The 2018 U.S. Grappling World Team Trials return to Las Vegas, Nevada, alongside the U.S. Open Wrestling Championships at South Point Hotel on April 26-27.

The U.S. Grappling World Team Trials feature the two recognized styles of UWW grappling, with the gi competition on Thursday, April 26, and the no-gi division set for Friday, April 27.

It is an Open competition, with no pre-qualification necessary. 

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This is the second straight year that the U.S. Grappling Trials has been held alongside the U.S. Open Wrestling Championships, one of the biggest and most important wrestling events of the season. Awards are given to the top three place winners in each weight class.

Winners at the Grappling World Team Trials will qualify to represent the United States at the 2018 Senior Grappling World Championships. UWW has not officially announced the site of the 2018 Grappling World Championships.

The United States has been a traditional power in grappling for many years. The USA won UWW Grappling World Team Titles in no-gi grappling in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2019, and 2014, as well as gi grappling team titles in 2008 and 2009. A total of 36 different U.S. grapplers have won UWW grappling world titles.

At the 2017 Grappling World Team Trials, among the champions in both no-gi and gi was Breanna Stikkelman (Simi Valley/Street Sports), a double champion at 58kg/127.5lb. At the 2017 Grappling World Championships, Stikkelman won a world gold medal in gi at 64kg and a world silver medal in no-gi at 58kg.

Other double champions at the 2017 Grappling World Team Trials were Matt Holt of Edge MMA and Fitness at 62kg, Joshua Hinger of Atos Jiu Jitsu at 84kg, Carlos Soto of Team Impact Indiana at 92kg and Laree Callihan of United Training Center at women’s over 71kg.