BREMERTON, Wash. (Feb. 23, 2016) -- For the 15th straight year now, the Army has dominated the Armed Forces Championships in wrestling, bringing home team titles in both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling.
The Army defeated the Marines, 27-6 in the deciding third round of the Greco-Roman competition, Feb. 20, at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, as both teams entered the final dual meet undefeated. The Army also defeated Navy, 28-1, and Air Force, 21-5.
The Marines finished second with a 2-1 record, the Air Force was third with a 1-2 record and the Navy was fourth with a 0-3 record.
"This is one of the smallest, but toughest tournaments in the world," said Bruce Robinson, Army Greco-Roman coach. "It is always really, in essence, about pride and service. We have 15 in a row. We take this very seriously. The Marines, Air Force and Navy come here to fight. There is a lot of pride that is shown with this."
Seven of the eight Army wrestlers won individual gold medals, based upon their results in their weight class. Those gold winners include: Sgt. Jermaine Hodge (59 kg./130 lbs.), Pfc. Michael Hooker (66 kg./145.5 lbs.), Sgt. Justin Lester (75 kg./165 lbs.), Sgt. Timothy Bleau (80 kg./176 lbs.), Sgt. Courtney Myers (85 kg./187 lbs.), Sgt. Caylor Williams (98 kg./215 lbs.) and Spc. Matthew Lamb (130 kg./286 lbs.) All of the Army champions were an unbeaten 3-0 in their weight classes, except Myers, who was 2-1 and won the gold on tiebreakers.
The only other individual champion was Capt. Bryce Saddoris (71 kg./156 lbs.) of the Marines, who went 3-1. Of the individual champions, Lester, Williams and Saddoris were all teammates on the 2015 Greco-Roman World Team which competed at the World Championships in Las Vegas in September. Lester is a two-time World bronze medalist and a 2012 Olympian.
Hooker, Saddoris, Lester and Williams repeated as Armed Forces champions from last year.
"I think I wrestled well today," said Williams. "I think everyone here wrestled well. We have the Navy, Marine Corps, the Air Force and we have the Army. It is an outstanding showing from all the different Armed Forces. Seeing these guys really makes me happy."
The champions in the Greco-Roman division qualified for the Olympic Team Trials, which will be held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, April 9-10. Of the eight champions, six had already qualified. Hooker and Bleau are new qualifiers for the Olympic Team Trials.
There was one women's Greco-Roman match, as two-time World bronze medalist Sgt. Sally Roberts of the Army scored on multiple gut wrenches to earn an 8-0 technical fall over Petty Officer 3rd Class Abril Ramirez of the Navy.
FREESTYLE
In freestyle wrestling, Feb. 21, the Army defeated the Marines 24-8 in the deciding third round of the competition, as both teams entered the final dual meet undefeated. The Army also defeated the Navy, 31-2, and the Air Force, 33-2
The Marines finished second with a 2-1 record, the Air Force was third with a 1-2 record and the Navy was fourth with a 0-3 record.
"I always feel good with a win," said Shon Lewis, Army freestyle wrestling coach. "It makes the beer a little bit better and not as bitter. I was happy with the win. With freestyle, the Armed Forces are traditionally known for Greco, but this is a very exciting tournament. I always say it's the toughest tournament in the United States. To come out with a win against the other services means a lot. I don't know how many in a row it was. I still cherish it, but for some of these young Soldiers, the first time competing in the Armed Forces and be part of a team championship, it means a lot for them."
Individual champions for the Army included Sgt. Max Nowry (57 kg./125.5 lbs.), Spc. Ryan Mango (61 kg./134 lbs.), Sgt. Vladyslov Dombrovskiy (74 kg./163 lbs.), Sgt. Victor Terrell (86 kg./189 lbs.) and Spc. Endhyr Meza (125 kg./275 lbs.). Hooker also took gold in freestyle, to pair up with the gold he had already earned in Greco-Roman.
Nowry, Dombrovskiy and Terrell are repeat champions from last year.
Mango, a two-time NCAA All-American for Stanford, has focused mostly on Greco-Roman since joining the Army. He won all three of his matches by technical fall.
"I felt decent. It felt a little bit different wrestling freestyle here. I had to do it for the team. I was able to come up with some good wins and score some points, so I felt pretty good about the day overall," said Mango.
The Marine Corps had the other two individual champions, including Saddoris and 1st. Lt. Daniel Miller (98 kg./215 lbs.) Both were college stars at the Naval Academy, with Saddoris winning two All-American honors.
Saddoris had to survive a wild 17-14 match in the final dual meet against Army's Spc. Isaac Dukes to come out with the win.
Miller scored a 6-0 win over Pfc. Lucas Sheridan of the Army, who competed in Division I college wrestling at Indiana.
Hooker and Saddoris were the only double champions at the Armed Forces Championships in 2016, winning both the Greco-Roman and freestyle gold medal.
"My wrestling was good this weekend," said Hooker. "It is nice to get qualified for the Olympic Trials (in Greco-Roman). It is nice to get back out there in freestyle. I haven't done that in a long time, to get back in freestyle and win one for the team."
There was one women's freestyle match. There, two-time World bronze medalist Roberts earned a 10-0 technical fall over Ramirez.
ARMY MEDALS
In men's Greco-Roman wrestling, the following Soldiers took home medals:
-- 59 kg/130 lbs. weight class: Gold, Sgt. Jermaine Hodge
-- 66 kg/145.5 lbs. weight class: Gold, Pfc. Michael Hooker
-- 71 kg/156 lbs. weight class: Silver, Sgt. Jamel Johnson
-- 75 kg/165 lbs. weight class: Gold, Sgt. Justin Lester
-- 80 kg/176 lbs. weight class: Gold, Sgt. Timothy Bleau
-- 85 kg/187 lbs. weight class: Gold, Sgt. Courtney Myers
-- 98 kg/215 lbs. weight class: Gold, Sgt. Caylor Williams
-- 130 kg/286 lbs. weight class: Gold, Spc. Matthew Lamb
In women's Greco-Roman wrestling, the following Soldier took home a medal:
-- 63 kg/138.75 lbs. weight class: Gold, Sgt. Sally Roberts
In men's freestyle wrestling, the following Soldiers took home medals:
-- 57 kg/125.5 lbs. weight class: Gold, Sgt. Max Nowry
-- 61 kg/134 lbs. weight class: Gold, Spc. Ryan Mango
-- 65 kg/143 lbs. weight class: Gold, Pfc. Michael Hooker
-- 70 kg/154 lbs. weight class: Silver, Spc. Isaac Dukes
-- 74 kg/163 lbs. weight class: Gold, Sgt. Vladyslov Dombrovskiy
-- 86 kg/189 lbs. weight class: Gold, Sgt. Victor Terrell
-- 97 kg/213 lbs. weight class: Silver, Pfc. Lucas Sheridan
-- 125 kg/275 lbs. weight class: Gold, Spc. Endhyr Meza
In women's freestyle wrestling, the following Soldier took home a medal:
-- 63 kg/138.75 lbs weight class: Gold, Sgt. Sally Roberts
(Editor's note: This article is reprinted with permission from Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling, who extends reprint rights to all Army newspapers.)
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