Staff Sgt. Max Nowry, a Greco-Roman wrestler in the 55kg weight class; Sgt. Jenna Burkert, a freestyle wrestler in the 55kg weight class; and Spc. Dalton Roberts, a Greco-Roman wrestler in the 60kg weight class; and were named to the 2021 USA Wrestling World Team after winning their respective weight classes at the team trials Sept. 11-12 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The wrestlers are in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program. WCAP allows top-ranked Soldier-athletes to perform at the international level while also serving their nation in the military.
“It feels good to make the world team again,” said Nowry, the 2020 Pan American Champion. “I fell short in the bronze medal match at the last championship, so I’m looking forward to training and to bring back a world title for WCAP and the country.”
A total of 11 medals were earned by Soldier-athletes at the World Team Trials.
In the women's freestyle events, Burkert, a 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist, won gold, Spc. Megan Black, 59kg, won a silver medal, and Sgt. Areana Villaescusa, 53kg, won a bronze medal.
“The feeling is indescribable,” said Burkert, a 2019 U.S. National Championships silver medalist. “This is my fourth world team but it didn’t come easy. Following the loss of my mother, I didn’t make the Olympic team. Making world this time around took more courage than ever before.”
In the men’s Greco-Roman events Nowry and Roberts won gold medals. Silver medalists include 2020 Olympic Athletes Sgt. Ildar Hafizov, 60kg; and Spc. Alejandro Sancho, 67kg. Also earning silver medals were Pvt. 1st Class Spencer Woods, 82kg; and Sgt. Jacob Mitchell. Pvt. 1st Class Dalton Duffield, 55kg; and Pvt. 1st Class Britton Holmes, 77kg, won bronze medals.
“It’s a blessing to represent and compete for the Army,” said Roberts, a two-time Austrian Open champion. “To have the opportunity to compete on a world stage as a Soldier-athlete is incredible.”
The 2021 World Wrestling Championships will be held in Oslo, Norway, Oct. 2-10. This will be the first championship since 2019. The 2020 event was canceled due to COVID-19.
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