The nation’s top Grapplers will battle for a chance to compete in the
World Championships by entering USA Grappling’s Dollamur U.S. Grappling
World Team Trials set for Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif., Sept. 13-14.

Athletes earned their spot in the Dollamur U.S. Grappling World Team
Trials by participating in the Dollamur Grappling World Team Trials
Qualifying Series during the spring and summer months.

In addition, all nine of the athletes who won the 2007 Grappling World
Team Trials have earned an automatic spot in this year’s event. Over 190
athletes have earned the right to compete in Rocklin.

“This weekend is the culmination of the 2008 Grappling season. The
athletes are prepared for a tough competition,” said event organizer Chris
Carlino. “I look forward to seeing our nation’s best Grapplers do battle.
California-USA Wrestling is extremely pleased to be hosting the U.S.
Grappling World Team Trials.

The registration fee for athletes is $75, which includes a current USA
Wrestling membership card.

All qualifiers are encouraged to pre-register for the event through
TrackWrestling.com, which will allow them to participate in the early
weigh-in on Friday night. The deadline for pre-registration is Friday,
September 12 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. To preregister, visit:

http://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?tournamentGroupId=479009

The champions at this event qualify for the U.S. team to compete in the
Grappling World Championships in Lucerne, Switzerland on December 20-21.

No Limits MMA, the sponsor of USA Wrestling’s Grappling World Team, will
fund the expenses of the champions to attend the Grappling World
Championships.

The U.S. will send two athletes per weight class to the World
Championships. The second athlete in each weight class will be determined
based upon the results of the Dollamur Grappling World Team Trials. The
second athlete in each weight class will have to self-fund their trip to
Switzerland as part of the U.S. team.

All nine of the 2007 Grappling World Team Trials champions went on to win
Grappling World titles later in the year.

Capturing gold medals in the men’s division were Darren Uyenoyama (South
San Francisco, Calif./Fogtown Jiu Jitsu) at 62 kg/136.5 lbs., Ricky
Lundell (Orem, Utah/Pedro Sauer Team) at 70 kg/154 lbs., Don Ortega
(Albuquerque, N.M./No Limits) at 80 kg/176 lbs., Malcolm Havens (Parker,
Colo./Grapplers Edge) at 92 kg/202.5 lbs. and Jeff Monson (Coconut Creek,
Fla./Victory Athletics) at 125 kg/275 lbs.

Capturing gold medals in the women’s division were Lisa Ward (Lacey,
Wash./United Fight Team) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Felicia Oh (Tarzana,
Calif./JJ Machado/BJMUTA) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Tara LaRosa (Woodstown,
N.J./unattached) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Valerie Worthington (Whittier,
Calif./New Breed/Hollywood Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Also at stake in Rocklin is the national championship team award, in which
the winner will receive a custom 36 x 36 x 2 “National Champions”
wrestling mat from Dollamur. Teams have score points towards this award by
participating in the 11-event World Team qualifying series, with the
Dollamur World Team Trials as the final and deciding event in the program.

The United States dominated the 2007 Grappling World Championships, held
during the World Wrestling Games in Antalya, Turkey last September,
winning all nine individual gold medals and 21 of a possible 35 medals in
the tournament.

In 2007, the international wrestling federation FILA added Grappling as a
recognized style of international wrestling.

DOLLAMUR GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS SCHEDULE
At Sierra College, Rocklin, Calif.

Friday, September 12
8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins for athletes who pre-register

Saturday, September 13
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Registration
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Weigh-ins
12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m. – World Team Trials competition

Sunday, September 14
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Medal Matches
12:00 noon – conclusion – Championship finals

RETURNING GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS CHAMPIONS

Men
62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Darren Uyenoyama, South San Francisco, Calif. (Fogtown
Jiu Jitsu),
70 kg/154 lbs. - Ricky Lundell, Orem, Utah (Pedro Sauer Team)
80 kg/176 lbs. - Don Ortega, Albuquerque, N.M. (No Limits)
92 kg/202.5 lbs. - Malcolm Havens, Parker, Colo. (Grapplers Edge)
125 kg/275 lbs. - Jeff Monson, Coconut Creek, Fla. (Victory Athletics)

Women
48 kg/105.5 lbs.- Lisa Ward, Lacey, Wash. (United Fight Team)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Felicia Oh, Tarzana, Calif. (JJ Machado/BJMUTA)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.- Tara LaRosa, Woodstown, N.J. (unattached)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Valerie Worthington, Whittier, Calif. (New
Breed/Hollywood Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)