The 2005 Armed Forces Wrestling Championships featuring the top wrestlers from the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy will take place March 31-April 1 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

This event will feature duals between the teams in men's freestyle and men's Greco-Roman wrestling and is hosted by the U.S. Air Force. This year's competition is being dedicated "to all our comrades in arms serving our countries interest around the world, we wish them all a safe journey home."

Some of the top competitors in the 2005 Armed Forces Championships include:

- Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo/U.S. Army): 2004 U.S. World Team Trials runner-up, 2002 World Champion
- Glenn Garrison (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army): Fourth in 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Third in 2003 U.S. Nationals
- Keith Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army): Fifth in 2004 U.S. Nationals, 2003 U.S. Nationals Champion
- Oscar Wood (Fountain, Colo./U.S. Army): 2004 Olympian, Second in 2004 U.S. Nationals
- Jake Clark (South Saint Paul, Minn./U.S. Marine Corps): Second in 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Second in 2004 U.S. Nationals
- Philip Johnston (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force): Olympic Training Center Resident Athlete, Fifth in 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Seventh in 2004 U.S. Nationals

The U.S. Army won the team title in both styles last year by sweeping all duals and seek to finish on top again.

Back to defend titles from last year are the Army's Garrison and Byers; the Marines' Justin Cannon (Philadelphia, Pa./U.S. Marine Corps) and Clark; and the Air Force's Steve Woods (El Paso, Texas/U.S. Air Force).

The Greco-Roman competition will begin at 9 a.m. on March 31. Last year's first place team, Army, will face last year's fourth place team, Navy. Last year's second place Marine Corps will face third-place Air Force.

The second session will begin 15 minutes after the conclusion of the last match from the first session. The winning team of the first two meets will face the opposite losing teams.

The third session will begin at 2:30 p.m. with the final meets between the two opening winners and the two opening losing teams.

The freestyle competition will begin at 9 a.m. on April 1 and will run on the same schedule as the Greco-Roman tournament.

Last year's first place Army will face fourth place Air Force and last year's second place Marine Corps will take on the third place Navy in the opening rounds.

The rivalry between the branches of the U.S. military is intense and the wrestling is very entertaining. Fans are encouraged to witness this world-class wrestling action.

Any media wishing to attend this event please contact Josi Carlson at (719) 598-8181 or JCarlson@USAWrestling.org

2004 Armed Forces Championships

Greco-Roman Team standings   1. U.S. Army (3-0 record); 2. U.S. Marine Corps (2-1 record); 3. U.S. Air Force (1-2 record); 4. U.S. Navy (0-3 record)   Greco-Roman medalists   55 kg/121 lbs.   Gold - Anthony Gibbons (U.S. Army)  Silver - Neal Rodak (U.S. Army)  Bronze - Justin Cannon (U.S. Marine Corps)  4th - Anthony Brooker (U.S. Air Force)

60 kg/132 lbs.   Gold- Glenn Nieradka (U.S. Army)  Silver - Jacob Hey (U.S. Air Force)  Bronze - Jeremy McLean (U.S. Marine Corps)  4th - Bryan Goldsby (U.S. Navy)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.  Gold - James Shillow (U.S. Marine Corps)  Silver - Oscar Wood (U.S. Army)  Bronze - Anthony Doerr (U.S. Navy);  4th - Gabe Schaefer (U.S. Air Force)

74 kg/163 lbs.  Gold - Steve Woods (U.S. Air Force)  Silver - Keith Sieracki (U.S. Army)  Bronze - Curtis Barnes (U.S. Marine Corps)  4th - Jason Nichols (U.S. Navy)

84 kg/185 lbs.  Gold - Jacob Clark (U.S. Marine Corps)  Silver - Kenny Owens (U.S. Army)  Bronze - David Spangler (U.S. Air Force)  4th - Joseph Axiotis (U.S. Navy)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.  Gold - Jason Loukides (U.S. Army)  Silver - Adam Wheeler (U.S. Navy)  Bronze - Al Sankey (U.S. Marines)  4th - Philip Johnston (U.S. Air Force)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.  Gold - Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army)  Silver - Corey Farkas (U.S. Air Force)  Bronze - Frank Workman (U.S. Marines)  4th - Josh Feldman (U.S. Navy)

Freestyle Team standings   1. U.S. Army (3-0 record); 2. U.S. Marine Corps (2-1 record); 3. U.S. Navy (1-2 record); 4. U.S. Air Force (0-3 record)

Freestyle medalists

55 kg/121 lbs.   Gold - Justin Cannon (U.S. Marines)  Silver - Anthony Gibons (U.S. Army)  Bronze - Gerardo Martinez (U.S. Navy)  4th - Anthony Brooker (U.S. Air Force)

60 kg/132 lbs.   Gold - Glenn Nieradka (U.S. Army)  Silver - Jeremy McClean (U.S. Marines)  Bronze - Bryan Goldsby (U.S. Navy)   4th - Bryan Herrington (U.S. Air Force)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.  Gold - Glenn Garrison (U.S. Army)  Silver - Carson Bernard (U.S. Marines)  Bronze - Chris Bennett (U.S. Air Force)  4th - Tony Doerr (U.S. Navy)

74 kg/163 lbs.   Gold - Donald Waters (U.S. Navy)  Silver - Oscar Wood (U.S. Army)  Bronze - Curtis Barnes (U.S. Marines)  4th - Peter Hicks (U.S. Air Force)

84 kg/185 lbs.   Gold - Jacob Clark (U.S. Marines)  Silver - Charles Daniels (U.S. Army)  Bronze - Sam Shereretz (U.S. Air Force)  4th - Joseph Axiotis (U.S. Navy)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.   Gold - Dominic Black (U.S. Army)  Silver - Dan Hicks (U.S. Marines)  Bronze - Adam Wheeler (U.S. Navy)  4th - Marcus Deberry (U.S. Air Force)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.  Gold - Kevin Hoy (U.S. Air Force)  Silver - Josh Feldman (U.S. Navy)  Bronze - Frank Workman (U.S. Marines)  4th - Paul Devlin (U.S. Army)