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News | March 29, 2015

U.S. Army captures 14th straight Greco-Roman title at Armed Forces Championships

By Craig Sesker USA Wrestling

FORT CARSON, Colo. – Max Nowry powered to a dominating win by technical fall in the first bout.

Teammate Jamel Johnson put on a gut-wrench clinic in the second match.

Two-time World medalist Justin Lester followed by launching his opponent with a spectacular lift in a quick win over Navy’s Ronald Latimer.

The powerful U.S. Army Greco-Roman team was off and rolling when the Armed Forces Championships kicked off on Friday morning at the Special Events Center at the U.S. Army’s Fort Carson post.

The Army team rolled to wins over the Navy (29-4) and Air Force (34-0) before earning a 24-9 win over the U.S. Marines en route to capturing the Greco team title on Friday.

“There is a lot of pride involved here – these guys put it all out on the line,” U.S. Army coach Shon Lewis said. “There are some real good rivalries there. It’s a small tournament, but it’s a very tough tournament. It’s a really cool event and this really means a lot to the Armed Forces.”

The Marines won the first two matches against the Army before the Army rattled off five straight victories.

“It’s definitely a fun event, but it’s also a very important event for us,” Lester said. “It’s bragging rights and you definitely want to do well here. It’s a great time for all the services to come together and it means a lot. It’s great to have a chance to compete in this and put on a show. It’s a lot of fun.”

The U.S. Army captured their 14th straight Armed Forces team title in Greco-Roman on Friday. The U.S. Army will seek their 14th straight freestyle title on Saturday.

“We have a real close-knit team,” said two-time World Team member Caylor Williams, who went 3-0 on Friday at 98 kg/216 lbs. “We had some adversity early in the dual, but we fought and battled through it. We knew we had to come back strong.”

Navy’s James Souza turned in an impressive 8-0 technical fall over Army’s Jon Anderson at 85 kg/187 lbs. Anderson placed second at the 2014 U.S. World Team Trials at 75 kg/165 lbs.

The powerful Souza went 3-0 on Friday.

“It’s awesome to be able to compete here – it means a lot to be a part of this event,” Souza said. “We take a lot of pride in competing in this. It was a great experience and getting a win over Anderson was great for me. I just did what I do in practice – take him down and turn him.”

2014 U.S. World Team Bryce Saddoris of the U.S. Marines powered to three lopsided wins at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. on Friday.

“This is a great opportunity to represent the Marines and it’s an honor to be here with the other three services,” Saddoris said. “This is another great competition for me. I’ve been to Russia and Hungary and a lot of other places this year, and I’m gaining more and more experience.”

The U.S. Marines finished second, going 2-1 in the event. The Air Force was 1-2 and the Navy 0-3.

This event will set the U.S. team to compete in the CISM World Military Games in Mungyeong, Korea, Oct. 6-10. 

The Armed Forces freestyle competition is set for Saturday in Fort Carson. It starts at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Armed Forces Championships
May 27-28, Fort Carson, Colo. 

GRECO-ROMAN RESULTS

ARMY 29, NAVY 4
59 kg/130 lbs – Max Nowry (Army) def. Angel Oliveras (Navy), tech fall 8-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs – Jamel Johnson (Army) def. Josh Walborn (Navy), tech fall 11-0
71 kg/156 lbs – Michael Hooker (Army) def. Bobby Yamashita (Navy), fall 2:29
80 kg/176 lbs – Justin Lester (Army) def. Ronald Latimer (Navy), tech fall 9-0
85 kg/187 lbs – James Souza (Navy) def. Jon Anderson (Army), tech fall 8-0
98 kg/216 lbs – Caylor Williams (Army) def. Antonio Harris (Navy), tech fall 11-0
130 kg/286.5 lbs – Matt Lamb (Army) def. Teddy Gardner (Navy), tech fall 8-0

MARINES 23, AIR FORCE 13
59 kg – Aaron Kalil (Marines) def. Randy Duncan (Air Force), tech fall 10-2
66 kg – Bryce Saddoris (Marines) def. Nathan Higgins (Air Force), tech fall 10-0 
71 kg – Robby Neill (Marines) def. Ryan Vottero (Air Force), tech fall 8-0
75 kg – Michael Brant (Marines) def. Tyler Westlund (Air Force), tech fall 12-4
80 kg – Sherwin Severin (Air Force) def. Daniel Matthews (Marines), 4-4
85 kg – Brandon Johnson (Air Force) def. Tim Stahl (Marines), tech fall 12-2
98 kg – Eric Lapotsky (Air Force) def. Dustin Lewis (Marines), tech fall 8-0
130 kg – David Arendt (Marines) WIN by forfeit 

ARMY 34, AIR FORCE 0
59 kg – Max Nowry (Army) def. Randy Duncan (Air Force), tech fall 8-0
66 kg – Jamel Johnson (Army) def. Nathan Higgins (Air Force), tech fall 10-0
71 kg – Michael Hooker (Army) def. Ryan Vottero (Air Force), tech fall 16-0
75 kg – Justin Lester (Army) def. Tyler Westlund (Air Force), fall 1:02
80 kg – Aaron Sieracki (Army) def. Sherwin Severin (Air Force), 4-0
85 kg – Jon Anderson (Army) def. Brandon Johnson (Air Force), tech fall 8-0
98 kg – Caylor Williams (Army) def. Eric Lapotsky (Air Force), inj. def.
130 kg – Matt Lamb (Army) def. Joel Bane (Air Force), tech fall 10-0

MARINES 21, NAVY 12
59 kg – Aaron Kalil (Marines) def. Angel Oliveras (Navy), tech fall 9-0
66 kg – Bryce Saddoris (Marines) def. Josh Walborn (Navy), tech fall 8-0
71 kg – Robby Neill (Marines) def. Bobby Yamashita (Navy), 5-0
75 kg – Michael Brant (Marines) def. Ronald Latimer (Navy), tech fall 12-4
80 kg – Joshua Moulton (Navy) def. Daniel Matthews (Marines), tech fall 8-0
85 kg – James Souza (Navy) def. Tim Stahl (Marines), tech fall 12-0
98 kg – Antonio Harris (Navy) def. Dustin Lewis (Marines), 6-2
130 kg – David Arendt (Marines) def. Teddy Gardner (Navy), fall 1:46

ARMY 24, MARINES 9
59 kg – Aaron Kalil (Marines) def. Max Nowry (Army), 4-4
66 kg – Bryce Saddoris (Marines) def. Jamel Johnson (Army), 7-0
71 kg – Michael Hooker (Army) def. Robby Neill (Marines), tech fall 8-0
75 kg – Justin Lester (Army) def. Michael Brant (Marines), tech fall 8-0
80 kg – Aaron Sieracki (Army) def. Daniel Matthews (Marines), pin 0:57
85 kg – Jon Anderson (Army) def. Tim Stahl (Marines), tech fall 9-0
98 kg – Caylor Williams (Army) def. Dustin Lewis (Marines), fall 0:50
130 kg – David Arendt (Marines) def. Matt Lamb (Army), 3-1

AIR FORCE 21, NAVY 17
59 kg – Randy Duncan (Air Force) def. Angel Oliveras (Navy), tech fall 10-2
66 kg – Nathan Higgins (Air Force), def. Josh Walborn (Navy), pin 0:37
71 kg – Bobby Yamashita (Navy) def. Ryan Vottero (Air Force), tech fall 8-0
75 kg – Tyler Westlund (Air Force) def. Ronald Latimer (Navy), tech fall 13-4
80 kg – Sherwin Severin (Air Force) def. Joshua Moulton (Navy), 6-4
85 kg – James Souza (Navy) def. Brandon Johnson (Air Force), fall 2:07
98 kg – Eric Lapotsky (Air Force) def. Antonio Harris (Navy), fall 5:12
130 kg  - Teddy Gardner (Navy) def. Joel Bane (Air Force), fall 0:20

TOP INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS

59 KG
Gold – Aaron Kalil (Marines)
Silver – Max Nowry (Army)

66 KG
Gold – Bryce Saddoris (Marines)
Silver – Jamel Johnson (Army)

71 KG
Gold – Michael Hooker (Army)
Silver – Robby Neill (Marines)

75 KG
Gold – Justin Lester (Army)
Silver – Michael Brant (Marines)

80 KG
Gold – Aaron Sieracki (Army)
Silver – Sherwin Severin (Air Force)

85 KG
Gold – James Souza (Navy)
Silver – Jon Anderson (Army)

98 KG
Gold – Caylor Williams (Army)
Silver – Eric Lapotsky (Air Force)

130 KG
Gold – David Arendt (Marines)
Silver – Matt Lamb (Army)