Double Titles in Fargo Show Virginia is Leading the Way in Growing Beach Wrestling
When Team Virginia coaches asked wrestlers in Fargo who wanted to add the beach wrestling showcase event to their regular 16U/Jr. Nationals experience, hands went up all over the room. Using the motto “Sand time IS Mat time”, team Virginia athletes jumped at the chance to get more matches against top level national competition. The results were….. golden.
In the women’s showcase, Team Virginia entered thirteen wrestlers. This was second only to reigning champs Team Arizona who had fifteen girls entered. Nine Virginia ladies made the finals of their respective weight, leading the VAWA team to victory over runner-up Team Georgia and third place team Arizona.
On the men’s side, Virginia entered an eye-popping twenty-one wrestlers, propelling them to a razor thin margin of victory over runner-up Team North Carolina. Virginia boasted five champs in the effort, North Carolina also had five champs, but the number of VAWA wrestlers claiming other medals made the difference
“Our kids love to wrestle, and when given the opportunity for more wrestling, the seized the chance and made the most of it”, said VAWA Beach Team leader Frank Lipoli. Lipoli also credited beach specific training and local events held earlier this year with helping Virginia have the edge over other states. Virginia has hosted numerous “open sand” events, as well has hosting the Joe Boone X-travaganza tournament last fall, and the 2024 day at the beach earlier this spring.
Virginia hopes to continue their momentum in becoming a leading state on the exploding beach wrestling scene, with a state championship event planned for August 17th at the Virginia Beach Field House, and the 2024 Joe Boone Extravaganza back as one of the final Tour of America stops for 2024.
