On the sands of Carolina Beach, N.C., one Marine officer proved that grit, discipline, and determination extend far beyond the battlefield. On May 9, 2026, Capt. Terrence Zaleski, United States Marine Corps, captured the 2026 USA Beach Wrestling National Championship at 90 kg, earning his first Senior National title and securing the No. 1 spot on the 2026 U.S. Beach Wrestling World Team. 

Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed, Zaleski weighed in at 89.8 kg and received a first-round bye before beginning a dominant run through the bracket. 

Commanding Quarterfinal Performance 

Zaleski opened competition against Virginia’s Simeone Holmes in the quarterfinals, immediately setting the tone with relentless pressure and positional control. Early in the match, he forced Holmes toward the boundary, earning the opening point on a step out while defending a developing body lock. 

Moments later, Zaleski showcased both power and composure. After securing an arm drag into a belly-to-back clinch, he lifted Holmes high before executing a controlled takedown into the sand to earn another point and extend the lead. 

Holding a 2–0 advantage late in the bout, Zaleski capitalized on a desperate shot attempt from Holmes to secure the final point and advance with a convincing 3–0 victory. 

Battling Into the Finals 

In the semifinal round, Zaleski faced South Carolina’s Regan Mitchell in a physical and fast-paced matchup. 

Just 30 seconds into the contest, Zaleski secured a body lock and drove Mitchell out of bounds for the first point. He continued to dictate the pace, adding another step out point through relentless tie-up pressure to build a 2–0 lead. 

Mitchell answered with a leg attack that briefly narrowed the score to 2–1, but Zaleski quickly regained control. Re-establishing a dominant 2-on-1 arm tie, he pressured Mitchell toward the boundary before snapping him to the sand and transitioning into a front headlock sequence that ultimately forced the decisive final step out. 

The 3–1 victory punched Zaleski’s ticket to the national championship match. 

National Champion and Team USA Representative 

In the finals, Zaleski was scheduled to face defending national champion Jacob Baumgartner of Georgia. However, Baumgartner was forced to withdraw due to injury, awarding Zaleski the championship victory and officially crowning him the 2026 USA Beach Wrestling National Champion at 90 kg.