MARQUETTE, Mich. – United States Olympic Education Center wrestlers came out on top at the All-Navy vs. USOEC Greco-Roman Wrestling Dual hosted by the USOEC on February 26 at Vandament Arena on Northern Michigan University’s campus. 

The teams started the evening facing off in six Greco-Roman matches with the USOEC edging out Navy five matches to one. 

Winning for the USOEC at 55 kg was Arthur Carmona (Brawley, Calif.). He overtook Darnell Jones (Atlanta, Ga.) by technical fall 4-1, 7-0. In the 60 kg weight class, teammate Jason Chudzinski (Colonie, N.Y.) defeated Justin Nolan (Inverness, Fla.), 8-0, 6-0. At 66 kg, USOEC wrestler Alex Sancho (Miami, Fla.) beat Dietrich Zacher (San Diego, Calif.) 1-1, 5-0, 3-3. In the 74 kg weight class, Anthony Carmona (Brawley, Calif.) won over Adrian Rios (Liberal, Kan.), 4-0, 2-0. Rounding out the five USOEC wins was Aaron Holland (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) over Jorge Mendez (Arlington, Va.), 1-0, 2-0 at 84 kg.

Capturing the win for the Navy in the Greco-Roman portion of the competition was Sheldon Wilder (Durham, N.C.). He defeated the USOEC’s Mason Bradford (West Chapel, Fla.), 0-4, 7-0, 0-2 at 60 kg.

Although the USOEC athletes train exclusively in the Greco-Roman style, team members also competed in freestyle matches to allow the All-Navy team to prepare for upcoming events where they will compete in that style. The USOEC team took the win in the freestyle portion of the competition with a team score of four matches to one.

At 55 kg, Jones started the freestyle competition off strong for the Navy, defeating Ramon Moreno (Miami Lakes, Fla.) by pin in the first period. 

Turing the competition around for the USOEC was Mike Mioni (Phoenix, Ariz.) at 60 kg. He defeated Wilder 4-1, 3-2. At 66 kg, teammate Thrasher Porcher (Chuluota, Fla.) won 7-0, 3-0 over Zacher. 

“We’re such a small team we’re used to training in both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling,” said Zacher. “We enjoy training here in Marquette. It is hands down the best training we’ve had.”

In the 74 kg weight class, the USOEC’s Dillon Cowan (Havard, Ill.) competed twice, winning both matches. He first defeated Mendez 5-5, 5-3. In the last match of the night, Cowan overtook Rios 6-0, 9-3.

The All-Navy team is in Marquette until March 14 preparing for the Armed Forces Wrestling Championships on March 16 held on the McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.