The 2012 U.S. Beach National Wrestling Championships and World Team Trials will return to Rochester, N.Y., July 13-15.

This is the sixth year that Rochester has hosted the event (2007-2012). The competition will again be hosted at Ontario Beach Park (also called Charlotte Beach) in Rochester.

The 2012 U.S. Beach National Championships will be held on Saturday, July 13, with competition in five age groups: Schoolboy/girl, Cadet, Junior, Senior (men and women) and Veterans. In all age groups, weight classes will be determined after weighins, using the blocked weight system. 

Athletes from other nations will be permitted to enter in all of the age divisions, except the Senior division. Because the U.S. Beach Nationals is part of World Team qualifications, Seniors have to be U.S. citizens.

Click here to register for the Beach Nationals

Winning Senior Beach National titles the last two years were unattached Brian Guilfoyle at 157 pounds and Jamison Sacco of the Western New England WC at heavyweight.

Other returning Senior Beach National champions are Jason Goldman of the Finger Lakes WC at 151 pounds, Michael Gentilcore of Oswego State at 164 pounds, unattached Mike Morone at 174 pounds, Mark Collins of the Victor WC at 187 pounds and Oleksandr Ievitushenko of the Brooklyn WC at 208 pounds.

Click here for 2012 U.S. Beach Nationals website

The Senior Beach World Team Trials will be held on Sunday, July 14. Participants must qualify for this event at the U.S. Beach Nationals the previous day. The Senior Beach World Team Trials will determine the U.S. athletes who will compete in 2012 FILA World Beach Wrestling Championships. The Women’s Beach Worlds are in Pattaya, Thailand, Sept. 10-11. The Men’s Beach Worlds are in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 24.

The United States is still seeking its first World champion in Beach wrestling. Last year, Donovan DePatto of the U.S. Marines won a World silver medal, the first U.S. World finalist. The U.S. has won numerous World bronze medals, including a pair of two-time World bronze medalists, Jeff Funicello of American Pankration and Carlos Dolmo of Blast Double NY.

There are four international Men’s Beach Wrestling Weights: 70 kg/154 lbs., 80 kg/176 lbs., 90 kg/198 lbs. Over 90 kg/Over 198 lbs.

There are three international Women’s Beach Wrestling Weights: 60 kg/132 lbs., 70 kg/154 lbs., Over 70 kg/Over 154 lbs.

For the fifth straight year, the National High School Beach Duals will be held on Sunday, July 12. High school club teams can enter this competition, and battle for team trophies and bragging rights. The addition of the High School Duals gives athletes two full days of quality wrestling. The Empire Wrestling Club is the defending champion.

Held alongside the U.S. Beach Nationals and World Team Trials will be a number of other exciting sports events at the beach, along with music and other entertainment. Returning this year as other sports events are beach volleyball and pickleball. A new addition will be the nationally-recognized Red Bull Sand Soccer Tournament.

Last year, a bench press competition was added, which was very popular with those in the wrestling tournament and others at the festival. Bench press will return again this year, offering another quality competition for the wrestlers who are interested in testing their strength.

The local Triple A baseball team, the Rochester Red Wings, will have a homestand during the weekend, and there will be barbeque and blues music available in the evening in downtown Rochester.

Click here for 2012 Rochester Welcome Packet

The host hotel is the Holiday Inn Rochester Airport, located at 911 Brooks Avenue, Rochester, New York 14624 You can get the special $99 per night rate there if you call and ask for the “Sports and Music Festival Rate”at (585) 295-0961

The local organizing committee is the Team Titan Worldwide Wrestling Club, an active and respected USA Wrestling sanctioned club in the community.

“This is always an outstanding event in the Rochester community," said event director Lou Lombardo. “The local organizers of all of the activities are offering even more opportunities for the wrestlers who attend the Beach Nationals. Bringing back the World Team Trials is certainly a plus, which determines who will represent the nation at the World Championships. Rochester is a knowledgeable wrestling community, and New York represents itself well in all levels of wrestling. We have a good product which is family-oriented. We invite all wrestlers to come, enjoy the event, the scenery and all that Rochester has to offer.”

Beach Wrestling was added as a style of international wrestling in 2005. Athletes compete on sand, in a style that features takedowns within a ring. The sport has been growing in popularity across the nation and world.

USA Wrestling has sanctioned Beach events since 2005, and held its first U.S. Beach National Championships and World Team Trials in 2006. FILA hosted the first World Championships in 2006 in Antalya, Turkey.

For more information, contact event director Lou Lombardo at (585)313-8503 or via e-mail at ljlclean@yahoo.com.

2012 BEACH NATIONALS AND WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Rochester, N.Y., July 13-15

Event Schedule

Friday, July 13 (at Cheeburger Cheeburger restaurant)*
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. – Early U.S. Beach Nationals registration (optional for all divisions)
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Early medical check & weigh-ins* (optional for all divisions)
* *Optional Weigh-in site on Friday is Cheeburger Cheeburger Restaurant, 1000 North River Street, Rochester, NY 14612 (585) 271-2433

Saturday, July 14 (at Ontario Beach Park)
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. – U.S. Beach Nationals registration
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - U.S. Beach Nationals Medical Check and Weigh-ins 
11:30 a.m. to conclusion – U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships

Sunday July 15 (at Ontario Beach Park)
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - National High School Beach Duals Registration, Medical Check and Weigh-ins 
10:00 a.m. to conclusion - Beach Wrestling Senior World Team Trials
10:00 a.m. to conclusion - National High School Beach Duals (at Ontario Beach Park)

2011 U.S. BEACH NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Senior Men
151 – Jason Goldman (Finger Lakes WC)
157 – Brian Guilfoyle (unattached)
164 – Michael Gentilcore (Oswego State)
174 – Mike Morone (unattached)
187 – Mark Collins (Victor WC)
208 – Oleksandr Ievitushenko (Brooklyn WC)
HWT – Jamison Sacco (Western New England)

Senior Women
124 – Cierra Carere (Ontario)
135 – Louise Ward (Ontario)
156 – Brittany Gearing (Ontario)
169 – Donna Rosen (unattached)

Junior
125 – Sam Jagas (Ontario)
140 – Hobie Strassner (Webster Schroeder)
150 – Mike Coffaro (Team Titan)
165 – Tristan Hammer (unattached)
181 – Tom Lombardo (Team Titan)
215 – Jesse Kozub (Empire WC)

Cadet
97 – Parker Kropman (Titan Worldwide)
120 – Sam Jagas (Ontario)
137 – Hobie Strassner (Webster Schroeder)
146 – Jonathan Post (Webster Thomas)
150 – Ian Salathiel (Team Titan)

Schoolboy
90 – Parker Kropman (Titan Worldwide)
120 – Frankie Gissendanner (Team Titan)

Veterans
156 – Walter Bouzak (unattached)

2011 International Beach Cup champions
Men’s 70 kg/154 lbs. - Joe Bonaldi of Spartan WC
Men’s 80 kg/176 lbs. - Michael Gentilcore of Oswego State WC
Men’s 90 kg/198 lbs. - Oleksandr Ievitushenko of Brooklyn WC
Men’s Over 90 kg/Over 198 lbs. - Jamison Sacco of Western New England
Women’s 80 kg/176 lbs. - Donna Rosen of Unattached