Army defeats Marines, 33-10, to claim 17th straight Armed Forces freestyle title

By Mr. Gary Abbott - USA Wrestling U.S. Armed Forces Sports

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MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 25, 2018 —
Winning eight of the 10 bouts, the U.S. Army defeated the U.S. Marine Corps, 33-10, to claim its 17th straight Armed Forces freestyle team title on Sunday.

The championship dual meet was an intense battle between two motivated and talented teams. Although the team score was not close, most of the individual matches were very competitive from the opening whistle.

The key to the Army win were the bonus point bouts, including three pins scored by SGT Max Nowry (U.S. Army) at 57kg/125.6 lbs., SPC Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army) at 70kg/154.3 lbs. and PFC Jacob Mitchell (U.S. Army) at 125kg/275.5 lbs.

The U.S. Marines had a pair of winners in the dual meet, as Sgt. John Stefanowicz at 92kg/202.8 lbs. and Capt. Daniel Miller at 97 kg/213.8 lbs. emerged victorious.

In the third-place match, the U.S. Navy defeated the U.S. Air Force, 23-21. The dual meet was tied 20-20 going into the heavyweight bouts, where PO3 Logan Renas of the Navy beat SrA Eric Lapotsky of the U.S. Air Force, 8-3.

All of the individual gold medals went to a member of the U.S. Army or U.S. Marine Corps teams.

Seven 2017 Armed Forces freestyle champions were able to repeat as Armed Forces champions again: SPC Michael Fuenffinger at 61kg/134.4 lbs., SGT Ryan Mango at 65kg/143.3 lbs., SPC Ellis Coleman at 70kg/154.3 lbs., SPC Isaac Dukes at 74kg/163.1 lbs. , 1LT Matt Brown at 79kg/174.1 lbs. and SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy at 86kg/189.5 lbs. of the Army, plus Capt. Daniel Miller at 97kg/213.8 lbs. for the Marines.

The other individual champions were SGT Max Nowry of the U.S. Army at 57kg/125.6 lbs., Sgt. John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marines) at 92kg/202.8 lbs. and PFC Jacob Mitchell (U.S. Army) at 125kg/275.5 lbs.

There were five double champions, winners of both the freestyle and Greco-Roman events: Nowry, Mango and Coleman of the Army and Stefanowicz and Miller of the Marines.

In the morning session, Army defeated the U.S. Air Force, 38-4, and the U.S. Navy, 39-3, while the Marines scored a 34-8 win over the U.S. Navy and then defeated the U.S. Air Force, 39-6. 

2018 ARMED FORCES WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 25

Freestyle competition

FIRST PLACE DUAL MEET
U.S. Army 33, U.S. Marines 10
57kg/125.6 lbs. – SGT Max Nowry (U.S. Army) pin Cpl. Nicholas Quillen (U.S. Marines), 0:34
61kg/134.4 lbs. – SPC Michael Fuenffinger (U.S. Army) tech. fall Sgt. Xavier Johnson (U.S. Marines), 10-0
65kg/143.3 lbs. – SGT Ryan Mango (U.S. Army) dec. Sgt. Raymond Bunker (U.S. Marines), 15-10
70kg/154.3 lbs. – SPC Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army) pin 2nd Lt. Jamel Johnson (U.S. Marines), 2:13
74kg/163.1 lbs. – SPC Isaac Dukes (U.S. Army) dec. Sgt. Jayshon Wilson (U.S. Marines), 17-15
79kg/174.1 lbs. – 1LT Matt Brown (U.S. Army) tech. fall 1st Lt. Payton Walsh (U.S. Marines), 10-0
86kg/189.5 lbs. – SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army) dec. 2nd Lt. Terrence Zaleski (U.S. Marines), 12-10
92kg/202.8 lbs. – Sgt. John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marines) dec. SGT Courtney Myers (U.S. Army), 10-6
97kg/213.8 lbs. –Capt. Daniel Miller (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SGT Panagiotys Gounaridis (U.S. Army), 10-0
125kg/275.5 lbs. – PFC Jacob Mitchell (U.S. Army) pin Cpl. Eric Fader (U.S. Marines), 0:46

THIRD PLACE DUAL MEET
U.S. Navy 23, U.S. Air Force 21
57kg/125.6 lbs. – PO2 Schulyer Swanton (U.S. Navy) dec. SrA Joey Garza (U.S. Air Force), 11-4
61kg/134.4 lbs. – LTJG Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Navy) tech. fall A1C Taylor Mercier (U.S. Air Force), 27-17
65kg/143.3 lbs. – PO3 Malcom Harris (U.S. Navy) pin A1C Dakota Ball (U.S. Air Force), 3:36
70kg/154.3 lbs. – SN Derekston Williams (U.S. Navy) dec. A1C Brennan Giffin (U.S. Air Force), 15-13
74kg/163.1 lbs. – PO2 Blake Borges (U.S. Navy) dec. SrA Sidney Blackwood (U.S. Air Force), 9-0
79kg/174.1 lbs. –Capt Brandon Mueller (U.S. Air Force) pin PO3 Austin Craig (U.S. Navy), 2:56
86kg/189.5 lbs. –Amn Noah Perdue (U.S. Air Force) dec. PO3 Joseph Marques (U.S. Navy), 8-1
92kg/202.8 lbs. – SrA Jorge Hernandez (U.S. Air Force) won by forfeit
97kg/213.8 lbs. – A1C Raul Veliz (U.S. Air Force) tech. fall SN James Connaghan (U.S. Navy), 12-2 
125kg/275.5 lbs. – PO3 Logan Renas (U.S. Navy) dec. SrA Eric Lapotsky (U.S. Air Force), 8-3

2nd round

U.S. Army 39, U.S. Navy 3
57kg/125.6 lbs. – SGT Max Nowry (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO2 Schulyer Swanton (U.S. Navy), 10-0
61kg/134.4 lbs. – SPC Michael Fuenffinger (U.S. Army) tech. fall LTJG Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Navy), 10-0
65kg/143.3 lbs. – SGT Ryan Mango (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO3 Malcom Harris (U.S. Navy), 10-0
70kg/154.3 lbs. – SPC Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army) tech. fall SN Derekston Williams (U.S. Navy), 12-2
74kg/163.1 lbs. – SPC Isaac Dukes (U.S. Army) dec. PO2 Blake Borges (U.S. Navy), 6-2
79kg/174.1 lbs. – 1LT Matt Brown (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO3 Austin Craig (U.S. Navy), 10-0
86kg/189.5 lbs. – SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO3 Joseph Marques (U.S. Navy), 10-0
92kg/202.8 lbs. – SGT Courtney Myers (U.S. Army) by forfeit
97kg/213.8 lbs. – SGT Panagiotys Gounaridis (U.S. Army) tech. fall SN James Connaghan (U.S. Navy) , 10-0
125kg/275.5 lbs. – PFC Jacob Mitchell (U.S. Army) dec. PO3 Logan Renas (U.S. Navy), 7-6

Women’s Freestyle
55kg/121.2 lbs. – SPC Samantha Klingel (U.S. Army) tech. fall PO3 Genesis Ramirez (U.S. Navy), 10-0

U.S. Marines 39, U.S. Air Force 6
57kg/125.6 lbs. – Cpl. Nicholas Quillen (U.S. Marines) pin SrA Joey Garza (U.S. Air Force), 3:31
61kg/134.4 lbs. – Sgt. Xavier Johnson (U.S. Marines) tech. fall A1C Taylor Mercier (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
65 kg/143 lbs. - Sgt. Raymond Bunker (U.S. Marines) tech. fall A1C Dakota Ball (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
70kg/154.3 lbs. – 2nd Lt. Jamel Johnson (U.S. Marines) tech. fall A1C Brennan Giffin (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
74kg/163.1 lbs. – Sgt. Jayshon Wilson (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SrA Sidney Blackwood (U.S. Air Force), 11-1
79kg/174.1 lbs. – 1st Lt. Payton Walsh (U.S. Marines) by forfeit
86kg/189.5 lbs. – 2nd Lt. Terrence Zaleski (U.S. Marines) dec. Amn Noah Perdue (U.S. Air Force), 6-6
93kg/205.0 lbs. – Sgt. John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marines) pin SrA Jorge Hernandez (U.S. Air Force), 4:00
97kg/213.8 lbs. – Capt. Daniel Miller (U.S. Marines) tech. fall A1C Raul Veliz (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
125kg/275.5 lbs. – SrA Eric Lapotsky (U.S. Air Force) tech. fall Cpl. Eric Fader (U.S. Marines), 12-2

1st round

U.S. Army 38, U.S. Air Force 4
57kg/125.6 lbs. – SGT Max Nowry (U.S. Army) tech. fall SrA Joey Garza (U.S. Air Force), 11-0
61kg/134.4 lbs. – SPC Michael Fuenffinger (U.S. Army) tech. fall A1C Taylor Mercier (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
65kg/143.3 lbs. – SGT Ryan Mango (U.S. Army) tech. fall A1C Dakota Ball (U.S. Air Force), 16-6
70kg/154.3 lbs. – SPC Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army) tech. fall A1C Brennan Giffin (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
74kg/163.1 lbs. – SPC Isaac Dukes (U.S. Army) tech. fall SrA Sidney Blackwood (U.S. Air Force), 15-5
79kg/174.1 lbs. – 1LT Matt Brown (U.S. Army) by forfeit
86kg/189.5 lbs. – SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army) tech. fall Amn Noah Perdue (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
92kg/202.8 lbs. – SGT Courtney Myers (U.S. Army) dec. SrA Jorge Hernandez (U.S. Air Force), 9-9
97kg/213.8 lbs. – SGT Panagiotys Gounaridis (U.S. Army) dec. A1C Raul Veliz (U.S. Air Force), 10-0
125kg/275.5 lbs. – PFC Jacob Mitchell (U.S. Army) tech. fall SrA Eric Lapotsky (U.S. Air Force), 10-0

U.S. Marines 34, U.S. Navy 8
57kg/125.6 lbs. – PO2 Schulyer Swanton (U.S. Navy) dec. Cpl. Nicholas Quillen (U.S. Marines), 12-11
61kg/134.4 lbs. – Sgt. Xavier Johnson (U.S. Marines) tech. fall LTJG Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Navy), 18-8
65kg/143 lbs. – Sgt. Raymond Bunker (U.S. Marines) tech. fall PO3 Malcom Harris (U.S. Navy), 10-0
70kg/154.3 lbs. – 2nd Lt. Jamel Johnson (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SN Derekston Williams (U.S. Navy), 10-0
74kg/163.1 lbs. – PO2 Blake Borges (U.S. Navy) dec. Sgt. Jayshon Wilson (U.S. Marines), 5-3
79kg/174.1 lbs. – 1st Lt. Payton Walsh (U.S. Marines) tech. fall PO3 Austin Craig (U.S. Navy), 11-0
86kg/189.5 lbs. – 2nd Lt. Terrence Zaleski (U.S. Marines) tech. fall PO3 Joseph Marques (U.S. Navy), 10-0
93kg/205.0 lbs. –Sgt. John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marines) by forfeit
97kg/213.8 lbs. – Capt. Daniel Miller (U.S. Marines) tech. fall SN James Connaghan (U.S. Navy), 10-0 
125kg/275.5 lbs. – Cpl. Eric Fader (U.S. Marines) dec. PO3 Logan Renas (U.S. Navy), 8-5\

Individual medals

57kg/125.6 lbs. 
Gold – SGT Max Nowry (U.S. Army)
Silver - PO2 Schulyer Swanton (U.S. Navy)
Bronze - Cpl. Nicholas Quillen (U.S. Marines)

61kg/134.4 lbs. 
Gold – SPC Michael Fuenffinger (U.S. Army)
Silver - Sgt. Xavier Johnson (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - LTJG Nathaniel Giorgio (U.S. Navy)

65kg/143.3 lbs. 
Gold – SGT Ryan Mango (U.S. Army)
Silver - Sgt. Raymond Bunker (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - PO3 Malcom Harris (U.S. Navy),

70kg/154.3 lbs. 
Gold – SPC Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army)
Silver - 2nd Lt. Jamel Johnson (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - SN Derekston Williams (U.S. Navy),

74kg/163.1 lbs. 
Gold – SPC Isaac Dukes (U.S. Army)
Silver - PO2 Blake Borges (U.S. Navy)
Bronze - Sgt. Jayshon Wilson (U.S. Marines

79kg/174.1 lbs. 
Gold - 1LT Matt Brown (U.S. Army)
Silver - 1st Lt. Payton Walsh (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - Capt Brandon Mueller (U.S. Air Force)

86kg/189.5 lbs.
Gold – SGT Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army)
Silver - 2nd Lt. Terrence Zaleski (U.S. Marines)
Bronze - Amn Noah Perdue (U.S. Air Force)

92kg/202.8 lbs. 
Gold – Sgt. John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marines)
Silver - SGT Courtney Myers (U.S. Army)
Bronze - SrA Jorge Hernandez (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)

125kg/275.5 lbs.
Gold – PFC Jacob Mitchell (U.S. Army)
Silver - PO3 Logan Renas (U.S. Navy)
Bronze - SrA Eric Lapotsky (U.S. Air Force)


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