U.S. U17 and U20 Beach World Teams set for men and women at Carolina Beach Nationals

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. – The U.S. Beach World Teams at the U17 and U20 levels for both men and women were set today at the Carolina Beach Nationals.

There are up to three spots in each weight class for the USA team at the U17 Beach Worlds and the U20 Beach Worlds, which are set for Katerini-Pierra, Greece, September 19-20.  The top three place winners today in each weight class have first opportunity to compete in Greece and represent the United States.

2023 U20 World Beach champion Eliana Bommarito was among the champions, and will be eligible to defend her World title at Over 70 kg. She stopped Jocelyn Cacek in two straight matches, 5-0 and 3-0. Bommarito won two tournaments today, also claiming the Senior Carolina Beach Nationals title.

Also winning two tournaments today were Piper Zatechka, who was the champion at 70 kg in both the U17 and the U20 divisions, and Jayden Keller, who was the champion at 50 kg in both the U17 and the U20 divisions. Both will be eligible to compete in both tournaments in Greece if they choose.

Zatcheka defeated talented Beach wrestler Lilly Reese in two bouts in the U17 finals, 3-0 and 3-1. She also beat Maura White of New Jersey in two straight in the U20 finals, both injury defaults.

Keller swept her U17 finals in two straight, beating Alicia Reyes 5-0 in bout one and 3-0 in bout two. Her U20 finals was also a sweep, scoring a pair of 3-0 victories over Haley Viars.

Claiming the 60 kg U17 title in women’s Beach Wrestling was Jaida Macaluso, who beat her Venom Girls Wrestling Club teammate Sara Pauls in two straight bout, 3-2 and 3-1. Macaluso upset 2023 U17 Beach World champion Kennedie Snow in the semifinals. Snow is still eligible to defend her World title, as she finished third in the weight class.

Joining Bommarito and Zatechka as U20 champions on the women’s side were Ciara Riner (60 kg) and Jayden Keller (50 kg). Both swept their finals series, and both are nationally ranked on the high school level in the USA. Riner was a 2022 U17 Beach World bronze medalist, also at 60 kg.

The U20 champions on the men’s side were David Coptsias (70 kg), Terrell McFarland (80 kg), Pierce White (90 kg) and Dominic Porter (Over 90 kg). All four won their finals series in two straight matches. McFarland has previous international experience, winning 2021 U17 Pan American titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.

Keller, Zatechka and Macaluso were the only U17 champions in women’s Beach wrestling, as there were no entries in the Over 70 kg division.

Champions in the U17 division in men’s Beach Wrestling were Benjamin Graham (60 kg), John Schultz (70 kg), Xavier Smith (80 kg) and Nicholas Rodgers (Over 80 kg).

Schultz needed all three matches in his finals series to claim the title. He beat Elijah Collins by pin in 2:18 in bout one, but Collins rallied with a 3-1 win in bout two. Schultz clinched the title with a 3-0 shutout in bout three. The other three U17 men’s finals series were determined in two straight.

There are three spots on the U.S. Beach World Team in every weight class for the U17 and U20 World Championships. The top three placewinners in each weight class can choose to attend based upon their finish today.

The USA would like to field full teams in every weight class in Greece. USA Wrestling will work to fill the roster, using the following approved team procedures:

1. Top four placement at the specific weight class at the 2024 Carolina Beach Nationals, based upon finish.
2. Past U17 or U20 World medalists and past U17 or U20 Pan American medalists
3. Participation at the 2024 Carolina Beach Nationals
4. Open to the general public to athletes that meet age-group and eligibility requirements on a first-come, first served basis

Results in all of the other youth divisions, as well as the Veterans divisions, will be posted in a different story.

CAROLINA BEACH NATIONALS

At Carolina Beach, N.C., May 11

U17 Men’s Beach

60

1^st Place - Benjamin Graham (Thunderbird Wrestling Club) dec. Jack Palmisciano (North Carolina), two matches to none

Round 1 – Graham dec. Palmisciano, 3-0

Round 2 - Graham dec. Palmisciano, 3-0

3rd Place- Bryce May (North Carolina)

U17 Men Beach - 70

1^st Place - John Schulz (Bull Shark Wrestling Club) dec. Elijah Collins (North Carolina Wrestling Factory), two matches to one

Round 1 – Schultz pin Collins, 2:18

Round 2 – Collins dec. Schultz, 3-1

Round 3 – Schultz dec. Collins, 3-0

3rd Place - Jaylen Bethea (Forge Wrestling) won by decision over Eadyn Hill (Carolina Elite Wrestling Club) (Dec 3-0,0-0)

80kg

1st Place - Xavier Smith of Fishers Wrestling Club dec. Mark Betanzo (California), two matches to none

Round 1 – Smith forfeit Betanzo

Round 2 - Smith forfeit Betanzo

80+

1st Place - Nicholas Rodgers (North Carolina) dec. Julian Burgett (Fishers Wrestling Club) (NC), two matches to none

Round 1 – Rodgers dec. Burgett, 3-0

Round 2 - Rodgers dec. Burgett, 3-0

3rd Place - Terrell McFarland (Team Pennsylvania) won by decision over Troy Deniz (Chapel Hill High School Wrestling) (Dec 3-0,0-0)

U17 Women’s Beach

50 kg

1st Place Match

Jayden Keller (The Nest Wrestling Club) dec. Alicia Reyes (Baynard Trained Wrestling Club), two matches to none

Round 1 – Keller dec. Reyes, 5-0

Round 2 – Keller dec. Reyes, 3-0

3rd Place - Madison Morales (Western Carolina Wrestling Club) won by decision over Amariah Lamar (New Mexico) (Dec 4-0)

60 kg

1st Place - Jaida Macaluso (Venom Girls Wrestling Club) dec. Sara Pauls (Venom Girls Wrestling Club), two matches to none

Round 1 – Macaluso dec. Pauls, 3-2

Round 2 – Macaluso dec. Pauls, 3-1

3rd Place - Kennedie Snow (North Carolina) won by decision over Siena Palmisciano (Chapel Hill High School Wrestling) (Dec 3-1)

70 kg

1st Place Match

Piper Zatechka (Nebraska Wrestling Academy) dec. over Lilly Reese (Baynard Trained Wrestling Club), two matches to none

Round 1 – Zatechka dec. Reese, 3-0

Round 2 – Zatechka dec. Reese, 3-1

3rd Place - Joslynn Cook (Western Carolina Wrestling Club)

U20 Men’s Beach

70 kg

1st Place - David Coptsias (North Carolina) dec. Christian Diaz (Delta Wrestling Club), two matches to one

Round 1 – Diaz dec. Coptsias, 3-2

Round 2 - Coptsias pin Diaz, 0:42

Round 3 – Coptsias dec. Diaz, 3-0

3rd Place - Avery Buonocore (North Carolina) won by fall over Exzavier Pickering (North Carolina) (Fall 1:22)

80 kg

1st Place - Terrell McFarland (Team Pennsylvania) dec. Kane Foley (North Carolina), two matches to none

Round 1 – McFarland dec. Foley, 3-0

Round 2 – McFarland forfeit Foley

3rd Place - Troy Shannon (Pembroke RTC) won by fall over Mark Betanzo (California) (Fall 0:26)

90 kg

1st Place - Pierce White (North Carolina) dec. Regan Mitchell (South Carolina), two matches to none

Round 1 – White fall Mitchell, 0:51

Round 2 – White dec. Mitchell, 3-0

3rd Place - Connor Reese (Baynard Trained Wrestling Club) won by fall over Daniel Von Bromssen (Cardinal Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:58)

90+

1st Place - Dominic Porter (Nevada) dec. Cameron Gurkin (North Carolina), two matches to none

Round 1 – Porter fall Gurkin, 0:18

Round 2 – Porter dec. Gurkin, 3-1

3rd Place - Landon Gray (North Carolina) won by decision over Seth Glance (Lost Boyz Wrestling Club) (Dec 3-0)

U20 Women’s Beach

50 kg

1st Place - Jayden Keller Jayden Keller (The Best Wrestling Club) dec. Haley Viars (Stinger Wrestling Club), two matches to none

Round 1 – Keller dec. Viars, 3-0

Round 2 – Keller dec. Viars, 3-0

60 kg

1st Place - Ciara Riner (West Virginia) dec. Kylie Brigman (Lumberton High School Wrestling), two matches to none

Round 1 – Riner dec. Brigman, 3-0

Round 2 – Riner dec. Brigman, 4-0

3rd Place - Jada Fowler (Maryland) won by decision over Isabella Hoffman (Emmanuel Training Center) (Dec 3-0)

70 kg

1st Place Match

Piper Zatechka (Nebraska Wrestling Academy) dec. Maura White (New Jersey), two matches to none

Round 1 – Zatechka inj. dft. White, 0:00a

Round  2- Zatechka inj. dft. White, 0:00

3rd Place - Kaylee Anderson (Virginia) won by decision over Bella Murillo (North Carolina) (Dec 2-0)

70+

1st Place - Eliana Bommarito (Michigan Revolution Wrestling Club) dec. Jocelyn Cacek (Maryland), two matches to none

Round 1 – Bommarito dec. Cacek, 5-0

Round 2 – Bommarito dec. Cacek, 3-0

3rd Place - Emma Lavalle (Pennsylvania)