FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers stationed on Fort Drum participated in the 10th Mountain Division Combatives Tournament held April 25 and 26 at Magrath Sports Complex.
The tournament was open to all active-duty and reserve Soldiers in the area. It pitted all who came to compete within the installation against each other.
Before the matches began, instructors from Fort Drum's Light Fighter School gave a Modern Army Combatives demonstration, explaining some of the main rules and the purpose of the technique.
"These events build a lot of confidence in the Soldiers and show them how to use a lot of different skills," said 1st Sgt. Curtis Mosely, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team. "Combatives is just another skill set to put in your tool kit to keep you safe downrange if a weapon is to malfunction."
The competitors, representing six weight classes from 140 pounds to more than 205 pounds, endured a double-elimination round on the first day of the tournament. The remaining Soldiers progressed to the semi-final and the final rounds the next day.
"Once I found out about the event, I knew I wanted some of the guys from my battalion to work together and do the best we could in preparation," said Pfc. Charlie Williams, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. "Today I learned my cardio isn't where I would like it to be, but my stand-up game is what I hoped it would be."
Competitors were awarded points for gaining dominance over their opponents and for reversing positions. The match was over when one of the fighters would submit, known as a tap out, or if the Soldiers lasted the entire six minutes, the competitor with the most points won the round.
"After Williams told me about the tournament, I wanted to work hard to do the best I could," said Spc. Scott Kelly, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. "I think the three of us (who) came here today did very good, taking first in our different weight classes."
During the second day of the matches, the fights were turned into single elimination, and fighters were given up to three rounds to win before going to the judges to declare a winner.
"With the winners from today and the winners from the next tournament, we will be putting together a Fort Drum team," said Command Sgt. Maj. Rick Merritt, 10th Mountain Division (LI) senior enlisted adviser. "This team will compete together in the upcoming All Army Combatives Tournament."
The next tournament event will take place during Mountainfest this summer.
Winners were as follows:
Light Weight -- 140 pounds and under
Sgt. Justin Gauthier, B Company, 277th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade
Welter Weight -- 155 pounds and under
Spc. Scott Kelly, A Company, 2-14 Infantry, 2nd BCT
Middle Weight -- 170 pounds and below
Sgt. 1st Class Maurice Daniels, Special Forces Recruiting
Cruiser Weight -- 185 pounds and below
Sgt. Nicholas Gilmore, C Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT
Light Heavyweight -- 205 pounds and below
Pfc. Charlie Williams, A Company, 2-14 Infantry, 2nd BCT
Heavyweight -- 206 pounds and over
Staff Sgt. Jesse Confer, A Company, 2-14 Infantry, 2nd BCT
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