NEWS
RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER
7TH, 2011
WKA US NATIONAL TEAM
SHINES AT THE WKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN KARLSRUHE,
GERMANY!
The US
National Team enjoyed beautiful weather in the
historic city of Karlsruhe, Germany. After the full
team, coming from all over the country, arrived on
Sunday
and got registered and weighed in, everyone had a good
meal and returned to the hotel for some rest and
recuperation. On Monday,
WKA USA
Representative and World Ring Sports Vice President
Brian Crenshaw, along with WKA Official Lindsey
MacMhaolain, attended seminars and meetings, leading
the MMA and Submission
Grappling sections of the referees' seminar. That
evening, the team, dressed in their Fighters' Inc
sponsorship warm-ups, marched through the Karlsruhe
castle for the World Championships opening ceremony.
All national teams, carrying their flags and wearing
their colors, marched out of the castle to cheers and
much national spirit. No one could have failed to be
impressed by this sight--it was a truly breathtaking
and momentous moment!
On Tuesday, the
competition began. Nearly two thousand competitors
from about sixty countries filled the Europahalle,
along with coaches, teammates, friends, and family.
Officials had their work cut out for them with
non-stop action on the mats and in the ring from
morning until evening. Most competitors had multiple
bouts to work their way to the top, and US team
members gave it their all.
This
year's team consisted of fighters in the Thai Boxing,
MMA, Full Contact and Original WKA Kickboxing (K-1)
divisions as well as the brand new Gi and No Gi
Submission Grappling divisions. Notable, first, was
the willingness of many of the competitors to step up
and compete in multiple divisions. In addition, the
2010 team was exceptional in that it included a number
of amazing coaches who gave the team their full
dedication.
Here's the most exceptional thing
about this year's team: EVERY TEAM MEMBER BROUGHT HOME
A MEDAL! Team WKA USA had nine golds, eight silvers,
and five bronze medals from the toughest,
highest-level amateur competition in the world. We
cannot truly express how proud we are of the
dedication, heart, and performance of the following
champions:
Brandon Mickens: Thai Boxing - GOLD
MEDAL
Vahe Sahakyan: Junior K-1 Kickboxing - GOLD
MEDAL
Vahe Sahakyan: Junior Full Contact - GOLD
MEDAL
Spencer Grekoski: Junior K-1 Kickboxing -
GOLD MEDAL
Christopher Torres: MMA - GOLD MEDAL
Greg Rowe: Thai Boxing - GOLD MEDAL
Pascal
Jean-Michel: Thai Boxing - GOLD MEDAL
Christopher
Torres: No Gi Submission Grappling - GOLD MEDAL
Buck Grant: No Gi Submission Grappling - GOLD MEDAL
Michael Macauley: MMA - SILVER MEDAL
Michael
Macauley: Thai Boxing - SILVER MEDAL
Diamond
Watson: Thai Boxing - SILVER MEDAL
Ani Hilditch:
K-1 Kickboxing - SILVER MEDAL
Eric Heegaard: No Gi
Submission Grappling - SILVER MEDAL
Lindsey
MacMhaolain: No Gi Submission Grappling - SILVER MEDAL
Lindsey MacMhaolain: Gi Submission Grappling - SILVER
MEDAL
Michael Macauley: Gi Submission Grappling -
SILVER MEDAL
Clay Thomas: Thai Boxing - BRONZE
MEDAL
Kale Blessum: Thai Boxing - BRONZE MEDAL
Aleksandr Melts: Full Contact - BRONZE MEDAL
Eric
Heegaard: MMA - BRONZE MEDAL
Megan O'Bryan: K-1
Kickboxing - BRONZE MEDAL
Behind this list of medals, there were some
spectacular matches! Chris Torres of Krav Maga, DC,
won his first MMA match by KO within thirty seconds of
the first round with a vicious left hook. Coach Buck
Grant of Hybrid Training Center also competed in No Gi,
winning his matches by points and by a nice head and
arm choke submission. Greg Rowe of Five Points Academy
had one of the most technical matches of the
tournament. He fought a German opponent with more than
70 amateur fights who planned to turn pro after the
tournament. Despite these challenges, Rowe won by
mixing up traditional Thai with Dutch style,
counteracting the strengths of his opponent and
winning his division. We also had two junior stars
this year. Vahe Sahakyan of Lions Martial Arts took
the gold in both the K-1 Kickboxing and Full Contact
divisions. Spencer Grekoski of Weapons 9 won his
division when he dominated his final opponent with
multiple leg catches and sweeps, after which he
followed with some vicious low kicks to win with an
impressive KO. Finally, our MMA fighters as well as
two coaches pulled double duty, competing in the
Submission Grappling divisions as well.
Though
this year's team was one of our largest ever, we
anticipate an even larger team next year, as the World
Championships will be held in Orlando, Florida, and as
the new divisions, MMA and Submission Grappling with
and without Gi, continue to grow.
To learn more
about the US Team's performance, stay tuned into the
website!
