Nation’s top Grapplers to compete at the Dollamur Grappling World Team Trials in Rocklin , Calif. , Sept. 13-14

Posted on | September 8, 2008 | No Comments

The nation’s top Grapplers will battle for a chance to compete in the World Championships by entering USA Grappling’s Dollamur Grappling World Team Trials set for Sierra College in Rocklin , Calif. , Sept. 13-14.

Athletes earned their spot in the Dollamur Grappling World Team Trials by participating in the Dollamur Grappling World Team Trials Qualifying Series during the spring and summer months.

In addition, all nine of the athletes who won the 2007 Grappling World Team Trials have earned an automatic spot in this year’s event. Over 190 athletes have earned the right to compete in Rocklin.

The registration fee for athletes is $75, which includes a current USA Wrestling membership card.

All qualifiers are encouraged to pre-register for the event through TrackWrestling.com, which will allow them to participate in the early weigh-in on Friday night. The deadline for pre-registration is Friday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. To preregister, visit:

http://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?tournamentGroupId=479009

The champions at this event qualify for the U.S. team to compete in the Grappling World Championships in Lucerne , Switzerland on December 20-21.

No Limits MMA, the sponsor of USA Wrestling’s Grappling World Team, will fund the expenses of the champions to attend the Grappling World Championships.

The U.S. will send two athletes per weight class to the World Championships. The second athlete in each weight class will be determined based upon the results of the Dollamur Grappling World Team Trials. The second athlete in each weight class will have to self-fund their trip to Switzerland as part of the U.S. team.

All nine of the 2007 Grappling World Team Trials champions went on to win Grappling World titles later in the year.

Capturing gold medals in the men’s division were Darren Uyenoyama (South San Francisco, Calif./Fogtown Jiu Jitsu) at 62 kg/136.5 lbs., Ricky Lundell (Orem, Utah/Pedro Sauer Team) at 70 kg/154 lbs., Don Ortega (Albuquerque, N.M./No Limits) at 80 kg/176 lbs., Malcolm Havens (Parker, Colo./Grapplers Edge) at 92 kg/202.5 lbs. and Jeff Monson (Coconut Creek, Fla./Victory Athletics) at 125 kg/275 lbs.

Capturing gold medals in the women’s division were Lisa Ward (Lacey, Wash./United Fight Team) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Felicia Oh ( Tarzana , Calif. /JJ Machado/BJMUTA) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Tara LaRosa (Woodstown, N.J./unattached) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Valerie Worthington ( Whittier , Calif. /New Breed/ Hollywood Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Also at stake in Rocklin is the national championship team award, in which the winner will receive a custom 36 x 36 x 2 “National Champions” wrestling mat from Dollamur. Teams have score points towards this award by participating in the 11-event World Team qualifying series, with the Dollamur World Team Trials as the final and deciding event in the program.

The United States dominated the 2007 Grappling World Championships, held during the World Wrestling Games in Antalya , Turkey last September, winning all nine individual gold medals and 21 of a possible 35 medals in the tournament.

In 2007, the international wrestling federation FILA added Grappling as a recognized style of international wrestling.

DOLLAMUR GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS SCHEDULE

At Sierra College , Rocklin , Calif.

Friday, September 12
8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins for athletes who pre-register

Saturday, September 13
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Registration
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Weigh-ins
12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m. – World Team Trials competition

Sunday, September 14
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Medal Matches
12:00 noon – conclusion – Championship finals

RETURNING GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS CHAMPIONS

Men

62 kg/136.5 lbs. – Darren Uyenoyama, South San Francisco , Calif. (Fogtown Jiu Jitsu),
70 kg/154 lbs. – Ricky Lundell, Orem , Utah (Pedro Sauer Team)
80 kg/176 lbs. – Don Ortega, Albuquerque , N.M. (No Limits)
92 kg/202.5 lbs. – Malcolm Havens, Parker, Colo. (Grapplers Edge)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Jeff Monson, Coconut Creek , Fla. (Victory Athletics)

Women

48 kg/105.5 lbs.- Lisa Ward, Lacey, Wash. (United Fight Team)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Felicia Oh, Tarzana , Calif. (JJ Machado/BJMUTA)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.- Tara LaRosa, Woodstown , N.J. (unattached)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Valerie Worthington, Whittier , Calif. (New Breed/Hollywood Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)

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