The Nexus Martial Arts and Fitness competition team capped off a record year of tournament wins by taking the North American Grappling Association first place overall team trophy earlier this month.

The North American Grappling Association's Northeast Grappling Championships is the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling competition in New England. Although this is not the first time Nexus has brought a small team to the tournament and place in the top three rankings, it is the first time the academy has won the overall title. Results were recently announced.

"What was especially impressive this time was that we not only won the tournament, but we did it with a very small group of less than ten adult competitors," said Nexus owner and Chief Instructor Stephen Whittier, pointing out that only the adult rankings are factored into overall team placements. The academy also won third place overall for youth divisions.

Individual Nexus competitors were also successful at the North American Grappling Association Championships. John Murphy of New Bedford won two gold medals and a title belt in the Expert No Gi and advanced Gi divisions; Marcio Silva of Rochester won two gold medals and the title belt in the Expert No Gi and advanced Gi; Jim Manning of Marion won gold medals in both the intermediate No Gi and Gi divisions; Manuel Luz of New Bedford won gold medals in both his beginner No Gi and white belt Gi divisions.

In 2011 Nexus team members have also placed in or won the North American Grappling Association New England Championships, North American Grappling Association Championships, Grapplers Quest, several Boston BJJ Network tournaments, as well as the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federations Pan Ams, Boston Open and New York Open.