The Armed Forces Wrestling Championships will be held at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey on March 16-17, featuring many top competitors in the Olympic styles of wrestling.

The event will feature teams from four branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force.

The event will feature dual meet competition between the four military branches, which will establish a team champion in each style. In addition, an overall Armed Forces team champion is determined, based upon results from both tournaments.

In addition, individual medals are awarded in each weight class, based upon the results of the dual meet competitions.

The Armed Forces Championships is a great spectator event, because of the intense rivalry between the teams and pride each athlete has for their branch in the service. In addition, there is a strong camaraderie among the athletes, as they all share the same mission of protecting our nation.

The last Armed Forces Championships were held at Fort Carson in Colorado in November, 2011. This event also served as a qualifier for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The U.S. Army won the event in both styles, and was also the overall champion.

In some cases, athletes will compete in both styles. Last year, there were three double champions, who were gold medalists in both freestyle and Greco-Roman: CPT Jon Anderson of the Army at 74 kg163 lbs, SPC Justin Millard of the Army at 96 kg/264.5 lbs. and SFC Dremiel Byers of the Army at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Three members of the U.S. Army team represented the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman: Spenser Mango at 55 kg/121 lbs., Justin Lester at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Dremiel Byers at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Both Mango and Byers were also on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Byers was also a 2002 World champion, 2009 World silver medalist and 2007 World bronze medalist.

The preliminary roster for the U.S. Army features three Olympians in Greco-Roman, Mango at 60 kg/132 lbs., Lester at 74 kg/163 lbs. and 2004 Olympian Oscar Wood at 84 kg/185 lbs. Also on the tentative Army Greco-Roman roster is two-time World Team member Joe Betterman at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

“This event is outstanding, not only because of the great rivalry between the branches of the Armed Forces, but also because of the talent. We have Olympians, World Team members and national champions in the field each year. It is one of the best Olympic-caliber events in the United States,” said Event Director Floyd Winter.

Media who wish to attend this event should contact Floyd Winter at via email at Floyd.Winter.1@us.af.mil, via cell phone at 609-694-2298 or at his office at 609-562-3330. Winter will be able to arrange having media on base to cover this event if he is contacted in advance.

2013 ARMED FORCES CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 16-17

Event Schedule

Saturday, March 16
9:30 a.m. - Opening Ceremonies
10:00 a.m. – First and Second Session Dual Meets
1:00 p.m. – Third Session Dual Meets
3:00 p.m. – Free Clinic for local New Jersey high school wrestling teams

Sunday, March 17
9:00 a.m. - First and Second Session Dual Meets
1:00 p.m. - Third Session Dual Meets

Returning Greco-Roman Team Score
1. Army, 3-0 record
2. Marines, 2-1 record
3. Navy, 1-2 record
4. Air Force, 0-3 record

Returning Greco-Roman champions
55 kg/121 lbs. – SGT Nathan Engel (Army)
60 kg/132 lbs. – SPC Marco Lara (Army)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – SSG Glenn Garrison (Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. – CPT Jon Anderson (Army)
84 kg/185 lbs. – SGT Peter Hicks (Army)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – SPC Justin Millard (Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – SFC Dremiel Byers (Army)

Returning Freestyle Team Score
1. Army, 3-0 record
2. Marines, 2-1 record
3. Navy, 1-2 record
4. Air Force, 0-3 record

Returning Freestyle Champions
55 kg/121 lbs. – LCLP Ian Moser (Marines)
60 kg/132 lbs. – SPC Mark Bradley (Army)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – 1LT Joel Ahern (Marines)
74 kg/163 lbs. – 2LT Bryce Saddoris (Marines)
84 kg/185 lbs. – CPT Jon Anderson (Army)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – SPC Justin Millard (Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – SFC Dremiel Byers (Army)