USA Wrestling has released a preliminary 2006 Beach Wrestling schedule, featuring sanctioned events being held at different locations across the nation during the spring and summer months..

Beach Wrestling was named as a new international wrestling style in 2004, and USA Wrestling has hosted Beach Wrestling competitions since 2005.

Competition is held in a 20-foot ring in the sand. Athletes score points for earning a takedown, or when the opponent steps out of the ring. Matches last three minutes. When a wrestler scores two points, the match is over.

Based upon past Beach Wrestling events sanctioned by USA Wrestling, the tournaments have been very competitive and have provided tremendous family fun.

For the first time, USA Wrestling will have a Beach Wrestling National Championships. The first U.S. Beach Wrestling Nationals will be hosted in Palm Beach County, Fla. on August 18-19. On the Senior level, this will serve as the qualifying event for the U.S. team that will compete in the World Beach Wrestling Championships in Anatalya, Turkey, Oct. 13-15.

There will also be competition in age-group divisions at the U.S. Beach National Championships. The U.S. Sombo Nationals will also be held there that weekend. Visit TheMat for more information.

Click here for release on U.S. Beach Nationals

In addition, as of June 5, there are eight sanctioned events in Beach Wrestling held across the nation. Wrestlers are encouraged to participate in these tournaments in order to prepare for the U.S. Beach Nationals.

The schedule started last month with the Oregon State Beach Wrestling Championships at Bullar’s Beach in Bandon, Ore., May 13. Oregon has been one of the most active state associations in the development of Beach Wrestling.

There is a major beach event being held this weekend, the North American Beach Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Va., June 9-11. This event is being held alongside the North American Beach Soccer Championships, a major sports festival in Virginia Beach each year. There will be individual and team competition.

North American Beach Championships website

Two of the events will be held alongside USA Wrestling Kids/Cadet Regional Championships. The America’s Cup of Beach Wrestling will be at Carlsbad, N.M. on June 17, and the Western Regional Kids/Cadet Beach Championships will be in Klamath Falls, Ore. on June 19.

For the second straight year, the ASICS East Coast National Beach Championships will be held on Long Island in Long Beach, N.Y. This tournament was a major success last year, with well over 200 participants in just its first year.

ASICS East Coast Beach Nationals website

New events this year include:

• TNT Northeast National Beach Wrestling Championships in Caroga Lake, N.Y. on August 5
  TNT Northeast Beach Nationals website
• Southern Sand National Beach Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Okla. on August 25-26.
  Southern Sand Beach Nationals website

More events are expected to be added during the next few months, and will be updated on TheMat.com when available.

For information on Beach Wrestling, contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181 or via e-mail at gabbott@usawrestling.org. If you are hosting a USA Wrestling sanctioned beach wrestling event, and want to be added to the schedule, please contact Gary Abbott.

PRELIMINARY BEACH WRESTLING SCHEDULE

May 13 – Oregon State Beach Wrestling Championships at Bullar’s Beach in Bandon, Ore. Divisions: Veterans, Junior, Cadet, Schoolboy/Girl, Novice. Contact Wayne Van Burger at 541-396-4835.

June 9-12 - North American Beach Wrestling Championships, Virginia Beach, Va. Divisions: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Military, Open. Contact Frank Lipoli at 757-652-7861 or 757-546-2028.

June 17 – America’s Cup of Beach Wrestling at Carlsbad, N.M. Divisions: Senior, University, Junior, FILA Junior, FILA Cadet, Cadet, Schoolboy/girl, Novice, Midget. Contact Rusty Davidson at 505-980-9041.

June 19 – West Regional Kids/Cadet Beach Championships at the Klamath County Event Center in Klamath Falls, Ore. Divisions: Cadet, Schoolboy/girl, Novice, Midget, Bantam. Contact John Longfellow at 503-368-4223.

August 5 – TNT Northeast National Beach Wrestling Championships at Pine Lake Park in Caroga Lake, N.Y. Divisions: Senior, Junior, Novice, Midget. Contact Tom Bergami at 518-346-1130.

August 12-13 -- ASICS East Coast National Beach Wrestling Championships in Long Beach, NY. Divisions: middle school, high school, college, veterans, girls and women. Additional information can be obtained by calling TW Promotions, Inc. at 631-588-4343 x104, or by e-mailing ASICSBeach@aol.com

August 19 – U.S. National Beach Wrestling Championships at the Singer Island Hilton in Palm Beach County, Fla. The Senior division is the qualifying event for the World Beach Wrestling Championships in Turkey. Other age-group divisions to be included. Contact Mark Scott of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181.

August 25-26 – Southern Sand Beach Wrestling Championships at the Beach Volleyball Courts in Tulsa, Okla. Divisions: Veterans, Senior, University, Junior, Cadet, Schoolboy/girl, Novice Midget, Bantam. Contact John Nix at 972-816-3876.