On Saturday, Feb. 16, six champions were crowned, one in each division, at the second annual Bulldog Rumble, hosted by the San Diego Wrestling Club (SDWC) at The San Diego LGBT Community Center in Hillcrest.

The Rumble is one of only a handful of GLBT wrestling tournaments in the country, so it was no surprise that grapplers came from as far away as Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco.

Despite the nationwide draw, San Diego’s wrestlers emerged as the power in the tournament, winning four of the six available weight classes, and, as a team, the SDWC took top honors, winning the overall competition.

Considering the large number of SDWC wrestlers in the tournament, a strong showing was likely, particularly in the heavyweight class where both competitors were members of the local club. Regardless of having the largest number of entrants overall, the SDCW wrestlers still had to compete to win.

Likewise, other wrestlers, including San Francisco’s Ross Capdeville in the lightest weight class (141 pounds), competed and worked hard to win. Notching dominating victories over San Diego’s JR Montemayor, L.A.’s Steve Pizzaoli, and a victory that came by way of Philadelphia’s Gus Scheerbaum’s injury forfeit, Capdeville won his weight class without ever giving up a single point, which earned him the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler recognition.

In the 163 pound weight class, San Diegan Travis Brassard won after pinning both his opponents, including teammate Jake Whitehill.

William Harrell of Los Angeles won his two matches, one by pin and one by points, crowning him champion of the 185 pounds A weight class. Roy Slaven, also of San Diego, had to win three matches to win the more populated 185 pound B weight class, a division of different skill level than the A division.

With two dominating technical performances by Joe Paoletti in the 212 pound weight class, the San Diegan won what is called the junior heavyweight class, while Dan Paramo won both matches in the heavyweight 264 pound division. Because there were only two heavyweight entrants, Paramo and Dan Knauss, the two wrestled each other twice, with Knauss losing by pin in the first bout, but rebounding in a losing effort to make it close, 5-4.

The SDWC is the only all-inclusive adult wrestling program in San Diego. The club is open to everyone, regardless of skill level, and focuses particularly on recruiting GLBT members.

Saturday, March 1, the club will be hosting a freestyle wrestling clinic called Wrestling 101, for beginners. Facilitated by head coach Greg Lines and assistant coach Jake Whitehill, those interested in checking out the sport will be given an opportunity to learn about freestyle wrestling, see demonstrations and crawl on the mat to learn some basic moves.

The clinic runs from 1-4 p.m. and will be at The Center’s main auditorium.

For more information, visit www.sdwrestling.org or call Coach Greg at 619-957-6767.

Every Wednesday and Thursday through the winter season and the first part of spring, the two largest gay bowling leagues gather at Kearny Mesa Bowl.

Though their seasons are more than half over, there have already been some impressive individual accomplishments. The Rainbow League, which meets on Thursdays, is home to some of the most notable milestones this season.

Jim Costello, also a Thursday bowler, came ever-so-close to throwing a perfect 300, landing 11 strikes in a row, then coming up frustratingly close on his final ball, ultimately leaving a total of six pins still standing.

Ron Suttora, one of the league’s organizers, even closer to perfection, missed by only one pin on his final roll.

The season is broken up into three trimesters, and at the end of the first session, Costello’s “T.A.G” team led the way.

At the end of the second trimester, “T.A.G.” gave up ground to “Only Way Is Up” which features a group of lower average bowlers with a high handicap allowance.

A few weeks into the third trimester, “Get Off Me Already” has taken over first place, with T.A.G. and Only Way Is Up seemingly dropping out of contention.

For more information on the various leagues that make up gay bowling in San Diego and the days they roll, including how to form a team and who to contact, check out the new Web site at www.sdgaybowling.org