Shane Cross battles with Mike Kelly in the finals at 84 kg at the 2013 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials. Photo by Tony Rotundo - Wrestlers are Warriors

LONDON, Ontario, Canada – The United States has entered a team of Grapplers to compete in the No-Gi and Gi Grappling divisions at the FILA World Championships in Ontario, Canada June 14-15.

The members of the U.S. Grappling No-Gi and Gi World Team were determined at the 2013 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in April.  Champions will compete against top senior grapplers from around the globe this weekend.  Up to 25 countries are expected to compete in the event.

The United States squad features 2011 Grappling No-Gi World champion Brandon Ruiz, West Jordan, Utah, (Team Edge) at +100 kg/Over 200 lbs.  Ruiz has also won Grappling World silver medals in 2008 and 2009.

2012 World silver medalist Shane Cross, Denver, Colo., (Team EDGE) will represent the U.S. at 84 kg/185 lbs in the No-Gi.  Cross battled past World medalist Mike Kelly in the finals of the World Team Trials.  In an intense match, Cross scored the winning point with little time left to earn a spot on the 2013 World Team.

Jayson Patino (American Top Team) was a double winner at the World Team Trials and will compete for the U.S. at 71 kg/156.25 lbs. in both the No-Gi and Gi divisions.  Patino defeated Patrick Benson in the No-Gi finals and beat Jerome Gage in two straight matches by submission in the Gi finals to clinch two spots on the World Team.

Eric Brennan, Aurora, Colo., (Team EDGE) will wrestle in the No- Gi division for the U.S. at 92 kg/202.5 lbs. after defeating 2012 World bronze medalist Daniel Huber in the World Team Trials final.

Bahar Shahidi, Denver, Colo., (Team EDGE) will compete in women’s No-Gi for Team USA.  The past World medalist will wrestle No-Gi at 53 kg/116.75 after winning at the World Team Trials.

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 in 2012, 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.

This World Championships event will also feature competition in Pankration and Amateur MMA, styles in which USA Wrestling does not participate.

During its Extraordinary Congress in May, FILA, the international wrestling federation, announced that it will not host Grappling and Amateur MMA competitions after this year. This is expected to be the final FILA World Grappling Championships.

GRAPPLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At London, Ontario, Canada June 14-15

Men’s No-Gi
62 kg/136.5 lbs. – Matt Holt, Portland, Ore., (Brazilian Top Team Portland)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – John Albert, Puyallup, Wash., (Victory Athletics)
71 kg/156.25 lbs. – Jayson Patino, Orlando, Fla., (American Top Team)
77 kg/169.5 lbs. – Colby Covington, Corvallis, Ore. (American Top Team)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Shane Cross, Denver, Colo., (Team EDGE)
92 kg/202.5 lbs. – Eric Brennan, Aurora, Colo., (Team EDGE)
100 kg/220 lbs. – Henry Todd, Chandler, Ariz., (American Pankration)
+100 kg/Over 220 lbs. – Brandon Ruiz, West Jordan, Utah, (Team EDGE)

Women’s No-Gi
53 kg/116.75 lbs. – Bahar Shahidi, Denver, Colo., (Team EDGE)

Men’s Gi
62 kg/136.5 lbs. – John Cicio, Orlando, Fla., (ATT Winter Springs)
71 kg/156.25 lbs. – Jayson Patino, Orlando, Fla., (American Top Team)
77 kg/169.5 lbs. – Peter Sutton, Hemet, Calif., (Stable Jiu Jitsu)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Robert Yamashita, Bloomington, Ind., (Navy)
92 kg/202.5 lbs. – Shaun Scott, Millersville, Pa., (Modern Day Gladiators)
100 kg/220 lbs. – Aaron Yoches, Denver, Colo., (Team EDGE)

Coaches – Sheldon Marr, Aurora, Colo. and Nick Marr, Aurora, Colo.
Referee – Rusty Davidson, Grants, N.M.

Event Schedule

Friday, June 14, Gi Grappling
10:00 a.m. – Elimination Rounds & Repechage Men 62 and 66 kg and Women 53 and 58 kg
11:00 a.m. – Elimination Rounds & Repechage Men 71 and 77 kg and Women 64, 71 and +71 kg
3:30 p.m. – Elimination Rounds & Repechage Men 84, 92, 100 and +100 kg
5:30 – 6:00 p.m. – Opening Ceremony
6:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Finals & Award Ceremonies in All Categories

Saturday, June 15, No-Gi Grappling
10:00 a.m. – Elimination Rounds & Repechage Men 62 and 66 kg and Women 53 and 58 kg
11:00 a.m. – Elimination Rounds & Repechage Men 71 and 77 kg and Women 64, 71 and +71 kg
4:00 p.m. – Elimination Rounds & Repechage Men 84, 92, 100 and +100 kg
6:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Finals & Award Ceremonies in All Categories