U.S. international Senior and age-group team berths up for grabs at USMC Beach Nationals in Carolina Beach, May 20

Jabari Irons hits a big throw at the 2022 Beach Nationals. Photo by Robbert Wijtman.


There is plenty at stake next Saturday, May 20, when the U.S. Marine Corps Beach Wrestling National Championships are held at the popular public beach right next to the boardwalk in Carolina Beach, N.C.


The annual national championships in Beach Wrestling for men and women of all ages return to Carolina Beach for the ninth time, with national titles and All-American honors available in 10 age divisions.


In addition, team berths on U.S. international teams on the Senior, U20 and U17 levels will be up for grabs.


For Senior-level men and women wrestlers, the USMC Beach Nationals is an important part of the qualifying process for the World Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, August 10-11.


Here is exactly how the 2023 U.S. Beach Nationals impact the World Beach Games Team selection. In order for a USA athlete to compete in Bali, the United States must qualify as a nation in each weight class through a series of five UWW Beach World Series events held in 2022 and 2023.


1) The specific athlete who earns a quota place for the United States at the ANOC World Beach Games through the UWW qualifying events will receive the berth on the U.S. World Beach Games team if he or she also becomes the champion at that specific weight class at the U.S. Beach National Championships in Carolina Beach, N.C. on Saturday, May 20, 2023.


2) If the specific athlete who earns a quota place for the United States for the ANOC World Beach Games through the UWW qualifying events does not win the specific weight class at the U.S. Beach National Championships, a World Beach Games Special Wrestle-off will be held between the athlete who earns the quota place and the champion at that weight class from the 2023 U.S. Beach National Championships.


This is spelled out in complete detail in USA Wrestling’s Athlete Selection Procedures


With the completion of Beach World Series event in Buenos Aires, Argentina this week, four of the five qualifying events for the World Beach Games have been completed. The final qualifier for Bali will be held in Singapore, June 10-11.


The U.S. is in a top eight position in five of the eight Beach weight classes for the World Beach Games: Over 70 kg women, 80 kg men, 50 kg women, 60 kg women and 70 kg men.

Macaluso, Cook, White, Shalack, Loethen in top eight rankings of 2023 World Beach Games after four of five qualifiers


Individually, if Mia Macaluso (60 kg), Mitchell Cook (70 kg), Laura White (50 kg), Isabeau Shalack (Over 70 kg) and Ty Loethen (80 kg) win the U.S. Beach Nationals, then go to Singapore and qualify their weight class, they will make the World Beach Games team. Currently, only Shalack is registered for the Beach Nationals. Otherwise, there would be a Special Wrestle-off between the U.S. Open champion and the athlete who qualified the weight in June.


The 2023 USMC Beach Nationals Senior-level results will also be part of the consideration for U.S. athletes seeking to compete in the four remaining 2023 Beach World Series events. If more than three U.S. athletes wish to compete in a specific weight class at a Beach World Series event, their 2023 Beach Nationals placement is the first result data used in that consideration.

The weight classes on the Senior level are:

Senior Men: 70 KG, 80 KG, 90 KG, +90 KG

Senior Women: 50 KG, 60 KG, 70 KG, +70 KG


In addition, the results from the U20 division at the USMC Beach Nationals, as well as the U17 division at the USMC Beach Nationals, will be first consideration for the formation of the U.S. age-group World Teams, which will wrestle at the 2023 U17 and U20 Beach World Championships, set for Constanta, Romania, September 7-8.

The weight classes on the U17 level are:

U17 Boys: 50 kg, 60 kg, 70 kg, 80 kg

U17 Girls: 40 kg, 50 kg, 60 kg, 70 kg

The weight classes on the U20 level are:

U20 Men: 70 kg, 80 kg, 90 kg, +90 kg

U20 Women: 50 kg, 60 kg, 70 kg, +70 kg


Please note: Athletes must be U.S. citizens and eligible to represent the United States at the international level to enter in the Senior, U20 and U17 divisions.


International athletes are eligible in all age group divisions, excluding the U17, U20 and Senior age group divisions (Men and Women).


Also, athletes who are age-eligible may enter more than one age division at the USMC Beach Nationals. For instance, an athlete could enter one of the World Team levels (U17, U20, Senior) and one of the other age levels in which they meet age requirements.


There is still time to register for all divisions at the U.S. Marine Corps Beach Wrestling National Championships.

Register for USMC Beach Nationals


For more information, please visit the U.S. Beach Nationals website

2023 U.S. MARINE CORPS BEACH WRESTLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Carolina Beach, N.C., May 19-20


Event Schedule

Friday, May 19

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Optional registration and weigh-in for all divisions except Senior, U17 and U20 at the Lazy Pirate

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – USMC Coaches Social at Lazy Pirate Sports Bar

Saturday, May 20

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Senior Men’s and Women’s, U17 Boys and Girls, U20 Boys and Girls weigh-in at Carolina Beach Boardwalk Stage

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Registration and weigh in for all other divisions at Carolina Beach Boardwalk Stage

11:00 a.m. – conclusion – Beach Wrestling Championships

6:00 p.m. – Post Tournament Social at 811 Harper Ave., Carolina Beach NC 28428