MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C. –
Powered by six wins and a forfeit, the defending champion U.S. Army defeated host U.S. Marines Corps, 26-11, in a spirited Greco-Roman championship dual meet on Saturday afternoon at 2018 Armed Forces Wrestling Championships at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
It was the U.S. Army’s 17th straight Armed Forces Greco-Roman title, finishing with a perfect 3-0 record and seven individual gold medalists.
The final dual meet started well for Coach Shon Lewis’ Army squad, as past University World champion SGT Max Nowry scored a technical fall over Cpl. Nicholas Quillen, 10-0 at 55 kg/121 lbs., one of the new international weight classes in Greco-Roman.
The U.S. Marine Corps got a big win in the next bout, as Sgt. Xavier Johnson edged SPC Ildar Hafizov of the Army, 6-5. Hafizov was a 2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan and a member of the 2017 U.S. Senior World Team.
“We put a lot of hard work into practice. Obviously, when you have nothing to lose, you give it your all. That is what this whole team is about. It was just pushing through, pushing through adversity. It was going out there and fighting to the end,” said Johnson.
Army received a forfeit win at 63 kg, the start of a four-match run of victories which gave them an edge they would not surrender. Winning consecutive bouts for the Army were 1LT Marco Lara at 67kg/147.7 lbs., SPC Ellis Coleman at 72 kg/158.7 lbs. and 2LT Michael Hooker at 77 kg/169.7 lbs.
Two of the wins were decisions, as Lara defeated German Diaz, 4-0 and Coleman, a 2012 Olympian, outlasted Sgt. Raymond Bunker, 5-1. But it was Hooker’s pin over in 1:23 which really ignited the Army drive to repeat and helped put the match out of reach.
“It was a great day for the Army, coming out here to compete. What we do is a reflection on what the Army does together, just like my unit Fox Company up in Wisconsin. My first match was getting some rust off the gears, then you start building momentum. It is great having the whole Army team behind you, because you are not out there alone,” said Hooker.
The Marines halted the streak at Sgt. John Stefanowicz was solid in a 4-2 win over SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy, 4-2. Stefanowicz, a member of the Greco-Roman National Team, knew that Dombrovskiy, a freestyle specialist in the past was dangerous. Last year, Dombrovskiy won an Armed Forces Greco-Roman title.
The teams traded 9-0 technical fall wins in the next two bouts, as Army SGT Courtney Myers stopped Vaughn Monreal Berner at 87kg/191.8 lbs. and Marine Capt. Daniel Miller beat Pete Gounaridis 97kg/213.8 lbs.
With the match already clinched, 2LT Toby Erickson of the Army added a 9-0 technical fall over Sgt. Trent Osnes to close out the win for the defending champions.
“I think we wrestled well. There are some things we need to improve on before the nationals, but I am happy with the victory, finishing up with freestyle tomorrow, then getting back into the room to work on things. We had a few mistakes out there,” said U.S. Army assistant coach Spenser Mango.
Mango, a two-time Olympian and multiple Armed Forces champion as an athletes, has been a part of this long U.S. Army streak for his entire military career.
“We are a family. We are only as strong as our weakest link. In the room, we push each other, to make sure everybody is working hard. Iron sharpens iron, and we make each other better every day,” said Mango.
The third-place match was highly competitive, as the U.S. Navy stopped the U.S. Air Force, 26-17. The Navy jumped to a strong early lead, but a three-match Air Force run tied the dual meet at 17-17 with two matches to go. In a stunning win at 97 kg, SN James Connaghan of the U.S. Navy stopped a throw attempt by SrA Jorge Hernandez of the Air Force and converted a pin in just 14 seconds. At heavyweight, the Air Force needed a pin to tie it, but massive U.S. Navy big-man PO3 Logan Renas closed it out with a technical fall over SrA Eric Lapotsky, 8-0.
“We had bunch of guys from our team that were pushing hard. It was just great going out there and competing. This is my first year doing Greco and freestyle, so coming home with a medal is awesome, and to qualify for the World Team Trials is even better,” said Connaghan.
The individual champions included seven from the U.S. Army and three from the U.S. Marine Corps. For the U.S. Army, Coleman, Hooker and Erickson won titles for the second year in a row, and were joined with gold medals from Nowry, Ryan Mango (63 kg/138.8 lbs.) Lara and Myers. The individual champions for the U.S. Marine Corps were Johnson, Stefanowicz and Miller.
In the morning session, the U.S. Army defeated the U.S. Navy 40-1 and stopped the U.S. Air Force, 39-1. The U.S. Marine Corps won their two first-session bouts over the U.S. Air Force 31-11 and the U.S. Navy 38-6.
The top three placewinners in Greco-Roman qualify to compete at the U.S. Greco-Roman World Team Trials in Tulsa, Okla., June 21-22.
The event concludes on Sunday with the freestyle competition, with session times of 11:00 a.m. ET and 3:00 p.m. The Army also has a 16-year streak in freestyle. USA Wrestling will help provide a live stream of the action.
2018 ARMED FORCES WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 24-25
FIRST PLACE DUAL MEET
U.S. Army 22, U.S. Marine Corps 11
55kg/121.2 lbs. – SGT Max Nowry (U.S. Army) tech. fall Cpl. Nicholas Quillen (U.S. Marines), 10-0
60kg/132.2 lbs. – Sgt. Xavier Johnson (U.S. Marines) dec. SPC Ildar Hafizov (U.S. Army), 6-5
63kg/138.8 lbs. – SGT Ryan Mango (U.S. Army) won by forfeit
67kg/147.7 lbs. – 1LT Marco Lara (U.S. Army) dec. LCpl. German Diaz (U.S. Marines), 4-0
72kg/158.7 lbs. – SPC Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army) dec. Sgt. Raymond Bunker (U.S. Marines), 5-1
77kg/169.7 lbs. – 2LT Michael Hooker (U.S. Army) pin 1st Lt. Payton Walsh (U.S. Marines), 1:23
82kg/180.7 lbs. – Sgt. John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marines) dec. SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army), 4-2
87kg/191.8 lbs. – SGT Courtney Myers (U.S. Army) tech. fall Cpl. Vaughn Monreal Berner (U.S. Marines), 9-0
97kg/213.8 lbs. – Capt. Daniel Miller (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SGT Panagiotys Gounaridis (U.S. Army), 9-0
130kg/286.6 lbs. – 2LT Toby Erickson (U.S. Army) tech. fall Sgt. Trent Osnes (U.S. Marines), 9-0
THIRD PLACE DUAL MEET
U.S. Navy 26, U.S. Air Force 17
55kg/121.2 lbs. – SSgt Randy Duncan (U.S. Air Force) tech. fall PO3 Bobby Raines (U.S. Navy), 10-0
60kg/132.2 lbs. – PO2 Schulyer Swanton (U.S. Navy) dec. SSgt Tyler Knepper (U.S. Air Force), 13-8
63kg/138.8 lbs. – LTJG Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Navy) tech. fall SrA Christen Hunt (U.S. Air Force), 8-0
67kg/147.7 lbs. – SN Derekston Williams (U.S. Navy) tech. fall A1C Brandon Dyke (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
72kg/158.7 lbs. – PO2 Bobby Yamashita (U.S. Navy) pin A1C Brennan Giffin (U.S. Air Force), 2:21
77kg/169.7 lbs. – Capt Brandon Mueller (U.S. Air Force) tech. fall PO3 Austin Craig (U.S. Navy), 8-0
82kg/180.7 lbs. – Amn Noah Perdue (U.S. Air Force) dec. PO3 Joseph Marques (U.S. Navy), 5-2
87kg/191.8 lbs. – MSgt Sherwin Severin (U.S. Air Force) won by forfeit
97kg/213.8 lbs. – SN James Connaghan (U.S. Navy) pin SrA Jorge Hernandez (U.S. Air Force), 0:14
130kg/286.6 lbs. – PO3 Logan Renas (U.S. Navy) tech. fall SrA Eric Lapotsky (U.S. Air Force), 8-0
Round two
U.S. Army 39, U.S. Air Force 1
55kg/121.2 lbs. – SGT Max Nowry (U.S. Army) tech fall SSgt Randy Duncan (U.S. Air Force), 8-0
60kg/132.2 lbs. – SPC Ildar Hafizov (U.S. Army) tech. fall SSgt Tyler Knepper (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
63kg/138.8 lbs. – SGT Ryan Mango (U.S. Army) tech. fall SrA Christen Hunt (U.S. Air Force), 9-0
67kg/147.7 lbs. – 1LT Marco Lara (U.S. Army) tech. fall A1C Brandon Dyke (U.S. Air Force), 9-0
72kg/158.7 lbs. – SPC Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army) tech. fall A1C Brennan Giffin (U.S. Air Force), 8-0
77kg/169.7 lbs. – 2LT Michael Hooker (Wisconsin Army National Guard) dec. Capt Brandon Mueller (U.S. Air Force), 5-1
82kg/180.7 lbs. – SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (California Army National Guard) tech. fall Amn Noah Perdue (U.S. Air Force), 9-0
87kg/191.8 lbs. – SGT Courtney Myers (U.S. Army) dec. MSgt Sherwin Severin (U.S. Air Force), 4-0
97kg/213.8 lbs. – SGT Panagiotys Gounaridis (Fort Sill, Okla.) tech. fall SrA Jorge Hernandez (U.S. Air Force), 9-0
130kg/286.6 lbs. – 2LT Toby Erickson (U.S. Army) by forfeit
U.S. Marine Corps 38, U.S. Navy 6
55kg/121.2 lbs. – Cpl. Nicholas Quillen (U.S. Marines) tech. fall PO3 Bobby Raines (U.S. Navy), 12-2
60kg/132.2 lbs. – Sgt. Xavier Johnson (U.S. Marines) tech. fall PO2 Schulyer Swanton (U.S. Navy), 8-0
63kg/138.8 lbs. – LTJG Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Navy) by forfeit
67kg/147.7 lbs. – LCpl. German Diaz (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SN Derekston Williams (U.S. Navy), 8-0
72kg/158.7 lbs. – Sgt. Raymond Bunker (U.S. Marines) tech. fall PO2 Bobby Yamashita (U.S. Navy), 8-0
77kg/169.7 lbs. – 1st Lt. Payton Walsh (U.S. Marines) pin PO3 Austin Craig (U.S. Navy), 1:12
82kg/180.7 lbs. – Sgt. John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marines) tech. fall PO3 Joseph Marques (U.S. Navy), 8-0
87kg/191.8 lbs. – Cpl. Vaughn Monreal Berner (U.S. Marines) tech. fall PO2 Antonio Harris (U.S. Navy), 9-0
97kg/213.8 lbs. – Capt. Daniel Miller (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SN James Connaghan (U.S. Navy), 8-0
130kg/286.6 lbs. – Sgt. Trent Osnes (U.S. Marines) pin PO3 Logan Renas (U.S. Navy), 0:29
Round one
U.S. Army 40, U.S. Navy 1
55kg/121.2 lbs. – SGT Max Nowry (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO3 Bobby Raines (U.S. Navy), 8-0
60kg/132.2 lbs. – SPC Ildar Hafizov (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO2 Schulyer Swanton (U.S. Navy), 10-0
63kg/138.8 lbs. – SGT Ryan Mango (U.S. Army) tech. fall LTJG Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Navy), 9-0
67kg/147.7 lbs. – 1LT Marco Lara (U.S. Army) dec. SN Derekston Williams (U.S. Navy), 11-6
72kg/158.7 lbs. – SPC Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO2 Bobby Yamashita (U.S. Navy), 8-0
77kg/169.7 lbs. – 2LT Michael Hooker (U.S. Army) pin PO3 Austin Craig (U.S. Navy), 2:08
82kg/180.7 lbs. – SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO3 Joseph Marques (U.S. Navy), 11-0
87kg/191.8 lbs. – SGT Courtney Myers (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO2 Antonio Harris (U.S. Navy), 9-0
97kg/213.8 lbs. – SGT Panagiotys Gounaridis (U.S. Army.) SN James Connaghan (U.S. Navy), 8-0
130kg/286.6 lbs. – 2LT Toby Erickson (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO3 Logan Renas (U.S. Navy), 8-0
U.S. Marine Corps 31, Air Force 11
55kg/121.2 lbs. – Cpl. Nicholas Quillen (U.S. Marines.) tech. fall SSgt Randy Duncan (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
60kg/132.2 lbs. – Sgt. Xavier Johnson (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SSgt Tyler Knepper (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
63kg/138.8 lbs. – SrA Christen Hunt (U.S. Air Force) inj. dft. 1st Lt. Colton Rasche (U.S. Marines), 4:13
67kg/147.7 lbs. – LCpl. German Diaz (U.S. Marines) tech. fall A1C Brandon Dyke (U.S. Air Force), 8-0
72kg/158.7 lbs. – Sgt. Raymond Bunker (U.S. Marines) tech, fall A1C Brennan Giffin (U.S. Air Force), 8-0
77kg/169.7 lbs. –Capt Brandon Mueller (U.S. Air Force) pin 1st Lt. Payton Walsh (U.S. Marines), 2:06
82kg/180.7 lbs. – Sgt. John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marines) tech. fall Amn Noah Perdue (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
87kg/191.8 lbs. – Cpl. Vaughn Monreal Berner (U.S. Marines) dec. MSgt Sherwin Severin (U.S. Air Force), 8-2
97kg/213.8 lbs. – Capt. Daniel Miller (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SrA Jorge Hernandez (U.S. Air Force), 8-0
130kg/286.6 lbs. – Sgt. Trent Osnes (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SrA Eric Lapotsky (U.S. Air Force), 8-0
Individual Medalists
55kg/121.2 lbs.
Gold – SGT Max Nowry (U.S. Army)
Silver - Cpl. Nicholas Quillen (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - SSgt Randy Duncan (U.S. Air Force)
60kg/132.2 lbs.
Gold – Sgt. Xavier Johnson (U.S. Marines)
Silver - SPC Ildar Hafizov (U.S. Army)
Bronze - PO2 Schulyer Swanton (U.S. Navy)
63kg/138.8 lbs.
Gold – SGT Ryan Mango (U.S. Army)
Silver – LTJG Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Navy)
Bronze - SrA Christen Hunt (U.S. Air Force)
67kg/147.7 lbs.
Gold – 1LT Marco Lara (U.S. Army)
Silver - LCpl. German Diaz (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - SN Derekston Williams (U.S. Navy)
72kg/158.7 lbs.
Gold – SPC Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army)
Silver - Sgt. Raymond Bunker (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - PO2 Bobby Yamashita (U.S. Navy)
77kg/169.7 lbs.
Gold – 2LT Michael Hooker (U.S. Army)
Silver – Capt Brandon Mueller (U.S. Air Force)
Bronze - 1st Lt. Payton Walsh (U.S. Marines)
82kg/180.7 lbs.
Gold – Sgt. John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marines)
Silver - SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army)
Bronze - Amn Noah Perdue (U.S. Air Force)
87kg/191.8 lbs.
Gold – SGT Courtney Myers (U.S. Army)
Silver - Cpl. Vaughn Monreal Berner (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - MSgt Sherwin Severin (U.S. Air Force)
97kg/213.8 lbs.
Gold – Capt. Daniel Miller (U.S. Marines)
Silver - SGT Panagiotys Gounaridis (U.S. Army)
Bronze - SN James Connaghan (U.S. Navy)
130kg/286.6 lbs.
Gold – 2LT Toby Erickson (U.S. Army)
Silver - Sgt. Trent Osnes (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - PO3 Logan Renas (U.S. Navy)