The 2021 ADCC East Coast Trials were the largest Trials event ever, with approximately 800 total competitors entered. The two-day tournament saw a number of elite grapplers going head-to-head to punch their ticket to the 2022 ADCC championships.
At 66 kg, 16-year old phenom Cole Abate proved he was more than worthy of his number-two seed, defeating the likes of Jon Calestine and Esteban Martinez on his way to the finals, where he squared off with former Trials winner Keith Krikorian. Abate showed of his Art of Jiu-Jitsu training, displaying beautiful guard passing and top control to win a dominant 10-0 victory over Krikorian.
Top-seeded Kade Ruotolo used his trademark aggression and d’arce choke take home gold at 77 kg. The Atos representative took out PJ Barch in the semifinals, and in the finals, Ruotolo earned a clear but competitive decision over William Tackett.
Giancarlo Bodoni, a representative of Gordon Ryan’s New Wave Jiu-Jitsu, had a rough road to the finals of the 88 kg division, defeating number-two seed Jacob Couch by submission in the semifinals. In the finals, Bodoni squared off with Checkmat’s Elder Cruz, who had looked largely untouchable up to that point. Bodoni defended Cruz’s relentless takedown attempts through much of the regulation period before shooting for a takedown, pulling half guard, and taking Cruz’s back for a three-point lead and the Trials gold.
Long-reigning Submission Underground champion Mason Fowler will be returning to his second ADCC world chamnpionship, as he narrowly defeated 2021 IBJJF no-gi world champion Devhonte Johnson in the finals of the 99 kg division. Fowler leaned heavily on his wrestling to win a razor-close decision, using excellent front head locks to defend takedowns and nearly secure dominant position at several points.
John Hansen needed less than 30-seconds in the finals of the heavyweight division, as he quickly sat to guard and secured a beautiful reverse armbar on Damon Ramos.
Although the winners of the women divisions aren’t automatically qualified for the 2022 ADCC championships, Trials organizer Tom DeBlass agreed to pay for travel and entry fees to the West Coast Trials for any East Coast Trial winner.
In the women’s under 60 kg division, Brianna Ste-Marie showed off her elite-level closed guard in the finals against Alexandria Enriquez. Ste-Marie attacked patiently from her back, eventually working her way to Enriquez’s back late for a clean points victory and Trials gold.
The finals of the women’s heavyweight division saw top-seeded Kendall Reusing surviving some early leg entanglements against Zenith’s Amy Campo, but ultimately instituted her excellent top game, moving to mount late in the match for a points victory.
ADCC East Coast Trials results:
66 kg:
- 1st – Cole Abate
- 2nd – Keith Krikorian
- 3rd – Gianni Grippo
- 4th – Deandre Corbe
77 kg:
- 1st – Kade Ruotolo
- 2nd – William Tackett
- 3rd – Kody Steele
- 4th – PJ Barch
88 kg:
- 1st – Giancarlo Bodoni
- 2nd – Elder Cruz
- 3rd – Jacob Couch
- 4th – John Salter
99 kg:
- 1st – Mason Fowler
- 2nd – Devhonte Johnson
- 3rd – Paul Ardilla
- 4th – Mario Gonzalez
99+ kg:
- 1st – John Hansen
- 2nd – Damon Ramos
- 3rd – Danny Chaid
- 4th – Alex Grandy
Women’s 60 kg:
- 1st – Brianna Ste-Marie
- 2nd – Alexandria Enriquez
- 3rd – Fatima Kline
- 4th – Jasmine Rocha
Women’s 60+ kg:
- 1st – Kendall Reusing
- 2nd – Amy Campo
- 3rd – Lauren Jones
- 4th – Khadijah Peek
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