The USA Grappling season gains momentum headed into June with a number of sanctioned events being held around the country. Athletes will have the opportunity to compete in the World Team Trials Qualifying Series as well as other international and state events. In addition to the qualifying events, there are sanctioned tournaments in California and Illinois. Seven qualifying events remain in the Grappling Qualifying Series. All athletes must have a USA Wrestling membership and be U.S. citizens to be eligible to compete in the Grappling World Team Trials Qualifying Series, as well as the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials. USA Wrestling memberships can be purchased on www.themat.com. These USA Wrestling sanctioned qualifiers will identify the best Grapplers in the United States, and give them an opportunity to try out for the 2008 U.S. Grappling World Team, which will compete at the Grappling World Championships in Lucerne, Switzerland on December 20-21. In order to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials, which is for Senior-level athletes, men must place in the top four in their weight class and women must place in the top three of their weight class. Returning 2007 U.S. World Team Trials champions automatically qualify for the 2008 U.S. World Team Trials. For more information or to include you USA Wrestling-sanctioned Grappling event in this schedule, please contact Jason Townsend at jtownsend@usawrestling.org or 719-598-8181. All wrestlers are encouraged to attend USA Wrestling Grappling events. It is a great opportunity to become part of the new Grappling program at USA Wrestling. TENTATIVE USA GRAPPLING SCHEDULE (as of June 4) California State Grappling Championships Location: San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA Date: June 6- 7, 2008 Contact; Chris Carlino (714) 334-9257, chriscarlino@mac.com Event Info: www.ca-usaw.org/events/2008/mega.html Middle Atlantic Regional Grappling Qualifier Location: Phoebus HS, Hampton, VA Date: June 6- 7, 2008 Contact: Will Townsend (757) 450-7469, vausagrappling@yahoo.com Pre-Register: www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?tournamentGroupId=421009 Event Info: www.themat.com/eventfliers/2008/G_MiddleAtlanticRegional.pdf Midwest Regional Grappling Qualifier Location: Wright College, Chicago, IL Date: June 20- 21, 2008 Contact: Joe Manzello (630) 495-9717, usagrapplingchicago@yahoo.com Pre-Register: www.themat.com/eventfliers/2008/G_MidwestRegional.pdf Southeast Regional Grappling Qualifier Location: River Ridge Middle School, New Port Richey, FL Date: June 27- 28, 2008 Contact: Russ Schenk (727) 922-7229, rschenk@pasco.k12.fl.us Pre-Register: www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?tournamentGroupId=431009 Event Info: www.themat.com/eventfliers/2008/G_SoutheastRegional.pdf Southwest Regional Grappling Qualifier Location: Throwdown Training Center, Las Vegas, NV Date: June 27- 28, 2008 Contact: Scott Bieri (702) 340-0484, scott@ckjj.com Pre-Register: www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?tournamentGroupId=430009 Event Info: www.themat.com/eventfliers/2008/G_SouthwestRegional.pdf Hawaiian Islands Regional Grappling Qualifier Location: The Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, HI Date: July 12- 13, 2008 Contact: Bryan Sanders (808) 688-3962, bdshawaii@hotmail.com Pre-Register: www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?tournamentGroupId=429009 Event info: www.themat.com/eventfliers/2008/G_HawaiianRegional.pdf Northwest Regional Grappling Qualifier Location: Parkrose HS, Portland, OR Date: July 18- 19, 2008 Contact: Scott McKendry (503) 661-4134, scottm@tqmma.com Pre-Register: www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?tournamentGroupId=428009 Event Info: www.themat.com/eventfliers/2008/G_NorthwestRegional.pdf Chicago Grappling Open Location: Wright College, Chicago, Ill. August 16, 2008 Contact: Eric Wetzel (630) 495-9717, usagrapplingchicago@yahoo.com Last Chance Grappling Qualifier Location: No Limits MMA, Irvine, Calif. Date: August 22- 23, 2008 Contact: Chris Carlino (714) 334-9257, chriscarlino@mac.com Pre-Register: www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?tournamentGroupId=427009 Event Info: www.themat.com/eventfliers/2008/G_LastChanceQualifier.pdf USA Grappling World Team Trials Location: Sierra College, Rocklin, Calif. Date: September 13- 14, 2008 Contact: Chris Carlino (714) 334-9257, chriscarlino@mac.com Event Info: www.themat.com World Wrestling Games Location: Durres, Albania Date: September 18- 20, 2008 Contact: Jason Townsend (719) 598-8181, jtownsend@usawrestling.org *Athletes must be selected as part of the U.S. National Team to participate. FILA World Grappling Championships Location: Lucerne, Switzerland Date: December 20- 21, 2008 Contact: Contact: Jason Townsend (719) 598-8181 jtownsend@usawrestling.org *Athletes must be selected as part of the U.S. National Team to participate.