USA Wrestling hosted its first U.S. Beach National Championships

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USA Wrestling hosted its first U.S. Beach National Championships

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling

08/19/2006

U.S. Beach and Sombo Nationals coverage

RIVIERA BEACH, FLA. - It was a historic day as USA Wrestling hosted its first U.S. Beach National Championships along the Atlantic Ocean at the Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront Resort, August 19.

A total of 103 athletes entered in five age divisions, with competition for both men and women.

In addition, a World Team Trials event was held for the Senior level, to determine the athletes who will represent the United States at the World Beach Championships in Antalya, Turkey in November.

The top three wrestlers in each weight division on the Senior level for men qualified for the World Team Trials in two international weight classes: Below 85 kg (187.5 lbs.) and Above 85 kg (185.75) for men.

Qualifying for the U.S. Team at the Below 85 kg (187.5 lbs.) were World Team Trials champion Steve Forrest of Virginia, runner-up Dewitt Driscoll of North Carolina and third place finisher Jonathan Taylor of Florida.

Forrest defeated Driscoll in the championship bout, 2-0. Taylor stopped Ray Downey of New York, 2-0, in the place match. In the U.S. Nationals event, Forrest was the national champion at 188 pounds, Driscoll was the national runner-up at 141 pounds and Taylor was the national runner-up at 168 pounds.

Qualifying for the U.S. Team at the Above 85 kg (187.5 lbs.) were World Team Trials champion Carlos Dolmo of New York, runner-up Frank Workman of Virginia and third place finisher Angelo Borzio of Pennsylvania.

Dolmo scored a 2-0 win over Workman in the World Team Trials finals. Borzio pinned Jeff Zastrow in the third place match.

All three of the U.S. World Team medalists wrestled at 276 pounds at the U.S. Nationals, with Borzio placing first, Workman taking second and Dolmo taking third. Dolmo has been very active in Beach Wrestling, winning the gold medal at the ASICS East Coast Beach Nationals the last two years.

The U.S. Women