USA Wins big at the World Championships!!!

**socalpankration** · Posted On: 9/21/2009 12:34pm

The 2009 FILA World Wrestling Games were represented by more than 250 athletes from more than 41 counties.

The United States Pankration Team attended the FILA World Wrestling Games / Pankration World Championships in Siauliai , Lithuania held September 10th-12th, 2009. FILA (Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées), the organization that oversees Wrestling in the Olympic Games, sponsored the World Wrestling Games which consisted of styles that are not currently included in the Olympic program. This is the third year the ancient Olympic Greek Sport of Pankration Athlima was included in the World Wrestling Games under FILA. This event represented the official World Championships for Pankration Athlima.

Pankration Athlima is an ancient Olympic Greek Sport that combines styles including Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Sumo and Grappling. Pankration, acknowledged as the “original martial art", predates the oriental martial arts by 2,200 years and entered the Olympic Games in 648 BC. Pankration is one of the 7 original ancient events and was part of the Games for 1042 years and a movement is
underway to see it re-enter the Olympic Games. Pankration is now practiced on 5 continents and in more than 30 countries.

In the United States , Pankration Athlima is governed and organized by the U.S.A. Federation of Pankration Athlima (USAFPA). The President of the USAFPA is David Sixel of Wisconsin. James and Ron Hill of Homer Glen, IL were selected as the head coaches for team USA. Roberto Serrano of Greendale , WI is the US Representative to FILA and the World Pankration Athlima Committee.

USA MENS TEAM RESULTS
66 Kilo Jacob Franke - Gold
71 Kilo Efrain Vazquez - Silver
77 Kilo Michael Camacho - 4th place
84 Kilo Ray Bohm - Silver
91 Kilo Conan Mastrangelo - Silver
100 Kilo Robert Serrano, Jr. - Bronze
100+ Kilo Donnell Sykes - Silver

Team Standings:
1st USA
2nd Italy
3rd Lithuania

The US Open National Championships will be held on Oct 25th at Santa Ana High School in Orange County, California. The US Open National Championships is under Amateur Pankration League non Endyma rules and the FILA Endyma Pankration uniform is not required to compete. This event is sanctioned under the USAFPA and will have 34 age and weight group divisions for Men, Women, Teens and Children.
See www.fightleague.org for information on this event.

**papertigers** · Posted On: 9/25/2009 12:18am

It's good to see some hispanic surnames in the mix.

**Conde Koma** · Posted On: 9/25/2009 1:10am

Dude, Beijing Olympics, Henry Cejudo kicked so much butt in the 55kg division. Almost all the wrestlers in my high school and our rival were hispanic. they got wrasslin COVERED.