Rochester to host U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships and World Team Trials, July 6-8
USA Wrestling has named Rochester, N.Y. as the host for the 2007 U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships and World Team Trials, set for July 6-8.The bid was awarded to the Monroe County Sports Commission.
The competition will be held on Charlotte Beach, which is located on Lake Ontario in Rochester. Held alongside the USA Wrestling Beach Wrestling Nationals will be two other major sports events, the American Power Boat Association’s Toyota Water Jam and the New York Beach Volleyball Championships.
The competition will serve as the qualifying event for the U.S. team that will compete in the World Beach Wrestling Championships in Antalya, Turkey, Sept. 7-9. The United States placed second in the 2006 World Beach Wrestling Championships in the men’s division and third in the women’s division, and had three individual World medalists.
“Sports have a significant economic impact in our community and we are proud to be selected as the host of the 2007 Beach National Championships. We look forward to welcoming the athletes, officials, and families to our community to experience a special weekend at Ontario Beach Park,” said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks.
“USA Wrestling is pleased to award the 2007 U.S. Beach National Wrestling Championships to Rochester, N.Y. and look forward to presenting an outstanding event,” said Pete Isais, USA Wrestling National Events Director. “The Rochester community has proven its ability to organize sports competitions, and has been very successful with USA Wrestling events. We are also very excited with the opportunity to showcase Beach Wrestling alongside other popular summer sports activities.”
In addition to the Beach Wrestling Nationals, the APBA jet-ski competition and the beach volleyball tournament, there will be other community activities held during the weekend. The second annual Ontario Beach Sports and Music Festival will be held in the city, with numerous entertainment opportunities.
“We did this last year and it came off very well,” said J.B. Shares of Nova Event Management, who works with the Ontario Beach Sports and Music Festival. “There was a huge turnout. The Toyota Water Jam Series is a big success. We have run volleyball events in Rochester for 20 years, and the beach volleyball tournament was successful. This year, we will have a DJ Jam on the beach and along the boardwalk. There will be bands at the after-party. We hope to have a break dance competition on the boardwalk. We will continually add more things as we move forward.”
Serving as event director for the U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships and World Team Trials will be Don Murray, the head wrestling coach at SUNY-Brockport. Murray has served many years as event director for successful USA Wrestling competitions, including the annual Northeast Regional Championships as well as a number of Regional Olympic Trials competitions.
“This is great for Rochester and the local wrestling community,” said Murray. “It will be fun for the citizens of this region to see this exciting wrestling competition at the beach. It will also be an outstanding opportunity for local wrestlers to compete in a national tournament held in their area. It is tremendous to have another national event coming to Rochester. It shows the outstanding job that the Monroe County Sports Commission has done attracting major national events to our area.”
Beach Wrestling was added as a new style of international wrestling, starting in 2005. The first World Beach Wrestling Championships was held in 2006. Athletes compete on sand, in a style that features takedowns within a ring. The sport has been growing in popularity across the nation.
This will be the second year that USA Wrestling has hosted a national championship event in Beach Wrestling. The first U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships was held at the Hilton Singer Island Waterfront Resort in Riviera Beach, Fla., August 19, 2006.
A flier with specific details on the U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships and World Team Trials will be published shortly.
There will be both men’s divisions and women’s division at this tournament. In addition to the Senior competition, there will also be national championship events in Beach Wrestling on the Veterans, Junior, Cadet and Kids levels.
For the U.S. Beach National Championships in all age divisions, weight classes will be determined after weigh-ins.
The World Team Trials, which will determine the U.S. team for the World Championships, will be held in the weight classes recognized by FILA, the international wrestling federation. The weight classes for men are Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. and Over 85 kg/187.25 lbs. and the weight classes for women are Under 70 kg/154 lbs. and Over 70 kg/154 lbs. The medalists in each weight class at the U.S. Beach National Championships on the Senior level will qualify to compete at the World Team Trials, which will be held immediately following the completion of the Beach Nationals competition.
Wrestlers and their families are encouraged to mark their calendar for July 6-8, and plan to attend a great weekend of wrestling action and outdoor fun in Rochester, N.Y.
Information regarding the U.S. National Beach Wrestling Championships, Ontario Beach Sports and Music Festival and the other activities during the weekend will be updated regularly at: http://www.monroecountysports.org
About the Monroe County Sports Commission
The Monroe County Sports Commission (MCSC) is a private, non-profit, 501c(3) corporation whose goal is to bring organized sporting events of all kinds for all ages to Rochester, New York. MCSC actively solicits amateur championships, sports-related clinics and conventions.
MCSC and the Greater Rochester Visitors Association work together to assure that your visit will be a memorable one. Our experience in event planning, sponsorships, public relations and hospitality services can help make your event a complete success.