Strong U.S. men’s and women’s team set for Beach World Series in Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 7-8

Mia Macaluso (USA) competing in 2022 Beach World Series event in Greece. Photo courtesy of Mia Macaluso.


The USA will field an 11-athlete team, including six women and five men, for the first United World Wrestling Beach World Series event of 2023, set for May 7-8 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.


The U.S. team will have a mix of experienced talents along with some newcomers to international Beach wrestling.


This is the fourth of five UWW Beach World Series events which are qualifiers for the 2023 World Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia. (The first three qualifying events were held in 2022). Athletes from the top eight nations in each of the eight Beach World Series weight classes (four women’s weights, four men’s weights) qualify their nation to compete in the World Beach Games in Bali in August.


Coming into the event, five U.S. wrestlers competing in Buenos Aires are in the top eight of their weight class in the World Beach Games qualifying standings: Mia Macaluso (No. 5 at 60 kg women), Mitchell Cook (No. 6 at 70 kg men), Laura White (No. 7 at 50 kg women), Isabeau Shalack (No. 7 at Over 70 kg women) and Maren Anderson (No. 8 at Over 70 kg women).


Two other wrestlers on the U.S. roster are also in the standings for the World Beach Games: Ty Loethen (No. 10 at 80 kg men) and Jamal Morris (No. 14 at 80 kg men).


These six athletes were very active in the 2022 Beach World Series, competing in a number of events last year and scoring points based upon their performances.


Each year, there is a final ranking for the Beach World Series. In 2022, there were four Beach World Series events. Cook and Macaluso had No. 6 rankings in their weight class last year. Shalack and White were ranked No. 8. Anderson was No. 9, Loethen at No. 11 and Morris at No. 15.


Macaluso is a two-time NCWWC All-American for East Stroudsburg University.


One other athlete on the U.S. roster in Buenos Aires has past Beach World Series experience, Reece Humphrey at 70 kg men. Humphrey won a bronze medal at a Beach World Series event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in May of 2019. Humphrey is a past U.S. Senior World Team member in freestyle, and currently coaches the New Jersey RTC program.


Three members of the Buenos Aires team are competing at their first Beach World Series event: Emma Lauter at 50 kg women, Eliana Bommarito at Over 70 kg women and LaTrell Davis at 80 kg men. Bommarito, a 2023 NJCAA national champion for Indian Lakes Community College, won two Junior National freestyle titles in high school.


The Beach World Series event in Buenos Aires will be held right after the 2023 Pan American Senior Championships, which will be held May 3-6.


There will be five Beach World Series events in 2023. The next event is in Singapore, June 10-11, and is the final qualifying event for the World Beach Games. Closing out the 2023 Beach World Series will be events in Saint Laurent du Var, France (June 29-30), Constanta, Romania (Sept. 9-10) and Mugla, Turkey (October 14-15).

BEACH WORLD SERIES

At Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 7-8.


U.S. Senior Women’s roster

50kg: Laura White, Duanesburg, N.Y. (Curby 3 Style WC)

50kg: Emma Lauter, Louisville, Ky. (Brawlers WC)

60kg: Mia Macaluso, Otisville, N.Y.

+70kg: Isabeau Shalack, Oak Lawn, Ill. (Evergreen Park Stallions WC)

+70kg: Maren Anderson, Tinley Park, Ill. (Natural Athlete WC)

+70kg: Eliana Bommarito, Brighton, Mich. (Michigan Revolution WC)

U.S. Senior Men’s roster

70kg: Mitch Cook, Orland Park, Ill. (Natural Athlete WC)

70kg: Reece Humphrey, Dayton, N.J. (NYAC/NJRTC)

80kg: Jamal Morris, Miami, Fla. (Cardinal Gibbons High School)

80kg: Ty Loethen, Columbia, Mo. (Purler Wrestling Academy)

80kg: LaTrell Davis, Middletown, Ohio


Medical: Ryan Palmer, Carthage, Mo.

Referee: Susanna Sylstad, Graham, Wash.

Referee: Paul Kruggel, Columbus, Ohio

NF Delegate: Rusty Davidson, Grants, N.M.

Beach World Series Schedule

(Buenos Aires is one hour ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)

Sunday, May 7

10:00 a.m. – Group Rounds

3:00 p.m. – Group Rounds

Monday, May 8

10:00 a.m. – Group Rounds

3:00 p.m. – Elimination Rounds and Finals