Gary Abbott sent along the following:
Nine champions crowned at USA Wrestling’s Grappling World Team Trials in Las Vegas , June 9-10
By Gary Abbott , USA Wrestling
LAS VEGAS, NEV. — USA Wrestling held its first Grappling World Team Trials at the Convention Center, June 9-10. Nine weight classes were contested, five for men and four for women.
This was the qualifying event to determine the U.S. team which will compete in the first World Wrestling Games in Antalya , Turkey , September.
The headline bout of the weekend occurred Sunday night at 125 kg/275 lbs., a close battle between two athletes who have a strong background Mixed Martial Arts.
Jeff Monson (Victory Athletics) edged Bryan Vetell (Renzo Gracie), 2-1. The bout was scoreless until the last minute of action, when Monson scored a takedown and Vetell earned an escape. Vetell was not able to score in the closing seconds.
Jeff Monson, who is from Olympia , Wash. has an extensive Mixed Martial Arts career, with a record of 24-5 including a number of UFC fights. Monson was a Div. I wrestler at Oregon State and at the Univ. of Illinois , and was a Pac-10 champion. He also competed on the Senior level in USA Wrestling events for a number of years.
Vetell competes for New York Pitbulls of the International Fight League. He is a graduate of Hofstra University .
“Wrestling is my first love,” said Monson. “I am really excited to see that FILA is overseeing Grappling and giving unity to the sport. Now I think the sport will grow. I want to promote this sport. I competed at the U.S. Nationals a number of times in wrestling and I wanted to come back.”
“Grappling helps my MMA. I wasn’t able to make it to the Abu Dhabi Worlds this year because of an injury, so going to Turkey is my redemption,” said Monson.
Monson qualified to compete by winning the Grapplers Quest U.S. Nationals. Vetell qualified to compete here by winning the USA Wrestling Virginia Beach Qualifier.
MEN’S WRAPUP
At 62 kg/136.5 lbs. division, Darin Uyenoyama (Fogtown Jiu Jitsu) scored a strong 10-4 decision over Simpson Go (Cobra Kai Jiu Jitsu). Uyenoyama scored two takedowns, a reversal and a side mount during the match.
“Today was the highest achievement of my life. The biggest part for me is to be on the same mats as my wrestling heroes. Kendall Cross and Tom Brands were out there. Seeing John Smith made me a little star struck,” said Uyenoyama.
Uyenoyama qualified for the field by winning the World Grappling Games Best of West title. Go qualified for the event by winning the Grapplers Quest U.S. Nationals. Uyenoyama, who lives in San Francisco , has a wrestling background, competing two years at Skyline Junior College in California .
“I honestly think it was the podium we were put up on,” said Uyenoyama of his outstanding finals effort. “USA Wrestling gave us this opportunity. I wanted to meet the expectations and put on a good fight. I’d love to compete in the World Championships. I think at 62 kg, I am looking for somebody to give me a war. I’d travel anywhere to find that.”
At 70 kg/154 lbs., Ricky Lundell (Pedro Sauer Team) defeated Jeff Glover (Cobra Kai Jiu Jitsu), 3-2. Glover scored the first takedown to lead 2-0, but Lundell rebounded by getting a one-point escape and a late takedown for the win.
“I feel I competed the best I have ever done,” said Lundell, who lives in Orem , Utah . “Today was my day. My opponents, especially my finals one, were outstanding. My finals opponent is one of the best of all time. My coach Brandon Guzzo made this happen. My last mentor, Pedro Sauer, was also a part of this. The only adverse thing was, that I got my eye busted in the semifinal, which made it harder to win. I can’t believe I have an opportunity to represent my nation.”
Glover qualified for this tournament by winning a gold medal at the World Grappling Games Pan Am Submission Championships. Lundell qualified by taking a silver medal at Grapplers Quest U.S. Pro Trials.
At 80 kg/176 lbs., Don Ortega (No Limits) upset Bill Cooper ( Paragon BJJ Academy ), 2-1. Ortega scored the only takedown, with Cooper getting an escape.
“I felt real good,” said Ortega, who is from Albuqueque , N.M. “I didn’t know what to expect. It was a good experience. This is good for grappling and good for wrestling. I was trying to stay solid and not give him any opportunities. It is awesome to go to the World Championships. I dreamed about it with wrestling as a kid, but I never got there. Now I get to go with this.
Ortega has a strong wrestling background, competing at Adams State Univ. He has also competed and studied jiu jitsu for a number of years.
Of all the competitors in the field, Cooper won the most of the qualifying events coming in, winning the Grapplers Quest U.S. Pro Trials, the World Grappling Games Best of the West and the Grapplers Quest U.S. Pro Trials. Ortega was a champion at the USA Wrestling Irvine, Calif. Qualifier.
At 92 kg/202.5 lbs., the champion was Malcom Havens (Grapplers Edge), who stopped Matt Horwich (Team Quest), 4-1. Havens had two takedowns, and Horwich scored an escape in the bout.
“I want to say I am a wrestler,” said Havens, who is from Parker, Colo. “My submissions are not so good. I take control on my feet and stay out of the submissions. It isn’t pretty, but I gets me in the win column. I have to thank God for putting me in the position to make the World Championships. I’ll give it everything I have got.”
Havens was a Div. I starting wrestler for three years at the Univ. of Wyoming . Havens qualified for the competition by taking a bronze medal at USA Wrestling’s Virginia Beach Qualifer. Horwich competes for the Portland Wolfpack of the International Fight League, and qualified for the tournament by winning the USA Wrestling Olympia, Wash. Qualifier.
WOMEN’S WRAPUP
Lisa Ward (United Fight Team) won a three-athlete roundrobin to capture the 48 kg/105.5 lbs. weight class. In her first match, she scored a submission over Hillary Witt of Saulo Ribiero B. In her final bout, she stopped Van Milnes (unattached), 4-1.
“I am in MMA, which is my forte,” said Ward, who lives in Lacy, Wash. “This is just play for me. It was awesome. I competed crappy, but it was enough to win. It is a blessing to have the opportunity to do this.”
Ward has been a USA Wrestling All-American in women’s freestyle wrestling in the past. She qualified for the tournament with a silver medal performance at the USA Wrestling Olympia, Wash. qualifier.
At 55 kg/121 lbs., Felicia Oh (JJ Machado/BJMUTA) scored a submission at 2:35 with an arm triangle over Bahar Shamidi (Grapplers Edge). Oh was leading 5-2 when she locked up the winning move for the tapout.
“I am really excited to have this competition,” said Oh, who is from Tarzana , Calif. “It is exciting to grapple at this level. It is a great experience for me. The competition brings athletes from all levels, wrestling, sombo, jiu jitsu. It brings an edge to everything. It forces us to be more rounded and to be better grapplers. The girls were tough. It was a different toughness. I think it is an amazing opportunity to make the World Team. I will be so proud to be able to represent my country. It is really unbelievable.
Oh has been competing in jiu jitsu for almost seven years. Both of the finalists qualified for the event by winning a USA Wrestling sanctioned qualifier. Oh won the Irvine , Calif. Qualifier and Shamidi won the Virginia Beach , Va. qualifier.
At 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Tara LaRosa (unattached) defeated Ginele Marquez-Lee (Victory Athletics) by submission, with a rear naked choke at 3:20. LaRosa led 10-0 after just over a minute, with a takedown, a three-point side mount and a five-point back mount.
“I did really well,” said LaRose, who is from Woodstown , N.J. “Tori Adams (her semifinal rival) is an incredible opponent. I knew she came from a strong wrestling background. I had to find a way to compensate for that. She is very tough. I had a lot respect for her.”
LaRosa won two of the qualifying events for the World Team Trials, the USA Wrestling Virginia Beach Qualifier as well as the NAGA World Championships. Marquez won the USA Wrestling Olympia, Wash. Qualifier
“I love USA Wrestling and the organization here. I am so honored and thrilled to be here, and to be with some of the greatest athletes in the world in wrestling. I am so excited to represent my country. My boyfriend is now serving in Iraq ,” said LaRosa.
At 72 kg/158.5 lbs.,Valerie Worthington (New Breed/Hollywood Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) scored a submission over Elaina Maxwell (unattached) in 2:26. She scored a takedown and a side mount to lead 5-0, and Maxwell tapped out when Worthington executed a dars choke.
“I have amazing teachers. I am so grateful for them. You can’t do something like this without them supporting you. I appreciate what they do for me,” said Worthington .
Worthington, who lives in Los Angeles , Calif. , qualified through the World Grappling Games Pan Am Submission Championships. Maxwell qualified to compete here by placing second at the World Grappling Games Best of West.
“I used to run marathons. I got addicted to pushing myself physically. Jiu Jitsu could keep me competing for years. This is unbelievable. I am so grateful. I was happy that FILA recognized Grappling. I feel the two styles have so much to teach each other. Everybody who grapples is so happy that it is being recognized as a mainstream sport,” said Worthington .
More information on the World Wrestling Games in Antalya , Turkey and the U.S. team will be forthcoming. It was a historic weekend for the sport of Grappling and for USA Wrestling.
2007 U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS CHAMPIONS
Men
62 kg/136.5 lbs. – Darin Uyenoyama, 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., – Malcom Havens, Parker, Colo. (Grapplers Edge)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Jeff Monson, Olympia , Wash. (Victory Athletics)
Women
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Lisa Ward, Lacy, 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, Los Angeles , Calif. (New Breed/Hollywood Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)
U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS MEDALISTS
Men's Grappling
62 kg/136.5 lbs.
1st Place – Darren Uyenoyama of Fogtown Jiu Jitsu
2nd Place – Simpson Go of Cobra Kai Jiu Jitsu
3rd Place – Matt Sanchez of Ultimate Fitness
4th Place – Shaine Jaime of Unattached
1st Place Match – Darren Uyenoyama (Fogtown Jiu Jitsu) dec. Simpson Go (Cobra Kai Jiu Jitsu), 10-4
3rd Place Match – Matt Sanchez (Ultimate Fitness) dec. Shaine Jaime (Unattached), 2-0
70 kg/154 lbs.
1st Place – Ricky Lundell of Pedro Sauer Team
2nd Place – Jeff Glover of Cobra Kai Jiu Jitsu
3rd Place – Alberto Crane of No Limits
4th Place – David Edwards of NYMAG/Snake Ryders
1st Place Match – Ricky Lundell (Pedro Sauer Team) dec. Jeff Glover (Cobra Kai Jiu Jitsu), 3-2
3rd Place Match – Alberto Crane (No Limits) dec. David Edwards (NYMAG/Snake Ryders), 5-3
80 kg/176 lbs.
1st Place – Don Ortega of No Limits
2nd Place – Bill Cooper of Paragon BJJ Academy
3rd Place – Michael Kelly of Gilbert Grappling
4th Place – Cory Devela of Victory Athletics
1st Place Match – Don Ortega (No Limits) dec. Bill Cooper ( Paragon BJJ Academy ), 2-1
3rd Place Match – Michael Kelly (Gilbert Grappling) dec. Cory Devela (Victory Athletics), 9-8
92 kg/202.5 lbs.
1st Place – Malcolm Havens of Grapplers Edge
2nd Place – Matt Horwich of Team Quest
3rd Place – Cameron Diffley of LasVegas Combat Club
4th Place – Ryan Gillespie of The Boxing Club
1st Place Match – Malcolm Havens (Grapplers Edge) dec. Matt Horwich (Team Quest), 4-1
3rd Place Match – Cameron Diffley (LasVegas Combat Club) won by submission over Ryan Gillespie (The Boxing Club), 3:27
125 kg/275 lbs.
1st Place – Jeff Monson of Victory Athletics
2nd Place – Bryan Vetell of Renzo Gracie
3rd Place – Bruce Hoyer of Action MMA
4th Place – Aaron Hayes of No Limits/Team Quest
1st Place Match – Jeff Monson (Victory Athletics) dec. Bryan Vetell (Renzo Gracie), 2-1
3rd Place Match – Bruce Hoyer (Action MMA) won by submission over Aaron Hayes (No Limits/Team Quest), 4:32
Women’s Grappling
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st Place – Lisa Ward of United Fight Team
2nd Place – Hillary Witt of Saulo Ribeiro BJJ
3rd Place – Van Milnes of Unattached
Roundrobin Matches
Lisa Ward (United Fight Team) won by submission over Hillary Witt (Saulo Ribeiro BJJ), 1:32
Hillary Witt (Saulo Ribeiro BJJ) dec. Van Milnes (Unattached), 5-3
Lisa Ward (United Fight Team) dec. Van Milnes (Unattached) (Dec 4-1)
55 kg/121 lbs.
1st Place – Felicia Oh of JJ Machado/BJMUTA
2nd Place – Bahar Shahidi of Grapplers Edge
3rd Place – Christina Rodriguez of Gracie Tampa
4th Place – Carla O'Connell of No Limits
1st Place Match – Felicia Oh (JJ Machado/BJMUTA) won by submission over Bahar Shahidi (Grapplers Edge), 3:35
3rd Place Match – Christina Rodriguez (Gracie Tampa) won by submission over Carla O'Connell (No Limits), 4:19
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1st Place – Tara LaRosa of Unattached
2nd Place – Ginele Marquez-Lee of Victory Athletics
3rd Place – Shayna Baszler of Action MMA
4th Place – Crystina Coats of The Boxing Club
1st Place Match – Tara LaRosa (Unattached) won by submission over Ginele Marquez-Lee (Victory Athletics), 3:20
3rd Place Match – Shayna Baszler (Action MMA) won by submission over Crystina Coats (The Boxing Club), 2:06
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1st Place – Valerie Worthington of New Breed/Hollywood Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
2nd Place – Elaina Maxwell of Unattached
3rd Place – Milda Shibonis of Pedro Sauer/Wasatch Jiu Jitsu
4th Place – Shannon Hooper of No Limits
1st Place Match – Valerie Worthington (New Breed/Hollywood Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) won by submission over Elaina Maxwell (Unattached), 2:26
3rd Place Match – Milda Shibonis (Pedro Sauer/Wasatch Jiu Jitsu) dec. Shannon Hooper (No Limits), 7-4
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