Armed Forces Wrestling Championships set for U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, March 2-3

One of wrestling’s traditionally classic events, the 2024 Armed Forces Wrestling Championships, will be held at U.S. Air Force Academy, which is located northwest of Colorado Springs, Colo.. March 2-3. The competition will be held at the Cadet Gymnasium – East Gym..

The competition will feature dual meet competition in freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman between branches of the Armed Forces, under the management of Armed Forces Sports. This year, teams from the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy will compete.

The Greco-Roman competition on Saturday will serve as a qualifying event for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, set for Penn State University, April 19-20. The highest placing Senior Greco-Roman athlete, per weight category, winning either a gold or silver medal, who has yet to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials will qualify to compete in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling. 

In 2023, athletes from six branches were represented, as wrestlers from the U.S. Marine Corps competed on the Navy team, wrestlers from the Space Force competed on the Air Force team and wrestlers from the Coast Guard competed on the Navy team.

The competition features dual meets, where the three military teams compete against each other. The results of these dual meets determine the final team standings. Individual medalists are also recognized in each weight class, based upon the results at that weight class in the dual meets.

The U.S. Army was the champion in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at the 2023 Armed Forces Championships, which were held at Naval Base Kitsap in Washingto. The Navy was second in 2023 in Greco-Roman, with the Air Force third, while the Air Force was second in freestyle last year, with the Navy in third.

Preliminary rosters have been turned in by each team.  Final rosters are due on Friday.

The U.S. Army team features three Olympians, with 2012 Olympian SGT Ellis Coleman (67 kg) competing in Greco-Roman, and 2016 Olympian SPC Jesse Thielke (74 kg) and 2020 Olympian SPC Alejandro Sancho (70 kg) wrestling in freestyle. 2023 Armed Forces champions on this year’s Army roster include SPC Dalton Roberts (63 kg) in Greco-Roman, and PV2 William Sullivan (57 kg), SPC Britton Holmes (74 kg) SPC Spencer Woods (86 kg) and 1LT Jermiah Imonode (125 kg) in men’s freestyle, plus SPC Aleeah Gould (53 kg) and SPC Brenda Reyna (59 kg) in women’s freestyle.

The U.S. Air Force team includes four athletes who won Greco-Roman silver medals in the 2023 Armed Forces Championships: SrA Mitch Brown (55 kg), 2d Lt Sidney Flores (63 kg), A1C Brenner Vogan (77 kg) and SrA Samuel Adams (82 kg). Flores won a freestyle gold medal last year, while Brown, Vogan and Adams won freestyle silver medals. Rejoining the Air Force squad this year is SSgt Diante Cooper (97 kg), who is a past medalist at this event. In women’s freestyle, 2023 Armed Forces silver medalist SrA Mariah Anderson (53 kg) also returns.

The U.S. Navy team features 2020 Olympian John Stefanowicz (87 kg GR, 86 kg FS), who is a U.S. Marine Corps athlete who has won Armed Forces gold medals in both styles. Another Marine on the roster is Capt. Courtney Freeman (130 kg GR, 125 kg FS), who won both styles in the 2023 Armed Forces Championships. Capt. Jamel Johnson of the USMC, another past Armed Forces champion, will compete in Greco-Roman at 72 kg. Returning from the 2023 Navy team is PO3 Sheldon Ealy (60 kg GR, 61 kg FS)

When teams bring women’s freestyle wrestlers, they will be paired off for competition. Information on when these women’s freestyle matches will be held will be announced when available.

Spectators are encouraged, and admission is free. U.S. citizens must only show their driver’s license to receive access to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Those who are not citizens would need to be sponsored on the base by a team member.

For information on the live stream and coverage of the competition by Armed Forces Sports, visit:

https://armedforcessports.defense.gov/Sports/Wrestling/2024-Armed-Forces-Wrestling/

2024 ARMED FORCES WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado

Preliminary Team Rosters

U.S. Army Roster
Greco-Roman
55kg/121.2 lbs. – PFC William Sullivan (Fort Carson, CO)
60kg/132.2 lbs. – SPC Dalton Duffield (Fort Carson, CO)
63kg/138.8 lbs. – SPC Dalton Roberts (Fort Carson, CO)
67kg/147.7 lbs. – SGT Ellis Coleman (Fort Carson, CO)
72kg/158.7 lbs. – 2LT Peter Ogunsanya (Fort Bliss, TX)
77kg/169.7 lbs. – PFC Justus Scott (Fort Carson, CO)
82kg/180.7 lbs. – SPC Kamal Bey (Fort Carson, CO)
87kg/191.8 lbs. – SPC Ryan Epps (Fort Carson, CO)

97kg/213.8 lbs. – SPC Timothy Young (Fort Carson, CO)
130kg/286.6 lbs. – SPC James Hustloes (Colorado Guard)
Men’s Freestyle
57kg/125.6 lbs. – PFC William Sullivan (Fort Carson, CO)
61kg/134.4 lbs. – SPC Dalton Duffield (Fort Carson, CO)
65kg/143.3 lbs. – SGT Xavier Johnson (Fort Carson, CO)
70kg/154.3 lbs. – SPC Alejandro Sancho (Fort Carson, CO)
74kg/163.1 lbs. – SPC Britton Holmes (Fort Carson, CO)
79kg/174.1 lbs. – SPC Jesse Thielke (Fort Carson, CO)
86kg/189.5 lbs. – SPC Spencer Woods (Fort Carson, CO)
92kg/202.8 lbs. – SPC Ryan Epps (Fort Carson, CO)
97kg/213.8 lbs. – SPC Timothy Young (Fort Carson, CO)
125kg/275.5 lbs. – 1LT Jermiah Imonode (Fort Riley, KS)
Women’s Freestyle

50kg/110 lbs. – SPC Nina Pham (Fort Carson, CO)

53kg/116 lbs. – SPC Aleeah Gould (Fort Carson, CO)

55 kg/121 lbs. – SGT Areanna Villaescusa (Fort Carson, CO)

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – SPC Abigail Nette (Fort Carson, CO)

59 kg/130 lbs. – SPC Brenda Reyna (Fort Carson, CO)

62 kg/136.5 lbs. – SPC Bridgette Duty (Fort Carson, CO)

68 kg/149.75 lbs. – SPC Sienna Ramirez (Fort Carson, CO)

76 kg/167.25 lbs – SPC Tristan Kelly (Fort Carson, CO)

Delegation
Greco-Roman Coach – SFC Spenser Mango (Fort Carson, CO)

Greco-Roman Coach – Shon Lewis (Fort Carson, CO)

Freestyle Coach – Jermaine Hodge (Fort Carson , CO)

Freestyle Coach – Dremiel Byers (Fort Carson, CO)

Women’s Freestyle Coach – Bruce Robinson (Fort Carson, CO)

Women’s Freestyle Coach – SSG Jenna Burkert (Fort Carson, CO)

Medical – Kyle Eckert (Fort Carson, CO)

U.S. Air Force roster

Greco-Roman

55kg/121.2 lbs. – SrA Mitch Brown (Lackland AFB, TX)
60kg/132.2 lbs. – SrA Nathaniel Johnson (Davis Montham AFB, AZ)
63kg/138.8 lbs. – 2d Lt Sidney Flores (Los Angeles AFB, CA)
67kg/147.7 lbs. – SrA Siavash Sarvestani (Hurlburt Field AFB, FL)
72kg/158.7 lbs. – Capt Brian Friery (Keesler AFB, MS)
77kg/169.7 lbs. – A1C Brenner Vogan (Vandenberg SFB, CA)
82kg/180.7 lbs. – SrA Samuel Adams (Ellsworth AFB, SD)
87kg/191.8 lbs. – TSgt Matthew Hahnrach (Peterson SFB, CO)

97kg/213.8 lbs. – SSgt Diante Cooper (Vilseck, Germany).
130kg/286.6 lbs. – SMSgt Donald Degamo (Seymour Johnson AFB)
Men’s Freestyle
57kg/125.6 lbs. – SrA Mitch Brown (Lackland AFB, TX)
61kg/134.4 lbs. – SSgt Anthony Coney (Robins AFB, GA)
65kg/143.3 lbs. – 2d Lt Sidney Flores (Los Angeles AFB, CA)
70kg/154.3 lbs. – SrA Siavash Sarvestani (Hurlburt Field AFB, FL)
74kg/163.1 lbs. – Capt Gerald McGinty (Jb Charleston, SC)
79kg/174.1 lbs. – SrA Samuel Adams (Ellsworth AFB, SD)

86kg/189.5 lbs. – TSgt Matthew Hahnrach (Peterson SFB, CO)
92kg/202.8 lbs. – A1C Ronnie Caudill (Schriever SFB, CO)
97kg/213.8 lbs. – SSgt Diante Cooper (Vilseck, Germany)
125kg/275.5 lbs. – SMSgt Donald Degamo (Seymour Johnson AFB)
Women’s Freestyle

53 kg/110 lbs. – SrA Mariah Anderson (Lackland AFB, TX)

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – A1C Claire Betz (Oflutt AFB, NE)

Delegation
Greco-Roman/Freestyle Coach – Matthew Byous
Service Rep. – TSgt Dante Tillman (Lackland AFB, TX)

U.S. Navy roster

Greco-Roman
55kg/121.2 lbs. – PO3 Dominic Robertson (Depoe Bay, OR)
60kg/132.2 lbs. – PO3 Sheldon Ealy (FRC Southeast Jacksonville, FL)

63kg/138.8 lbs. – PO3 Pablo Monreal (Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, VA)
67kg/147.7 lbs. – AN Dominic Bruinius (NS Bremerton, WA)
72kg/158.7 lbs. – Capt. Jamel Johnson (Camp Lejeune, NC)
77kg/169.7 lbs. – LT Dan Richardson (NB Ventura County, CA)
82kg/180.7 lbs. – Sgt Marciano Ali
87kg/191.8 lbs. – GySgt John Stefanowicz
97kg/213.8 lbs. – SSgt Ian Mills
130kg/286.6 lbs. – Capt Courtney Freeman
Men’s Freestyle
61kg/134.4 lbs. – – PO3 Sheldon Ealy (FRC Southeast Jacksonville, FL)
65kg/143.3 lbs. – PO3 Pablo Monreal (Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, VA)
70kg/154.3 lbs. – AN Dominic Bruinius (NS Bremerton, WA)
74kg/163.1 lbs. – LT Dan Richardson (NB Ventura County, CA)

79kg/174.1 lbs. – Sgt Marciano Ali
86kg/189.5 lbs. – GySgt John Stefanowicz
92kg/202.8 lbs. – SSgt Ian Mills
125kg/275.5 lbs. – Capt Courtney Freeman

Delegation
Greco-Roman Coach – Angelina Gott (NAS Sigonella, Italy)

Greco-Roman Coach – SCPO Harry Hladun (NSA Washington)

Freestyle Coach – PO3 Jordan Warren (MCB Hawaii)
Medical – LT James Breuer (NB Kitsap)

Ad Libitum – PO3 Zion Doyle (NSF Deveselu)

OIC – Caydrick Bloomquist (USMC HQ)
Service Rep. – Michael Morris (Washington Navy Yard)

Event Schedule

Saturday, March 2

10:00 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

11:00 a.m. – Greco-Roman Bout 1: U.S. Air Force vs. U.S. Navy

30 min. after first bout – Greco-Roman Bout 2: U.S. Army vs. loser of Bout 1

30 mins atter second bout - Greco-Roman Bout 3: U.S. Army vs. loser of Bout 1

Sunday, March 3

11:00 a.m. – Freestyle Bout 1: U.S. Air Force vs. U.S. Navy

30 min. after first bout – Freestyle Bout 2: U.S. Army vs. loser of Bout 1

30 min. after second bout – Freestyle Bout 3: U.S. Army vs. loser of Bout 1

2023 Armed Forces Greco-Roman champions

55kg/121.2 lbs.- SPC Jacob Coachran (U.S. Army)

60kg/132.2 lbs. – SGT Leslie Fuenffinger (U.S. Army)

63kg/138.8 lbs. – SPC Dalton Roberts (U.S. Army)

67kg/147.7 lbs. – SPC Jesse Thielke (U.S. Army)

72kg/158.7 lbs. – SPC Alejandro Sancho (U.S. Army)

77kg/169.7 lbs. – CPT Michael Hooker (U.S. Army)

82kg/180.7 lbs. – SPC Britton Holmes (U.S. Army)

87kg/191.8 lbs.– SPC Spencer Woods (U.S. Army)

97kg/213.8 lbs. – CPT Samson Imonode (U.S. Army)

130kg/286.6 lbs.- 1^stLt Courtney Freeman (U.S. Navy team/USMC)

2023 Armed Forces Men’s Freestyle champions

57kg/125.6 lbs.- PV2 William Sullivan (U.S. Army)
61kg/134.4 lbs. – 2LT Sidney Flores (U.S. Air Force)
65kg/143.3 lbs. – SPC Jesse Thielke (U.S. Army)

70kg/154.3 lbs. – SPC Justus Scott (U.S. Army)

74kg/163.1 lbs. – SPC Britton Holmes (U.S. Army)

79kg/174.1 lbs. – CPT Michael Hooker (U.S. Army)

86kg/189.5 lbs. - 1^stLt Jared Fekete (U.S. Navy team/USMC)

92kg/202.8 lbs. – SPC Spencer Woods (U.S. Army)

97kg/213.8 lbs. – CPT Samson Imonode (U.S. Army)

125 kg/275.5 lbs. - 1^stLt Courtney Freeman (U.S. Navy/USMC)

2023 Armed Forces Women’s Freestyle champions

53 kg/110 lbs. – SPC Aleeah Gould (U.S. Army)

55 kg/121 lbs.- SRA Haley Franich (U.S. Air Force)

62 kg/136.5 lbs – SPC Brenda Reyna (U.S. Army)