The U.S. will send a strong team of military wrestling athletes to compete in the CISM World Military Wrestling Championships in Lahti, Finland, August 12-15.

The U.S. team features athletes who serve in the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces including the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. The men’s teams were determined based upon results from the Armed Forces Wrestling Championships earlier this year.

For the first time, the CISM World Military Championships will feature competition in women’s freestyle wrestling. The United States will send three talented women athletes to compete in the event, all from the U.S. Army program.

Among the women athletes is 2005 World champion SGT Iris Smith (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Also competing are 2006 U.S. Open champion PFC Sharon Jacobson (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and two-time U.S. Open runner-up SPC Othella Lucas (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.

“I am glad for the inclusion of women at the World Military Championships,” said U.S. CISM head coach Shon Lewis. “We have three women who are quality world-class wrestlers. We are aiming for some medals from this group.”

The Greco-Roman team will feature three athletes who are currently ranked No. 2 in the United States in their weight classes: SPC Jermaine Hodge (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) at 55 kg/121 lbs., SGT Steven Forrest (Camp Lejeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and SPC Timothy Taylor (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Three of the Greco-Roman team members won Armed Forces Greco-Roman titles this year: Hodge, SGT Peter Hicks (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and SPC Justin Millard (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. 

The men’s freestyle team will feature five athletes who won Armed Forces freestyle titles this year:  PFC Mark Bradley (Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army) at 60 kg/132 lbs. , PVT Angel Cejudo (Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., CPT Patrick Simpson (Fort Benning, Ga. (U.S. Army) at 74 kg/163 lbs., CPT Phillip Simpson (Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and SRA Nader Maghribi (Travis AFB, Calif. (U.S. Air Force) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

The U.S. team is led by head coach Shon Lewis of the U.S. Army and assistant coach MAJ Dan Hicks of the U.S. Marine Corps. Heading the delegation will be Chief of Mission COL Steven Hunte of Arlington, Va. and Team Captain Van Stokes of Fort Campbell, Ky.

The last CISM World Military Championships were held in Split, Croatia in 2008. The United States Greco-Roman team won three medals, including a bronze medal from current team member Jermaine Hodge at 55 kg.

The CISM World Military Championships is considered a highly competitive event, with numerous past World and Olympic medalists competing in each style.

“This is a Class A tournament,” said Lewis. “There have been several World champions who have gone to this event the same year and not even placed. It is very challenging, a top-notch competition.”

The U.S. CISM team will not include the four talented military athletes who have earned spots on the 2010 U.S. Greco-Roman team: Jeremiah Davis of the U.S. Army (60 kg). Faruk Sahin of the U.S. Army (66 kg), Jake Clark of the U.S. Air Force (84 kg) and Dremiel Byers of the U.S. Army (120 kg). These athletes are currently in the final phases of their training for the 2010 World Wrestling Championships in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 6-8.

“The team we are bringing to Finland are a world-class group,” said Lewis. “We expect several medals in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. It may not be our best bunch, but this team is talented and very capable of success.”

CISM WORLD MILITARY CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Lahti, Finland, August 12-15

U.S. Greco-Roman team
55 kg/121 lbs. - SPC Jermaine Hodge, Fort Carson, Colo (U.S. Army)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Sgt Donavan Depatto, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Cpl Daniel Sotonieves, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)
74 kg/163 lbs. - SGT Steven Forrest, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)
84 kg/185 lbs. - SGT Peter Hicks, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - SPC Justin Millard, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - SPC Timothy Taylor, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)

U.S. Men’s Freestyle team
60 kg/132 lbs. - PFC Mark Bradley, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - PVT Angel Cejudo, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. - CPT Patrick Simpson, Fort Benning, Ga. (U.S. Army)
84 kg/185 lbs. - CPT Phillip Simpson, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - SRA Nader Maghribi, Travis AFB, Calif. (U.S. Air Force)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - SGT Charlie Fish, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Women's team
55 kg/121 lbs. - PFC Sharon Jacobson, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - SPC Othella Lucas, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - SGT Iris Smith, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)

Chief of Mission - COL Steven Hunte, ACSIM – Arlington, Va.
Team Captain - Mr. Van Stokes, Fort Campbell, Ky.
Doctor - COL David Haight, Fort Carson, Colo.
Head Coach - Mr. Shon Lewis, Fort Carson, Colo.
Assistant Coach - MAJ Joseph D. Hicks, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Trainer - Mr. Ian Wood, Fort Carson, Colo.

CISM WORLD MILITARY CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE

Thursday, August 12
Competition for men’s freestyle at 55 kg, 66 kg, 96 kg

Friday, August 13
Competition for men’s freestyle at 60 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg and women’s freestyle at 48 kg and 63 lg

Saturday, August 14
Competition for women’s freestyle at 55 kg and 72 kg and Greco-Roman at 55 kg, 66 kg and 96 kg.

Sunday, August 15
Competition for Greco-Roman 60 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg.