Anthony Gallton defends against a shot by Stephen Franko in the Under 85 kg finals at the U.S. Beach World Team Trials. Pat Fox photo

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Two wrestlers who have never competed on the beach before this weekend claimed gold medals at the U.S. Beach World Team Trials on Sunday.

Winning titles today were Anthony Gallton (Rochester, N.Y./Downtown Fitness Club) in the Under 85 kg/187.5 lbs division and Jamison Sacco (Syracuse, N.Y./Western New England) in the Over 85 kg/187.5 lbs. division.

The top three place winners in each weight class have qualified for the U.S. team that will compete at the 2010 Beach World Championships in Budva, Montenegro in late August.

Gallton defeated unattached Stephen Franko in the gold-medal bout, 2-0. 

Gallton last wrestled in 2004, during his senior season at Dansville High School in the Rochester area. He was 34-2 in his final high school year and was injured. He wanted to give the sport another try when he heard about the beach wrestling opportunity.

“It was a fun time, and a good experience to get ready for the World Championships,” said Gallton. “It will be great to represent the USA, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I want to do the U.S. proud and be the first to win a World title.”

Gallton is active in a number of other sports, which kept him in good shape for beach wrestling.

“I train for body building with John Hutchings,” said Gallton. “It helps me overall for any events that I do. I also compete in powerlifing.”

Gallton placed second in the 2010 U.S. Beach Nationals on Saturday to qualify for the World Team Trials. He was defeated in the national finals by two-time World bronze medalist Jeff Funicello of American Pankration. 

Funicello claimed the final spot on the U.S. World Team in the Under 85 kg division by placing third, beating Robert Teet of the Silver Ravens WC, 2-0. Funicello was defeated in the semifinals by Franko.

Sacco won the gold medal with a 39 second pin over Brett Giehl of the Livonia WC. Sacco was the U.S. Beach Nationals champion at 298 pounds on Saturday, while Giehl won the U.S. Beach Nationals at 215 pounds.

Sacco will be a sophomore at Western New England College. He completed his freshman year with a 25-3 record and was a Div. III national qualifier.Sacco went to Cicero-North Syracuse High School, where he was third in Section III as a senior.

“It was really fun, something new for me,” said Sacco. “This fits my wrestling style. I am an upperbody wrestler.”

Sacco normally competes at 265 pound during the college season, but came in at 297 for the Beach event. He was considerably larger than his opponents, an advantage he used throughout the weekend.

“I was going to come up here to compete with one of my assistant coaches, but he didn’t make it. I had a chance to go either to the Canada Cup or compete here. This is closer for me, so I tried the Beach Nationals,” said Sacco.

Claiming the final spot on the U.S. Beach World Team at the Over 85 kg/187.5 lbs division was Matthew Mahon of Mahon WC, who defeated his brother Marshall Mahon of Mahon WC by pin in 15 seconds.

Held alongside the Beach World Team Trials was the annual National High School Beach Duals.

Claiming the title was Titan Worldwide I, which finished with a 4-0 record. Cheeburger Cheeburger was second at 3-1 and Kendall was third at 2-2. Titan Worldwide I defeated Cheeburger Cheeburger 5-4 in the deciding dual meet.

U.S. BEACH WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Rochester, N.Y., July 11

Under 85 kg/187.5 lbs.
1st – Anthony Gallton (Downtown Fitness Club) dec. Stephen Franko (unattached), 2-0
3rd – Jeff Funicello (American Pankration) dec. Robert Teet (Silver Ravens WC), 2-0

Over 85 kg/187.5 lbs.
1st – Jamison Sacco (Western New England) pin Brett Giehl (Livonia WC), 0:39
3rd – Matthew Mahon (Mahon WC) pin Marshall Mahon (Mahon WC), 0:15

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BEACH DUALS
At Rochester, N.Y., July 11

1st – Titan Worldwide I, 4-0 record
2nd – Cheeburger Cheeburger, 3-1 record
3rd – Kendall, 2-2 record
4th – Titan Worldwide II, 1-3 record
5th – Brock WC, 0-4 record

Dual meets
Titan Worldwide I dec. Kendall, 9-0
Titan Worldwide II dec. Brock, 8-2
Titan Worldwide I dec. Titan Worldwide II, 7-2
Cheeburger Cheeburger dec. Kendall, 6-2
Kendall dec. Brock, 5-4
Titan Worldwide I dec. Cheeburger Cheeburger, 5-4
Kendall dec. Titan Worldwide 2, 5-2
Cheeburger Cheeburger dec. Brock, 8-1
Titan Worldwide I dec. Brock, 6-3
Cheeburger Cheeburger dec. Titan Worldwide II, 8-1

CHAMPION TEAM – Titan Worldwide I
103 – Eric Harley; 120 – Marty Losiondo; 130 – Nick Cegelski; 130 – Skylar Kropman; 140 – Zach Koenig; 150 – Sean Murphy: 170 – John Costello; 170 – Mike Corson; 190 – Joe Blair; 215 – Jake Barnhart; 285 – Bruno Winterman