up from the Beach World Series Finale in Alexandria, Egypt.  Until then…

Ciao

Tuesday 23 September 23 2025 – Proud grandfather ahead of largest U.S. Beach delegation ever going to Katerini, Greece

Yup, I’m feelin’ pretty lucky !  It’s kinda’ like being a grandparent watching your first grandchild leaving for college.

The United States has a delegation of 51 athletes along with some volunteer coaches, a ton of parents, two Referees, a Certified Athletic Trainer, a Team Leader / Journalist, and a UWW Beach Wrestling Commission Member… all in Katerini, Greece this week.  This is both the fourth stop in the UWW Beach World Series and the World Championship for two age groups.

Greece and, more specifically the club in Katerini, have a long history.  Going all-in during Beach Wrestling’s beginnings, Katerini has hosted more championship events than anyone else.  These are down-to-earth small-town lovers of wrestling doing all they can with what they’ve got to welcome the world.  Thank You, Katerini !

 This proud grandpa, along with Team Leader Gary Abbott, have watched Beach Wrestling from its infancy, through primary and secondary school, preparing to enter its professional university career.  Beach Wrestling will be the sole discipline of our sport represented in next year’s Youth Olympic Games.

Since last fall, wrestling federations have been urged by United World Wrestling to make a strong showing in Katerini, in preparation for roster allotments for the Dakar Games.  American athletes, families, volunteer coaches and referees have answered that call, largely at sonal expense.

Eva and I were privileged to attend the first ever United World Wrestling Conference last week in Zagreb, during the Senior World Championship.  It was thrilling to see the emphasis UWW placed on the continued development of our Beach discipline.  We heard questions and hints regarding the potential of seeing Beach Wrestling in Brisbane.

We learned that over 120 nations have confirmed their interest in participating in next year’s Youth Games.  With a total of 96 allotted roster positions (48 female, 48 male), lots will be decided in Katerini.  The commitment of our American athletes, families, coaches has certainly paved a path for us to field a strong delegation in Dakar.

 Our U17s kick off the event Thursday, followed by U20s on Friday and Seniors Saturday and Sunday.  Gary is going to stay up late (it’s what Gary does), filling you in with results and details.

Due to prior commitments, Eva and I cannot be in Katerini.  I will keep my finger on the pulse and offer some final editorial thoughts Sunday night.  Rest assured those thoughts will be those of a proud Grandpa!

Ciao