On Saturday April 15, seven athletes earned the right to compete at the ADCC World Championships by winning the North American West Coast Trials. Here we introduce each of them so you can learn more about their backgrounds and accomplishments. 

66kg: Ethan Crelinsten  

Canadian grappler Ethan Crelinstein hails from Montreal and represents both Tristar Academy and Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. A lesser-known member of John Danaher's elite squad of no-gi grapplers, the ADCC trials gold medal is BROWN belt Crelinsten's breakout moment and one that will ensure his name becomes familiar in the grappling community.

77kg: Vagner Rocha

Hailing from Florida and representing Fightsports, this is Rocha's third time winning the ADCC North American Trials. A well-known figure in the jiu-jitsu and grappling world, the rough and ready Rocha submitted three out of six opponents to win gold.

88kg: John Salter

A middleweight MMA fighter ranked #2 with Bellator, Salter beat two No-Gi World champs in Josh Hinger (semifinal) and DJ Jackson (final) to win the ticket to Finland in September. A formidable wrestler, this was the first time Salter had competed in a grappling event in almost two years, making his achievement even more impressive.

99kg: Paul Ardila

This is the second time in a row Floridian black belt Ardila has qualified for ADCC, as he also won the trials in 2015. An American Top Team representative, he outpointed Nick Schrock 4-0 in the final to become Trials winner.

+99kg: Casey Hellenberg

A brown belt repping Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, Hellenberg is US military veteran with plenty of accolades both gi and no-gi. He is an IBJJF 2016 brown belt No-Gi World champion and a 2017 Pan champion. A former training partner of Brock Lesnar, Hellenberg is a formidable competitor who submitted three out of four of his opponents.

Women 60kg: Elisabeth Clay

16-year old Elisabeth Clay is the youngest competitor to have ever qualified for ADCC. A blue belt hailing from Anchorage, Alaska, she submitted two out of four opponents to win gold.

Women +60kg: Tara White

Nicknamed 'The Taranator', White is a well-known active competitor with plenty of experience of fighting both gi and no-gi. A Carlson Gracie jiu-jitsu rep hailing from LA, this will be her first time competing at ADCC Worlds. 

Click here for more great coverage of the ADCC 2017 North American West Coast Trials