APRIL, 2019

TO: SOUTHERN PLAINS COACHES & STATE LEADERS
FR: RUSTY DAVIDSON
RE: NATIONAL COACHES COUNCIL

Coaches and Leaders,

I hope you February was everything it could be, and that you enjoyed the wonders of March. It’s pretty cool to have a native Southern Plains Kid win the Hodge Award. Congrats and Thanx to All the other Southern Plains kids, men and women who made us proud in March.

I’m sure you’ve kicked off your local Spring Season, in the Olympic Styles. One of the things I’ve attached is a brief synopsis of rules, provided by Coach Mayabb. If you already have it, great. I just wanted to make sure.

The BIG DEAL I wanted to get to you is about Beach Wrestling. Look for an article, on themat.com, this week. There are some great opportunities for athletes in this rapidly developing style.

This October, the United States will host the ANOC World Beach Games, in San Diego. Beach Wrestling will be center stage. As host, the U.S. is entitled to full representation, meaning Four Women and Four Men. This event is designed for Seniors, but athletes born as late as 2001 may qualify and compete with Medical Release.

A special Qualifier, just for Women, is scheduled for the Sunday after the FS finals, in Vegas. Have your women jump on this opportunity ! If you’re driving, it’ll be easy. If you’ve already booked airline tickets, it may cost you a few bucks to delay departure. Should be done early afternoon.

The Men’s Qualifier, along with a Womens’ Last Chance, will be in Carolina Beach, NC,
May 17 – 19. You can fly into Wilmington and be there, or fly into Raleigh/Durham and drive three hours. The Seniors, in this event can qualify for San Diego, but there are also Age Group Qualifiers.

The Cadet and Juniors World Championship will be in Odessa, Ukraine, August 9 - 11.
This is in conjunction with the Third Leg of this year’s Beach Wrestling World Series.

The second leg of the World Series is coming up soon… Rio de Janeiro, May 10-11. Airline tickets are pretty affordable, but the Visa takes some time.

As an interesting aside, FloWrestling has the broadcast rights to UWW’s Beach world Series. In an effort to encourage US participation (rumor has it) that Flo will send Reece Humphrey to the Pan Am event in Rio. I’m a simple guy but, if it’s good enough for an athlete of Humphrey’s caliber, it’s good enough for Southern Plains athletes. Think about it !

Since Christmas, you National Coaches Council have spent quite a bit of our time developing Separation Procedures for the U15 age group. We’ve been successful and we’ll qualify a U15 World Team, this weekend, in Omaha.

We have a Face-to-Face Coaches Council meeting during the Open, in Vegas. If you have something… anything… on your mind, please get it to me. I’ll make sure it gets addressed.

As we prepare for our Regional Championship, in Mulvane, I’ll get you what I learn and ask for your input. I look forward to seeing a great many of you in Vegas.

On a very sad final note, the Southern Plains lost a Great one, today. Please Keep Mo Babi’s Family, in Colorado, in your thoughts and prayers.

Respectfully Yours,
Rusty