SUGA Southern Nationals Championships Celebrate 10th Year

By Created: October, 2017 - Modified: December, 2019

Rodrigo Medeiros and Marcelo Cazusa Greatmats

South USA Grappling Associations' 10th Annual Southern Nationals Championships is coming to Chappapeela Sports Park in Hammond, Louisiana, on Oct. 28.

The Greatmats matted event, organized by SUGA founder Rafael Ellwanger had more than 250 competitors registered with 13 hours remaining for registration and is expecting more than 1,000 people to be in attendance at this year's premiere event.

''I feel accomplished and know that I impacted the grappling community in the south,'' Ellwanger said after seeing how much the sport has grown over the last decade. ''Nobody believed in this are. Now all the big events are coming.''

Although proud of the growth, Ellwanger can't help but believe there's some truth to a statement told to him by his student, black belt Trey Howard, ''They are blisters. They show up after all the work is done.''

The action for the 2017 Southern Nationals Championships begins at 9 a.m. with 10-15 year olds, and the final classes are set to begin at 3:30 p.m.




Southern Nationals Championships
South USA Grappling Association
Hammond LA 70403
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