Summer is approaching as the USA Wrestling beach wrestling gets going with two events at the beginning of May.

The Oregon Beach Wrestling Championships are set for May 3 and the Playa Seca tournament is May 2-4 to kick off the season.  Additionally, the Beach Wrestling National Championships and World Team Trials will take place July 4-6 in Rochester, N.Y.

The Fourth Annual Oregon Beach Wrestling Championships will take place at the Port of Hood River in Hood River, Ore. on May 3.  The event features competition at all levels.

Registration for the Oregon Beach Wrestling Championships will take place prior to the event from 9-10 a.m. with the competition starting at 11 a.m.  The entry fee is $10.

The Playa Seca Beach Wrestling tournament is located at Cibola High School in Albequerque, N.M., and is set for May 2-4.  Registration for the event is $15 and begins at 8 a.m. on May 3.  From 9 a.m. to noon there will be an indoor clinic for all styles of wrestling followed by a beach wrestling competition from 1-4 p.m.

The USA Wrestling 2008 U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships and World Team Trials are set for Ontario Beach Park in Rochester, N.Y., July 4-6.

The competition will serve as the qualifying event for the U.S. team that will compete in Durres, Albania, as part of the World Wrestling Games Sept. 18-20.

On Sunday, July 6, the Beach World Team Trials will be held for Senior Men and Women. The top three in each weight class from the U.S. Beach Nationals held on Saturday will be eligible to compete in the World Team Trials.  New this year on Sunday is the National High School Beach Duals.

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.

TENTATIVE USA WRESTLING BEACH WRESTLING SCHEDULE 
(as of April 30)

Friday, May 2 - Sunday, May 4, 2008
Playa Seca Beach Wrestling Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M.
Contact: Rusty Davidson at (505) 898-3153
E-Mail: rustyd@7cities.net

Saturday, May 3, 2008
Oregon State Beach Wrestling Championships in Hood River, Ore.
Contact Trent Kroll at 541-399-6123
E-Mail: tkroll@hoodriver.k12.or.us
http://www.beachwrestling.tv/

Friday, July 4 - Sunday, July 6, 2008
U.S. Beach Nationals and World Team Trials
Contact: Lou Lombardo at 585-313-8503
E-Mail: lombardolj@corning.com
Event Flier
http://www.themat.com/eventfliers/2008/2008BeachNationals.pdf

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Sand Storm Wrestling Tournament
Contact: Mike Malinconica at 732-280-2025
E-Mail: mike@rhinowrestling.net
Website: www.rhinowrestling.net