From left: Travis Bond, Massena, Abigail Duquette, Nicholville, Wes Rode, Massena, and Spencer Paige, Norfolk.

ALBANY -- Four local competitors recently traveled to Albany to represent North Country Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy and compete in the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) tournament

Competitors from Nicholville, Massena and Norfolk finished among the top at the competition in their respective contests.

Abigail Duquette, 16, a St. Regis Falls student from Nicholville and daughter of Master Instructor Al “Sonny” Duquette took first place in the championship match in gi after securing a takedown and transitioning to an armbar gaining the tap out in 39 seconds. Abby also moved up a weight class to compete in no gi and finished in 2nd place.

Wesley Rode, 15, of Massena, also finished first place in the gi expert division. Wesley used a variety of guard passing techniques and heavy pressure from the top position to secure several wins. He also took 2nd place in the expert teen no gi division. Abigail and Wes train privately with Master Duquette in Nicholville and with Spencer Paige’s jiu jitsu classes in Norfolk

Spencer Paige, of Norfolk, The Ultimate Fighter season 12 contestant and 9-2 professional MMA record, took first place in the expert no gi division at 169 lbs. Spencer won using submissions including the rear naked choke and arm-in guillotine. He also finished 3rd in the blue belt gi division.

Travis Bond, of Massena, in his first grappling tournament, used a technique called a “leg drag” to pass his opponent’s guard and then applied a kimura (shoulder lock) in the championship match to secure first place in the gi division.

NAGA is the largest submission fighting circuit in the world where some of the best submission fighters, both male and female, ages 4-65 meet to compete. Divisions are organized based on age, weight, gender and experience level.

Competitors use a variety of skills from several different grappling arts including wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo with one goal in mind, to take their opponent down and force them into submission. There is no striking allowed. Possible submissions that can be applied include anything from a choke to an armbar or major joint lock. Fighters may compete in two divisions, gi and no gi.