Article By Gary Abbott / USA Grappling

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Five members of the 2017 U.S. Grappling World Team claimed titles at USA Wrestling’s Grappling World Team Trials in the Gi division on Thursday at the South Point Arena.

Two-time World Team member Carlos Soto of Impact Indiana won a four-athlete roundrobin, finishing with a 3-0 record, including two wins by submission. His first match was the most challenging, as he edged eventual runner-up Jon Becerra of Hyper-Modern Jiu Jitsu. Soto will now be going to his third World Championship for Team USA

2017 World Team member in No-Gi Steven Ramos of Essential, who has added Gi Grappling to his arsenal, defeated seven-time UWW No-Gi Grappling World medalist Michael Kelly of Old School Wrestling at 77 kg in two straight matches. Ramos, who wrestled for NC State in college, won both of his bouts by submission. 

2017 World Team member Luis Quinones of 10th Planet HQ was the champion at 66 kg, defeating Kelly Johnson of Pedro Sauer Team-The Academy MN in two straight bouts. Quinones won the first bout, 9-0, and clinched the series in bout two with a submission.

Two members of the 2017 U.S. World Team won their weight classes uncontested, 2017 UWW Gi World champion Breanna Stickelman of Street Sports at 58 kg in the women’s division and two-time team member Aaron Johnson of Impact Indiana at 62 kg in the men’s division.

The super heavyweight 100kg+ weight class was ultimately won by New Jersey native Vincent Mancuso of Camal Judo/Renzo Gracie Woodland Park, who emerged from a three-way tie in a four-athlete round robin.

Mancuso, two-time Grappling World Team member Gabe Beauperthuy of UTC and Travis Clark of the All-American Wrestling Club all finished with matching 2-1 records. 

The weight class was not determined until the final match of the day, when Mancuso and Beauperthuy competed. The match went to overtime, and Mancuso won the coin toss, selecting the top position. In a scramble off the whistle, Mancuso was able to flip Beauperthuy and secure a submission for the win. That submission was a key in the tiebreaking procedures. 

Beauperthuy, who competes in multiple combat styles, was a double champion in the Masters Nationals earlier this week.

The No-Gi division of the Grappling World Team Trials will be held on Friday. All of the action is on FloWrestling and FloGrappling.