The 9th Annual New York State Grappling Championship, promoted by Norman Yonkers' Karate Connection MMA, was held April 14 at Fredonia Central School.
There were more than 500 divisional competitors from teams all over the country and Canada.
The Absolute Champions were as follows:
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Submitted Photo
Pictured are members of Karate Connection who recently participated in the 9th Annual New York State Grappling Championship. They are, in front from left, Jayden Pritchard (second), Tyler Mathews (first, second, third and third), Trevor Malkowski (first), Matt Kehrer (third), Payton Glavey (second, second, second) and Shelby Nowak (second, second, third). In the middle row are Trevor Napoli (second), Adam Sellari (first, second, third), Hessen Bahgat (first), Davon Kubasik (first and third), Albert Chapa (first, second) and Amanda Roth (first, first, first). In back are William Gilroy (third, third), Braden Wilkins (third, third, third), Jake Wilkins (second, third) and Andrew Monter (first, second). Missing are Ryan Harvey: (third, third), Jacob Harvey (second, second, second), Michael Benedict (second, third), Matt Odell (third), Marcus Seastedt (second, third), Jesse Andino (first) Shane Ryan (third, third), Bobby Roth (first) and Gabe Metzger (first, second).
12 and under:
Steven Seljan of Red Griffin from Grimsby, Ontario Canada.
Teen:
Ace Milner from Red Griffin
Women:
Valerie Aspaas from BBJJ
Men's Gi:
Erik Herbert from Victory MMA
Men's No-Gi:
Jabril Patterson from Victory MMA.
The next event for Norman Yonkers is his Hayastan Grappling Challenge in Fredonia on Aug. 25. For more information on their next event, go to www.karatecon.com or www.grapplingchallenge.com.


