U.S. sweeps nine gold medals at Grappling World Championships in Turkey

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
09/09/2007

ANTALYA, TURKEY - The United States had a dominant performance at the historic first World Grappling Championships, sweeping all nine gold medals in the final event of the World Wrestling Games in Antalya, Turkey, September 9.

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.

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.

All nine World champions captured gold medals at the USA Wrestling Grappling World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in June.

The USA won 21 medals out of a possible 35 medals in the event. Included was a sweep of all four medals at the men’s 92 kg/202.5 lbs. division. In convincing terms, the USA has set the bar for the rest of the world in international Grappling competition.

“I really think have a training camp and bringing many of our people together helped. People perish without a vision. Our coaches developed a vision with this team. We didn’t want to just win the championship. We wanted everybody to be the most outstanding we could be, no matter the outcome,” said U.S. World Team Coach Bob Anderson.

It was a great day for the U.S. team, which entered 27 athletes in the field. In the men’s division, four of the five gold-medal finals featured all-USA matchups.

“The team performed at the highest level against great competition,” said U.S. World Team Coach Jason Townsend. “All the athletes had tough matches and pulled through with flying colors. This is the beginning of a new era for Grappling. It was a pioneering effort for USA Wrestling. We were excited to be a part of this historic event, and we will work hard to remain a dominant force for years to come.”

Claiming silver medals for the United States were:
• Matthew Sanchez (Sacramento, Calif./Ultimate Fitness) at 62 kg/136.5 lbs.
• Bill Cooper (Santa Barbara, Calif./Paragon BJJ Academy) at 80 kg/176 lbs.
• Matt Horwich (Eagle Creek, Ore./Team Quest) at 92 kg/202.5 lbs.
• Ramon Diaz (Testin, Calif./No Limits), silver medal at 125 kg/275 lbs.
• Bahar Shahidi (Denver, Colo./Grapplers Edge) at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Winning bronze medals for the United States were:
• Jake Bohn (Kentwood, Mich./unattached) at 70 kg/154 lbs.
• Michael Kelly (Hebron, Ill./Gilbert Grappling) at 80 kg/176 lbs.
• Ryan Gillespie (San Diego, Calif./The Boxing Club) at 92 kg/202.5 lbs.
• Douglas Fournet (Denham Springs, La./Gladiators Academy) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
• Rawle Shewprashad (New York, N.Y./Blast Double NY) at 125 kg/275 lbs.
• Cristina Rodriguez (Tampa, Fla./Gracie Tampa) at 55 kg/121 lbs.
• Bethany Harris (Valley Center, Calif./No Limits) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

For Diaz and Harris, it was the second medal of the week. Diaz was a bronze medalist in the Sombo tournament on Friday, and Harris was a bronze medalist in the Beach World Championships on Saturday.

This was the first time FILA has ever hosted a World Championships in Grappling, a style of wrestling which was recognized as an international wrestling style this spring.

No Limits Mixed Martial Arts is the Official Sponsor for the U.S. World Teams for Grappling and Sombo.

A training camp for the World Team Trials champions is being hosted at the USA Wrestling National Training Center for Grappling and Sombo, which is located at the No Limits Mixed Martial Arts facility in Irvine, Calif.

GRAPPLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Medal Standings

62 kg/136.5 lbs.
Gold – Darren Uyenoyama (United States)
Silver – Matt Sanchez (United States)
Bronze – Tom Barlow (Great Britain)
Bronze – Oliver Dew (Great Britain)

70 kg/154 lbs.
Gold – Ricky Lundell (United States)
Silver – John Irlkarlanga (Ireland)
Bronze – Jake Bohn (United States)
Bronze – Lautaro Arboreli (Spain)

80 kg/176 lbs.
Gold – Don Ortega (United States)
Silver – Bill Cooper (United States)
Bronze – Mike Kelly (United States)
Bronze – Michael Saldoadori (France)

92 kg/202.5 lbs.
Gold – Malcom Havens (United States)
Silver – Matt Horwich (United States)
Bronze – Ryan Gillespie (United States)
Bronze – Doug Fournet (United States)

125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold – Jeff Monson (United States)
Silver – Ramon Diaz (United States)
Bronze – Tom Blackledge (Great Britian)
Bronze – Rawle Shewprashad (United States)

Women’s

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Lisa Ward (United States)
Silver –Lisa Newton (Great Britain)
Bronze – Melcir Mirela (Romania)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Felicia Oh (United States)
Silver – Bahar Shahidi (United States)
Bronze – Christina Rodriguez (United States)
Bronze - Katherine Gifford (Great Britain)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Tara LaRosa (United States)
Silver – Lloudmilla Soundovkova (Russia)
Bronze – Rachel Whenathey (Great Britain)
Bronze – Ama Mayke (Great Britain)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold – Valerie Worthington (United States)
Silver – Natalya Ivanova (Russia)
Bronze – Bethany Harris (United States)

U.S. performances

62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Darren Uyenoyama, South San Francisco, Calif. (Fogtown Jiu Jitsu), gold medal
WIN Van Goavec (France), submission, 4:57
WIN Oliver Dew (Great Britain), 12-2
WIN Matt Sanchez (United States), 10-5

62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Matthew Sanchez, Sacramento, Calif. (Ultimate Fitness), silver medal
WIN Joseph Ruddock (Ireland), technical fall, 25-3, 5:18
WIN Tom Barlow (Great Britain), 14-2
LOSS Darren Uyenoyama (United States), 5-10

62 kg/136.5 lbs. – Eric Albarracin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (EA Kombat – Modern Army Combatives)
LOSS Jaimie McIrnery (Ireland), submission, 3:58

70 kg/154 lbs. - Ricky Lundell, Orem, Utah (Pedro Sauer Team), gold medal
WIN Gerardo Dudamell (Venezuela), 14-0
WIN Jean-Baptist Lemerle (France), disqualification, 1:10
WIN Lautaro Arborel (Spain), submission, 0:38
WIN John Irlkaranagh (Ireland), submission, 2:35

70 kg/154 lbs. - Jake Bohn, Kentwood, Mich. (unattached), bronze medal
WIN Francis Heangney (Great Britain), 12-5
WIN Arnoud Pettier (France), 13-3
LOSS John Irlkaranagh (Ireland), submission, 1:22
WIN Lautaro Arboreli (Spain)

80 kg/176 lbs. - Don Ortega, Albuquerque, N.M. (No Limits), gold medal
WIN Christian Sandberg (Sweden), 8-0
WIN Clive Staunton (Ireland), 20-1
WIN Michael Saloadori (France), 13-3
WIN Bill Cooper (United States), 3-2

80 kg/176 lbs. - Bill Cooper, Santa Barbara, Calif. (Paragon BJJ Academy), silver medal
WIN Gareth Roristan (Great Britain), submission, 0:57
WIN Florentin Amorin (France), submission, 1:15
WIN Mike Kelly (United States), submission, 1:46
LOSS Don Ortega (United States), 2-3

80 kg/176 lbs. -Michael Kelly, Hebron, Ill. (Gilbert Grappling), bronze medal
WIN Eddy Carda (France), 12-2
WIN Jarvis Bennett (Great Britain), 10-8
LOSS Bill Cooper (United States), submission, 1:46
WIN Michael Saldoadori (France), 2-1

80 kg/176 lbs. - Jeff Funicello. Mesa, Ariz. (American Pankration)
WIN Suley Howard (Great Britain), 1-0
LOSS Michael Saldoadori (France), disqualification, 2:34

80 kg/176 lbs. – Bryce Santaniello, Santa Ana, Calif. (No Limits)
LOSS Jarvis Bennett (Great Britain), submission, 1:50

92 kg/202.5 lbs. - Malcolm Havens, Parker, Colo. (Grapplers Edge), gold medal
WIN Heddi Karaoui (France), submission, 2:33
WIN Nerowen McEvoy (Great Britain), 2-0
WIN Douglas Fournet (United States), 9-1
WIN Matt Horwich (United States), 2-0

92 kg/202.5 lbs. - Matt Horwich, Eagle Creek, Ore. (Team Quest), silver medal
WIN Tony Passoa (Great Britain), submission, 2:30
WIN Jordan Radev (Netherlands), 9-6, overtime
WIN Ryan Gillespie (United States), submission, 3:27
LOSS Malcolm Havens (United States), 0-2

92 kg/202.5 lbs. - Ryan Gillespie, San Diego, Calif. (The Boxing Club), bronze medal
WIN Shane Courtney (Ireland), submission, 2:30
WIN Serge Canario (France), submission, 3:28
LOSS Matt Horwich (United States), submission, 3:27
WIN Douglas Fournet (United States), submission

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Douglas Fournet, Denham Springs, La. (Gladiators Academy), bronze medal
WIN Richard Wills (Great Britain), 17-0
WIN Sasho Evtimov (Bulgaria), 15-0
WIN Mohammed Yaman (Spain), submission, 2:39
LOSS Malcolm Havens (United States), 1-9
LOSS Ryan Gillespie (United States), submission

125 kg/275 lbs. - Jeff Monson, Coconut Creek, Fla. (Victory Athletics), gold medal
WIN Zoro Piere (France), submission, 1:01
WIN Tom Blackledge (Great Britain), submission, 4:00
WIN Ramon Diaz (United States), injury default, 0:57

125 kg/275 lbs. – Ramon Diaz, Testin, Calif. (No Limits), silver medal
WIN Orizv Nwokeji (Great Britain), 9-1
WIN Rawle Shewprashad (United States), 11-1
LOSS Jeff Monson (United States), injury default, 0:57

125 kg/275 lbs. - Rawle Shewprashad, New York, N.Y. (Blast Double NY), bronze medal
WIN Kaloyan Iordanov Mihalev (Bulgaria), 10-1
LOSS Ramon Diaz (United States), 1-11
LOSS Tom Blackledge (Great Britian), submission, 1:45

Women

48 kg/105.5 lbs.- Lisa Ward, Lacey, Wash. (United Fight Team), gold medal
WIN Lisa Newton (Great Britain), 6-0
WIN Melciv Mirella (Romania), submission, 0:25

55 kg/121 lbs. - Felicia Oh, Tarzana, Calif. (JJ Machado/BJMUTA), gold medal
WIN Katherine Gifford (Great Britain), 12-2
WIN Bahar Shahidi (United States), submission, 2:35

55 kg/121 lbs. - Bahar Shahidi, Denver, Colo. (Grapplers Edge), silver medal
WIN Jessica Ortiz (United States), submission, 1:42
WIN Cristina Rodriguez (United States), 4-2
LOSS Felicia Oh (United States), submission, 2:35

55 kg/121 lbs. - Cristina Rodriguez, Tampa, Fla. (Gracie Tampa), bronze medal
WIN Tanya Miyasaki (United States), submission, 4:28
LOSS Bahar Shahidi (United States), 2-4
LOSS Katherine Gifford (Great Britain)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Tanya Miyasaki, Kaneohe, Hawaii (Missouri Valley College)
LOSS Cristina Rodriguez (United States), submission, 4:28

55 kg/121 lbs. - Jessica Ortiz, Vallejo, Calif. (Spartan WC)
LOSS Bahar Shahidi (United States), submission, 1:42

55 kg/121 lbs. - Courtney Martell, New Haven, Vermont (Missouri Valley College)
LOSS Katherine Gifford (Great Britain), submission, 1:39

63 kg/138.75 lbs.- Tara LaRosa, Woodstown, N.J. (unattached), gold medal
WIN Daly Aishling (Ireland), 5-0
WIN Rachel Wheathey (Great Britain), submission, 4:18
WIN Llovdmila Soundovkova (Russia), 7-5 overtime

63 kg/138.75 lbs.- Crystina Coats, San Diego, Calif. (The Boxing Club)
LOSS Llovdmila Soundovkova (Russia), 0-5

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Valerie Worthington, Whittier, Calif. (New Breed/Hollywood Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), gold medal
WIN Natalia Ivanova (Russia), 7-2
WIN Bethany Harris (United States), submission, 3:08

72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Bethany Harris, Valley Center, Calif. (No Limits), bronze medal
LOSS Natalia Ivanova (Russia), 2:09
LOSS Valerie Worthington (United States), submission, 3:08