FILA Grappling World Champion Jeff Monson controls an opponent. Spots on the U.S. Grappling World Team are up for grabs in Las Vegas next week. Among the many exciting events in Las Vegas alongside the 2013 Las Vegas/ASICS U.S. Open for wrestling is the 2013 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials, set for April 18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This competition is a qualifying event for the U.S. teams competing at the 2013 FILA Grappling World Championships in London, Canada, June 12-15. There will be a men’s and women’s division in both No-Gi and Gi Grappling at the World Team Trials. Divisions being held are for Seniors, age 20 and over, and weight classes are: for men, 62 kg, 66 kg, 71 kg, 77 kg, 84 kg, 92 kg, 100 kg and +100 kg; and for women, 53 kg, 58 kg, 64 kg, 71 kg, and +71 kg. This year, there is an exciting new opportunity concerning hotel reservations and entry fees. Participants in all five USA Wrestling tournaments in Las Vegas will receive their event registration fee at half price if they book their hotel room through VEGAS.com. You must go through the USA Wrestling event websites first to get the proper location on Vegas.com and receive a discount code for registration. This is a tremendous value for all who use this option. VEGAS.com offers extremely low prices at a large variety of hotels in Las Vegas and offers a price guarantee. If you can find a lower price at that hotel property somewhere else, VEGAS.com will match the rate. YOU MUST BOOK A ROOM THROUGH VEGAS.COM FIRST IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A DISCOUNT CODE TO USE LATER FOR TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION. Do not go directly to Vegas.com to book your room. Use the link on the USA Wrestling event websites to Vegas.com to order your room and receive the discount code for event registration. Online registration is available for all five USA Wrestling tournaments in Las Vegas, with a deadline of Tuesday, April 16 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time. For the Grappling World Team Trials, onsite late registration will be permitted with an additional late entry fee. U.S. Grappling World Team Trials On-line registration This is the third time that the Grappling World Team Trials will be held in Las Vegas, with events hosted in the city in 2007 and 2011. The United States is one of the best Grappling nations in the world, with consecutive team titles in the FILA World Grappling Championships from 2006 through 2010 in No-Gi Grappling. Team USA was also the FILA World Team champion in Gi Grappling in 2009. Team USA was third at the 2011 and 2012 Grappling Worlds in No-Gi. At the most recent Grappling World Championships in Poland, Jeff Monson won a gold medal in No-Gi, with Shane Cross, Matt Betzold and Mike Kelly winning silver medals for the men. Gabriella Foster was a No-Gi bronze medalist. In Gi action, Danny Clark won a bronze for the men and Ryan Rogge won a bronze for the women. 2013 U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS SCHEDULE At Las Vegas, Nevada, April 18-20 Thursday, April 18 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. - Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off (Room N110). No Gi (Men and Women) 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. - Medical Check & Weigh-in (Room N113) No Gi (Men and Women) Friday, April 19 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – No Gi Men and Women Preliminaries and Medal Matches 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Mandatory Check-in, Weigh-in Card Pickup, and Waiver Drop-off Gi (Men and Women) 2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Medical Check & Weigh-in, Gi (Men and Women) 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – No Gi Men and Women Gold Medal Finals – Raised Mat Saturday, April 20 3:00-6:00 p.m. – Gi Men and Women Preliminaries, Medal Matches and Finals 2012 FILA GRAPPLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALISTS AND TEAM MEMBERS U.S. Men’s No-Gi 62 kg/136.5 lbs. – Matt Betzold, 2nd 66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Ryan Vottero, dnp/11th 71 kg/156.25 lbs. – Nick Marr, 7th 77 kg/169.5 lbs. – Shane Cross, 2nd 84 kg/185 lbs. – Mike Kelly, 2nd 92 kg/202.5 lbs. – Jeff Funicello, 7th 100 kg/220 lbs. – Dan Huber, 3rd +100 kg/Over 220 lbs. – Jeff Monson, 1st U.S. Women’s No-Gi 53 kg/116.75 lbs. – Diana Anchondo, 5th 58 kg/127.75 lbs. – Gabriella Foster, 3rd U.S. Men’s Gi 66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jose Coronel, 8th 71 kg/156.25 lbs. – Justin Hayes, 8th 84 kg/185 lbs. – Danny Clark, 3rd 92 kg/202.5 lbs. – Jeff Funicello, 7th 100 kg/220 lbs. – Dan Huber, 8th Unlimited – Kenny Lester, 5th U.S. Women’s Gi 53 kg/116.75 lbs. – Diana Anchondo, 5th 58 kg/127.75 lbs.– Gabriella Foster, 7th 64 kg/140.75 lbs.– Ryan Rogge, 3rd