Beach World Series France Blog: June 29: A Great Day for U.S. Beach Wrestling

by Ed Duncan

The U.S. Beach Wrestling Team at the Beach World Series Saint Laurent du Var celebrates a historic day in France. (Photo by Ed Duncan)

Man! I LOVE beach wrestling!  It’s the best of beaches, with the best of wrestling.  Guaranteed fun! But......not easy. Like many great spectator sports,  beach wrestling is simple to watch, and pretty simple to understand.  But simple to do at high levels... it’s not.!

Team USA put on another historic performance today, bringing home three medals at the same event for the first time in our history.

Other “firsts” included two women’s finalists, our first men’s 90+KG World Series medalist , a second place women’s team finish, as well as a fifth place finish on the men’s side. We are leaving France with two wrestlers ranked #1 in the world in their respective weight classes. And this marks the fourth consecutive event with a gold medal for Team USA. Quite a streak considering how many years we went without!

Americans love winners, and there is a lot to love about this weekend’s team performance. The team put on an inspiring show, and have set the tone for the rest of the series this summer. This wave has been building for a while, and now it’s great to be riding it!

What I really love watching is the progression of our athletes and coaches. As someone famous once said, “there’s levels to this,” and beach wrestling is no exception to that. For many years our athletes came on their own, alone or with their own coaches, very little publicity, and not many highlights to brag about. Now we are seeing Americans win, claim podium spots, and earn team trophies. It’s beautiful progress, but still a lot to be done. Without a doubt the best is still yet to come, but at least the trend is in the right direction.

We are coming home happy, but not satisfied. We could still bring many more athletes along for this exciting journey. A goal on the horizon is three athletes in every weight class (the allowed limit). Another goal is team titles, as well as continuing to earn individual medals at every stop along the way. Coach Box is committed. The athletes here have fires burning, and there are others back home who are also ready to join them at future events. Maybe you’d like to come along too?

Also somewhere in America this summer, a wrestler that no one even knows yet will try beach wrestling, and fall in love with the style. They will start their journey at local and regional domestic events, and enjoy the sand, sun, and FUN that is beach wrestling as they go. Eventually they will hone their skills in the sand and decide to take a shot at representing Team USA! The DREAM will be born and their success in the sand will become part of the continuing history of our young style.

For now, we celebrate a great day! The sun is setting over the Mediterranean. The gentle breeze is whispering that the day is coming to a close, and there are smiles and “see you soons” all around. After all, in beach wrestling, you don’t just get to go to the beach. You get to go back to the beach, again...and again.. and again. See you back in the sand…. very soon!

Jamal Morris (USA) with arm raised in victory at Beach World Series in France (Photo by Jamal Morris)

June 28: Gratitude is the Attitude

We have so much to be thankful for! That’s the fact that keeps running through my head today as I am watching Team USA take to the sand here in Saint-Laurent du Var, France. To be around young men and women who train, sacrifice, and leave behind the comforts of home to represent America with honor and courage and grit… it’s a true blessing!

These athletes are also doing this self-funded, although that usually means a huge network of donors, supporters, family, and friends back home helping them chase dreams around the world. To be gifted as an athlete, and then gifted with a support system… it’s a LOT to be thankful for.

We are also blessed with one of the best coaches in the world. Coach Tim Box has been a sand warrior himself, and he relates deeply to the quest our athletes are on. Watching him scout opponents, prepare training plans, talk with athletes, and guide them along the journey is something I’m thankful to get to see. The fact that USA Wrestling has invested resources in a coach for the beach program now is also a step that we are all grateful for.

Today we competed hard. We won a lot, and lost a few. Through every match our team cheered each other on, and win or lose they rallied around one another afterwards with words of congratulations and encouragement. Our beach team athletes are special people doing special things. They are shaping the future of this style and the future of our sport in ways they may not even fully comprehend. I’m thankful for their willingness to come, to compete, and to do it all with the American spirit and passion that makes athletes special people.

Finally, I’m thankful to be at the beach! Its Friday back home and many reading this have been working today while we were sitting on a beach in France with sunny skies and 75 degree weather. The number one rule of beach wrestling is have FUN, and we are certainly doing that. Having the opportunity to be here…today… representing the United States of America, is truly a blessing beyond measure. The best news is there is much more to come tomorrow! Team USA will be back on the sand, thankful to be a part of this thing they call BEACH wrestling.

Justin Benjamin, Tim Box (front), Kyle Ferriter, Ed Duncan, Eliana Bommarito (back) at USA Beach practice in France (Photo by Tim Box)

June 27: Luggage, Logistics and Love

If you’ve ever traveled much you know the saying… “getting there is half the battle”.

International travel these days is not always simple. Navigating lost luggage, delayed flights, and airport crowds is not for the faint of heart! And that’s just to get to the event. Never mind trying to manage your weight while traveling, which adds an entire new dimension to the experience for athletes arriving one day and competing the next!

The fact that our two female and four male athletes all made it here is in itself a testament to the passion these folks have for the competition ahead. They know the challenging logistics of travel, but yet they take it all in stride and still manage to show up ready to scrap.

The good news is we made it! Arriving on the south coast of France was a great feeling. We were greeted by sounds of school children being put through a great clinic by the French beach wrestling team. Hundreds of kids were enjoying the sand and giving beach wrestling a try for the very first time, as well as learning how to clean up the beach afterward and leave it better than they found it. Kudos to the French team for working to spread the love of beach wrestling to the next generation of stars in the sand.

The American team led by Coach Tim Box got a workout in alongside the French children and then met briefly after dinner to discuss the coming days of competition. Team USA is led by defending Over 70 kg World Champion Eliana Bommarito , who is competing in her first beach event of the season. Also here for the United States is Justin Benjamin, who was the 70 kg weight class at Stop #1 in Acapulco. Rounding out Team USA will be Kyle Ferriter at 90+, Jamal Morris 90 kg, Mitch Brown 70 kg, and on the women’s side Mariah Anderson at 50 kg. All have previous world level experience and are hoping to make a strong US showing.

Tomorrow competition begins, and the athletes will finally get to do what they love… compete! One thing is for sure. There is a lot to love about this stop on the Mediterranean coast of France, and Team USA is prepared and passionate for the competition tomorrow. Let the fun in France begin!