New Style Takes Getting Used To, But In The End Wrestlers and Fans Enjoyed The Competition
By Ralph Carotenuto “Staff Writer
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Long Beach, NY “Despite sweltering temperatures that topped 95 degrees, the first ever USA Wrestling East Coast National Beach Wrestling Championships went off to the delight of fans and competitors. Over 200 wrestlers from many different states and countries came to the south shore of Long Island to compete in this unique event Saturday. Athletes from as far away as Tajikistan, Senegal and Mexico came to test their strength in the twenty foot sand rings.
Hundreds of fans gathered to watch the tournament from the beach and boardwalk. Some had come out of curiosity from the intense media coverage the championships received. Beach wrestling was featured in Newsday, USA Today and on many of the local television stations leading up to Saturday’s contest. Still other fans were just out for a stroll or bike ride on the beach and stopped to catch some of the matches.
Arnine Weiss (Scranton, PA) and Yolana Stern (Long Beach) were riding their bikes on the boardwalk and stopped by to watch the action. Weiss, hailing from wrestling rich Pennsylvania commented, “It’s a clean and nice demonstration of skill.”
Beach wrestling rules are relatively simple:
1. Matches are one three minute period in length.
2. Victory is secured by scoring two takedowns, two push outs, two throws, or any combination of the previous.
3. Sudden victory can be attained by fall or executing a five point, high amplitude throw.
4. With no rule for overtime, ties are broken by criteria, or referee’s decision.
There is no time given for mat, or in this case, ground wrestling. Unless a takedown is eminent referees bring wrestlers immediately back to their feet from the sand (even if for example one wrestler has the other in a front headlock position).
Most matches were fast and action packed to the enjoyment of spectators and many athletes. They usually lasted less than two minutes and therefore conditioning did not seem to be a factor. Fans saw plenty of throws and very little dancing or stalling.
University of Pennsylvania recruit and 2005 Junior National Greco-Roman Finalist Cesar Grajales (Brandon, FL) won the High School Boys Division III (135 to 155 pounds) title.
“It’s similar to Greco,” says Grajales. “It’s mostly upper body. It (sand) slows you down a little bit. I do a lot of my scoring on top and in this style there is none of that.”
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