Contributed photo/Joe Cuff, NAGA
Team Irish Member James ‘Chico’ Hernandez, 55 of Washburn, won a pair of world titles April 5, competing at the North American Grappling Association’s (NAGA) World Championship. Over 2,5000 competitors filled the Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey. Hernandez won a silver medal in the No-Gi competition, losing to Neil Keegstra of New Jersey, 4-2. Hernandez had defeated Keegstra before at the 2006 NAGA championship by a score of 6-2. In the 2009 Gi competition, Hernandez won the bronze by forfeit. He now has 13 world titles and is “happy with a World Silver and Bronze”. Hernandez is pictured above at the 2008 NAGA championship, where he won bronze. From left: Neil Keegstra of New Jersey, 2008 Champion Mike Fickett of Pennsylvania and James Chico Hernandez of Washburn, Maine.
