The U.S. will field teams to compete at the first World Beach and Sombo Championships, set for November 1-5 in Antalya, Turkey. Men and women competitors from across the world will compete for World titles and medals in both sports in this resort city.

The U.S. Sombo World Team was determined at the first U.S. Sombo National Championships held at the North Palm Beach, Fla. on August 20.

FILA, the international federation, reinstated Sombo as a form of international wrestling in 2005. Sombo is a style of jacket wrestling with submission holds originally developed in the former Soviet Union as a form of unarmed self-defense.

The U.S. Beach World Team was determned at a World Team Trials held immediately after the first U.S. Beach National Championships in Riviera Beach, Fla. August 19.

Beach Wrestling was added as a new style of international wrestling, starting in 2005. Athletes compete on sand, in a style that features takedowns within a ring.

The week begins with the Sombo competition. There are seven weight classes in international Sombo, the same divisions as in international wrestling. The World Sombo Championships for men will be held Thursday, Nov. 2 and the World Sombo Championships for women will be held Friday, Nov. 3.

Two of the U.S. Sombo World Team members serve in the U.S. Marine Corps: Juan Ramos (Jacksonville, N.C./U.S. Marines) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Moises Hernandez (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Another athlete with a military background, Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo./EA Kombat) will compete at 74 kg/163 lbs.  Sahin is a nationally ranked Greco-Roman wrestler from the U.S. Army. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen, who moved to the United States from Turkey.

Others on the U.S. Sombo World Team are Ramie Mohlman (Lake Worth, Fla./Seadog WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Matt Morkel (Washington, DC/Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Ray White (Clearwater, Fla./Team Pursuit) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. 

The U.S.  Sombo World Team will prepare for the World Championships in a training camp in Fort Dix, N.J.  Veteran Sombo coach Floyd Winter, who was the coach of the U.S. Army wrestling team many years ago, will serve as the coach of the U.S. Sombo World Team.

The World Beach Wrestling Championships for men and women will be held Saturday, Nov. 4. There are two weight classes in Beach Wrestling for men: Below 85 kg (187.5 lbs.) and Above 85 kg (185.75). For women, the two weight classes are Below 70 kg (154 lbs.) and Above 70 kg (154 lbs.)

Competing the U.S. Team at the Below 85 kg (187.5 lbs.) are Steve Forrest (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps), Jonathan Taylor (Boca Raton, Fla./Calvary Chapel) and Ray Downey (Babylon, N.Y. /East Meadow WC). Forrest won the World Team Trials event, with Taylor placing third and Downey placing fourth.

Competing for the U.S. Team at the Above 85 kg (187.5 lbs.) are Carlos Dolmo (Bronx, N.Y./New York AC), Angelo Borzio (Stroudsburg, Pa.) and Jeff Zastrow (Whitewater, Wis./Warhawk WC). Dolmo won the World Team Trials, with Borzio finishing third and Zastrow placing fourth.

Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./EA Kombat) is the only U.S. woman competing in the Beach Wrestling event. She will wrestle in the Under 70 kg/154 lbs. division.

On Sunday, Nov. 5, there will be a World Festival of Traditional Wrestling.

Coverage of the first Sombo and Beach Wrestling World Championships will be provided by TheMat.com (www.themat.com)

WORLD BEACH AND SOMBO CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Antalya, Turkey, Nov. 1-5

U.S. World Sombo Team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Ramie Mohlman (Lake Worth, Fla./Seadog WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Matt Morkel (Washington, DC/Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ray White (Clearwater, Fla./Team Pursuit)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo./EA Kombat)
84 kg/185 lbs.- Juan Ramos (Jacksonville, N.C./U.S. Marines)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Moises Hernandez (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Beach World Team
Men's Under 85 kg/187.5 lbs.
Steve Forrest, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
Jonathan Taylor, Boca Raton, Fla. (Calvary Chapel)
Ray Downey, Babylon, N.Y. (East Meadow WC)

Men's Over 85 kg/187.5 lbs.
Carlos Dolmo, Bronx, N.Y.(New York AC)
Angelo Borzio, Stroudsburg, Pa.
Jeff Zastrow, Whitewater, Wis. (Warhawk WC)

Women's Under 70 kg/154 lbs.
Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (EA Kombat)

EVENT SCHEDULE

Thursday, November 2
Sombo competition for men (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg)

Friday November 3
Sombo competition for women (48 kg, 51 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg)

Saturday, November 4
Beach Wrestling competition for men (Below 85 kg and Above 85 kg)
Beach Wrestling competition for women (Below 70 kg and Above 70 kg)

Sunday, November 5
World Festival of Traditional Wrestling