U.S. Army’s Peter Hicks’s dominance in Greco-Roman is just beginning. 

Hicks defeated Jeremy Pederson of the U.S. Marines to capture his first Armed Forces Wrestling Championships gold medal. 

Hicks was one of the 13 out of 14 wrestlers for the Army to claim a gold medal at the Armed Forces Wrestling Championships. Competition was held at the Marine Corps Base in Camp Lejeune, March 20 & 21. 

With this success on the senior level, it is hard to imagine that Hicks did not start his wrestling career until his junior year at Spencer High School in Columbus, Georgia.

His individual and team success has motivated Hicks to continue to climb his way to number one. 

“It’s fun when you win. You want to experience that feeling more and more. People are there pushing you. I want to make my coach happy; I want to make him proud of me. I want to do it for myself and for my team,” explains Hicks.

With Hicks’ father being an Army veteran, serving in the military was always in the books for Hicks. 

After high school, Hicks committed to the U.S. Air Force’s wrestling program for four years, where he first started competing on a national level in Greco-Roman. After completing his stitch there, he altered his career path. 

Inspired by the thought of training with some of the best competitors in wrestling sparked an interest in the U.S. Army for Hicks. 

Hicks is now part of the World Class Athlete Program for the U.S. Army where he is accompanied by some of the top training partners and coaches wrestling has to offer. The Army provides every opportunity possible to train for wrestling.

His father instilled persistence and determination in Hicks, which are displayed in the Army’s values.

“Never give up on yourself, don’t feel sorry for yourself,” is a saying that the U.S. Army lives by and that Hicks respects. 

Fort Carson is Hicks’ ideal training atmosphere to enhance his skills.

“I love training there; it’s just something about that room,” explains Hicks.

Hicks gives credit to the U.S. Army for his recent progression and success. 
 
“Everyone is like a big family, we all push each other. The competitiveness drives you more,” Hicks said. “When your team is happy for you, you don’t want to lose that feeling. You want your team to congratulate you and that medal at the end.”
 
2008 Olympian and multiple World Team member T.C. Dantzler has been a strong contributor to Hicks’s success.

Hicks has been Dantzler’s training partner since 2005, making trips with him to events including the Worlds and the 2008 Olympics. 

His experience at Beijing for the 2008 Olympics was surreal to Hicks who described it like taking part in a movie. 

“It made me feel like a kid again. I thought I want to be like them; I want to be in this spot,” said Hicks. “The feeling of your country depending on you is motivation in itself.”

Dantzler and Hicks have developed a close friendship through training. Hicks believes that he would not be at the position he is today without the help of Dantzler. 

“He’s helped me out the most. He’s teaching me by helping him as a training partner. Confidence is one element that he really instilled in me,” said Hicks. 

Staying mentally focused and having the ability to relax also play a role in Hicks’s recent wrestling success. 

National Greco-Roman Team’s head coach Steve Fraser is impressed with Hicks’s performance and attitude. 

“Pete has great potential in the sport. He’s one of the strongest wrestlers I’ve had the opportunity to work with. I’ve seen a lot of improvement in his skills, if he keeps pushing forward and striving, he will accomplish what he sets out to do,” said Fraser.

Hicks knows that if he keeps training hard and stays focused, that only good things can happen. 

“I spent so many years dreaming; now I’m actually living the dream,” said Hicks.