Sharks Flirt with History in Dominant Win Over the Wilds in 2025 UGL Season Opener

MIAMI, FL, May 25, 2025, The Florida Sharks opened the 2025 United Grid League (UGL) season with a statement win, defeating the defending champions, the Wilds, in a clean sweep that set new records and electrified fans across the league.

After going undefeated in the regular season last year, the Sharks lost the championship by just two points to the Wilds. This year, they got their chance at redemption. In a highly anticipated rematch, they delivered one of the most commanding performances in league history by winning every single race of the match with a decisive time differences.

Fast Start Sets the Tone

The action began with the Partner Forward, where Nick Shappee and Chelsea Raineri, two of the fastest athletes in quadrants 1 and 2, overcame a couple of early faults to regain control. They capitalized on unusual lineup changes by the Wilds and built a strong lead heading into quadrants 3 and 4. Valerie Gunning and Blake Kidder finished the race with clean execution, putting the Sharks up early.

The Mirror race followed with fast transitions and high tempo. The Sharks built a five to six reps lead and closed out the race with confidence, continuing their flawless start to the match.

Strongman Showdown: Breezy Leins Steps Up

The third race, Home Ringer, was selected by the Wilds and featured the Log Clean and Press (195/135), setting the stage for the first-ever strongman versus strongman matchup in UGL history. Chris Matos was originally scheduled to compete for the Sharks but suffered a knee injury in pregame warmups, leaving the team scrambling for a replacement.

Several athletes attempted to lift the log during last-minute testing, but only Breezy Leins and Kelsey Kiel came close to mastering the technique. In a gutsy decision, Coach Francisco Gomez selected Breezy Leins to go head-to-head against strongman Tom Sroka. Leins had never attempted the log before, but she delivered an inspiring performance and edged out Sroka in a thrilling finish, giving the Sharks a dramatic win and keeping the sweep alive.

Echo Races Bring Perfect Transitions

The Echoes featured a double round of high-skill movements. In the first round, Kelsey Kiel made her race debut alongside veteran Derek Anderson. They executed front squats and overhead squats with perfect timing, then passed the baton to Nick Shappee and Valerie Gunning for the dumbbell box step-overs, followed by Chelsea Raineri and David Blatt for double touches. Breezy Lions closed out the race with 30 hang cleans. The entire sequence was executed with precision and poise.

In round two, rookie Zaien Zafra joined Kiel to start the front squats and OHS combination. Sydney Witter and Blake Kidder handled the step-overs, while Chelsea and Blatt reunited for double touches. Jessi Kuhlman capped off the round with 30 smooth hang cleans. With back-to-back Echo wins, the Sharks continued to dominate.

100-Point Perfect Thruster Ladder*

The Ladder event brought the Sharks closer to history. With momentum on their side, they attempted to become the first team to score a perfect 100 in the Ladder race. Every athlete moved with speed and efficiency, with most athletes completing 80 ft of barbells in 15 to 17 seconds.

Roderick Holloway entered the final quadrant with over 20 seconds remaining, but a controversial fault on Derek Anderson in quadrant 3 prevented the Sharks from reaching the perfect 100. Still, their performance was among the most impressive ever seen in a Ladder event.

Jack and Jill Highlights Gymnastic Mastery

The Jack and Jill event featured the Sharks’ bodyweight specialists. David Blatt, Chelsea Raineri, Sam Martin, Sammy Nalley, and Quentin Ambrioso completed 30 bar muscle-ups, 20 ring muscle-ups, and five back-up rises with clinical execution. While many teams throughout the day struggled to complete the event, the Sharks finished with authority and precision.

Triads and Sprint Relay Seal the Sweep

The match concluded with the Triads and Sprint Relay Races, which were equally well-executed. In the women’s triad, Sidney Witter incurred a few early faults on kettlebell snatches, prompting a quick mid-race change. Coach Fico called on Chelsea Raineri to step in for pullovers, allowing the team to recover and get back on the race.

The male triad team followed with another clean performance, sealing the final race of the day and completing a historic clean sweep.

Final Score and Highlights

• Sharks won every race in the match (Final Score 23-7)
• Closest team of a perfect 100 points in the Ladder
• Redemption after losing the 2024 championship by two points
• Breakout performance by Breezy Leins in a strongman race
• Perfect execution in high-skill events like the Echoes and Jack and Jill

“Every athlete on our roster rose to the occasion,” said Coach Francisco Gomez. “Even when we were forced to improvise, we stuck together and delivered.”

The Sharks’ victory not only secured a crucial early-season win but also made league history. Their performance sent a powerful message to every other team in the United Grid League, the Sharks are back, stronger, faster, and more determined than ever.