2025 Armed Forces Wrestling Championships set for Fort Bliss in Texas, March 8-9

One of wrestling’s traditionally classic events, the 2025 Armed Forces Wrestling Championships, will be held at the Mitchell W. Stout Physical Fitness Center at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, March 8-9.

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 U.S. Marine Corps will compete. This year marks the return of a team from the U.S. Marine Corps. In a late development, the team from the U.S. Navy will not be competing this year.

There have also been athletes from the Space Force and the Coast Guard in this event, competing on one of the existing teams.

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 gold and silver 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 2024 Armed Forces Championships, which were held at the U.S. Air Force Academy outside of Colorado Springs, Colo. In both men’s freestyle and in Greco-Roman, the U.S. Air Force was second and the U.S. Navy was third.

Preliminary rosters have been turned in by each team. There are many new athletes on the team rosters this year, as well as some veteran stars who have done well in previous Armed Forces Championships.

The U.S. Army team features three Olympians, with 2012 Olympian SGT Ellis Coleman (65 kg) competing in freestyle, and 2020 Olympian SGT Ildar Hafizov (63 kg) competing in Greco-Roman and 2024 Olympian SPC Kamal Bey (82 kg) competing in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. Coleman, Hafizov and Bey have been on past Senior World Teams in Greco-Roman, as have been SPC Dalton Roberts (60 kg), SGT Xavier Johnson (67 kg) and SPC Spencer Woods (97 kg). In 2024, Bey and SPC Timothy Young (97 kg) were double champions, winning in both styles. 2024 World Military champion Adaugo Nwachukwu (62 kg) will compete in women’s freestyle

The U.S. Air Force team is mostly a brand new team, with only two athletes who competed last season. SMSgt Donald Degarmo will return and is competing at 130 kg in Greco-Roman, while SSgt Mariah Anderson (USAF Academy, CO), a 2023 and 2024 Armed Forces runner-up, is returning in women’s freestyle.  

The U.S. Marine Corps team is back and features a number of athletes who have competed in previous Armed Forces Championships. Capt Courtney Freeman (130 kg GR, 125 kg FS) won both styles in the 2023 Armed Forces Championships and was the 2024 Armed Forces Greco-Roman champion. Others who have won medals in past Armed Forces Championships are Sgt Marciano Ali (77 kg) and Capt Terrence Zaleski (87 kg).

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.

Event results will be posted live on USA Bracketing, with the live steam hosted on Armed Forces Sports You Tube Channel.

Spectators are encouraged and admission is free. Visitors without a military ID card can get a Visitor’s Pass at one of the Visitor Control Centers at either Buffalo Soldier Gate or Chaffe Gate. Please see graphic at the bottom of this article for more information on how to have access to the competition.

2025 ARMED FORCES WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Fort Bliss, Texas

Preliminary Team Rosters

U.S. Army Roster
Greco-Roman
55kg/121.2 lbs. – SPC William Sullivan (Fort Carson, CO)
60kg/132.2 lbs. – SPC Dalton Roberts (Fort Carson, CO)

63kg/138.8 lbs. – SGT Ildar Hafizov (Fort Carson, CO)
67kg/147.7 lbs. – SGT Xavier Johnson (Fort Carson, CO)

72kg/158.7 lbs. – SPC Alston Nutter (Fort Carson, CO)

77kg/169.7 lbs. – SGR Britton Holmes (Fort Carson, CO)

82kg/180.7 lbs. – SPC Kamal Bey (Fort Carson, CO)
87kg/191.8 lbs. – SPC Spencer Woods (Fort Carson, CO)

97kg/213.8 lbs. – SPC Timothy Young (Fort Carson, CO)

130kg/286.6 lbs. – SPC James Hustoles (Marquette Armory, MI)
Men’s Freestyle
61kg/134.4 lbs. – SGT Clarence Arrington (Fort Stewart, CO)
65kg/143.3 lbs. – SGT Ellis Coleman (Fort Carson, CO)

70kg/154.3 lbs. – SPC Alston Nutter (Fort Carson, CO)

74kg/163.1 lbs. – PFC Justus Scott (Fort Carson, CO)
79kg/174.1 lbs. – CPT Robert Moretz (Fort Meade, MD)

86kg/189.5 lbs. – SPC Kamal Bey (Fort Carson, CO)
92kg/202.8 lbs. – 2LT Michial Foy (Fort Carson, CO)

97kg/213.8 lbs. – SPC Timothy Young (Fort Carson, CO)
125kg/275.5 lbs. – SPC James Hustoles (Marquette Armory, MI)
Women’s Freestyle

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – SGT Areanna Villaescusa (Fort Carson, CO)

59 kg/130 lbs. – SGT Bridgette Duty (196^th RTI, CO)

62 kg/136.5 lbs. – SPC Adaugo Nwachukwu (Fort Carson, CO)

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

Freestyle Coach – Shon Lewis (Fort Carson, CO)

Medical – Kyle Eckert (Fort Carson, CO)

Service Rep – Joseph Belt (San Antonio, TX)

U.S. Air Force roster

Greco-Roman

55kg/121.2 lbs. – SrA Bruce Trimm (Wright Patterson AFB, OH)
60kg/132.2 lbs. – SSgt Nathaniel Johnson (Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ)

63kg/138.8 lbs. – SSgt Cameron Wyka (Tinker AFB, OK)
67kg/147.7 lbs. – A1C Duncan Nelson (JBSA Lackland, TX)

72kg/158.7 lbs. – SrA Michael Valney (Aviano AB, Italy)
77kg/169.7 lbs. – SrA Angel Romo (Vandenberg SFB, CA)

82kg/180.7 lbs. – A1C Sean Astorino (Little Rock AFB, AR)
87kg/191.8 lbs. – A1C Anthony Salas (Moron AB, Spain)

97kg/213.8 lbs. – SSgt Christopher Richardson (Sheppard AFB, TX)
130kg/286.6 lbs. – SMSgt Donald Degarmo (Maxwell AFB, AL)
Men’s Freestyle
57kg/125.6 lbs. – SrA Bruce Trimm (Wright Patterson AFB, OH)
61kg/134.4 lbs. – SSgt Nathaniel Johnson (Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ)

65kg/143.3 lbs. – SSgt Cameron Wyka (Tinker AFB, OK)

70kg/154.3 lbs. – SrA Jetterias Dudley (Nellis AFB, NV)

74kg/163.1 lbs. – SrA Michael Valney (Aviano AB, Italy)
79kg/174.1 lbs. – SrA Angel Romo (Vandenberg SFB, CA)

86kg/189.5 lbs. – A1C Jacob Viera (Kirtland AFB, NW)

92kg/202.8 lbs. – A1C Anthony Salas (Moron AB, Spain)
97kg/213.8 lbs. – SSgt Christopher Richardson (Sheppard AFB, TX)
125kg/275.5 lbs. – MSgt Ryan Pruett (Fort Belvoir, VA)
Women’s Freestyle

50 kg/110 lbs. – SSgt Mariah Anderson (USAF Academy, CO)

53 kg/116.6 lbs. – SSgt Joy McCracken (Great Falls ANGB, MT)

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – A1C Madison Hodges (Little Rock AFB, AR)

59 kg/130 lbs. – A1C Claire Betz (Offut AFB, NE)

62 kg/136.5 lbs. – SrA Olivia Flores (McConnell AFB, KS)

65 kg/143 lbs. – A1C Grace Dolan (Aviano AB, Italy)

68 kg/149.6 lbs. – A1C Mirhoslaba Zetina Diego (Aviano AB, Italy)

72 kg/158.4 lbs. – A1C Piper Penny-Hall (F.E. Warren AFB, WY)

Delegation
Greco-Roman/Freestyle Coach – SMSgt Daric Buttrick (Pease ANGB, NH)

Men’s & Freestyle Coach - SMSgt Donald Degarmo (Maxwell AFB, AL)

Medical – Capt. Michael Stringer (JBSA Lackland, TX)

Ad Libitum – Jamie Depinet (Wright-Patterson, OH)

OIC – Kevin Ball (Wright-Patterson, OH)
Service Rep. – TSgt Michael Brown (JBSA Lackland, TX)

U.S. Marine Corps roster

Greco-Roman

55kg/121.2 lbs. – SSgt Joshua Medina (Colts Neck, NJ)
60kg/132.2 lbs. – LCpl Isaiah Serena (San Antonio, TX)

63kg/138.8 lbs. – LCpl Warren Stanfield (Camp Lejeune, NC)
67kg/147.7 lbs. – SSgt Gerald Guzmanmiranda (Colts Neck, NJ)

72kg/158.7 lbs. – Cpt Alexis Carbajal (Camp Lejeune, NC)
77kg/169.7 lbs. – Sgt Marciano Ali (Camp Pendleton, CA)

82kg/180.7 lbs. – SSgt Ian Mills (Quantico, VA)
87kg/191.8 lbs. – Capt. Terrence Zaleski (Harrisburg, PA)

130kg/286.6 lbs. – Capt Courtney Freeman (Colorado Springs, CO)
Men’s Freestyle
57kg/125.6 lbs. – SSgt Joshua Medina (Colts Neck, NJ)
61kg/134.4 lbs. – LCpl Isaiah Serena (San Antonio, TX)

65kg/143.3 lbs. – LCpl Warren Stanfield (Camp Lejeune, NC)

70kg/154.3 lbs. – SSgt Gerald Guzmanmiranda (Colts Neck, NJ)

74kg/163.1 lbs. – Cpt Alexis Carbajal (Camp Lejeune, NC)
79kg/174.1 lbs. – Sgt Marciano Ali (Camp Pendleton, CA)

86kg/189.5 lbs. – SSgt Ian Mills (Quantico, VA)

92kg/202.8 lbs. – Capt. Terrence Zaleski (Harrisburg, PA)
125kg/275.5 lbs. – Capt Courtney Freeman (Colorado Springs, CO)
Delegation

Greco-Roman/Freestyle Coach – Rob Hermann (Gulf Breeze, FL)

Greco-Roman Coach – Capt. Jamel Johnson (Camp Lejeune, NC)

Service Rep. – Capt. Miles Coats (Quantico, VA)

Event Schedule

Saturday, March 8

10:00 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

11:00 a.m. – Greco-Roman First Session

30 min. after First Session Ends – Greco-Roman Second Session

Sunday, March 9

10:00 a.m. – Freestyle First Session

30 min. after First Session Ends – Freestyle Second Session

6:00 p.m. – Social/Awards Ceremony

2024 Armed Forces Greco-Roman champions

55kg/121.2 lbs. – PFC William Sullivan (U.S. Army)

60kg/132.2 lbs. – SPC Dalton Duffield (U.S. Army)

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

67kg/147.7 lbs. - 2LT Peter Ogunsanya (U.S. Army)

72kg/158.7 lbs. – SGT Ellis Coleman (U.S. Army)

77kg/169.7 lbs. – PFC Justus Scott (U.S. Army)

82kg/180.7 lbs - SPC Kamal Bey (U.S. Army)

87kg/191.8 lbs. – GySgt John Stefanowicz (U.S. Navy)

97kg/213.8 lbs. – SPC Timothy Young (U.S. Army)

130kg/286.6 lbs. - Capt Courtney Freeman (U.S. Navy)

2024 Armed Forces Men’s Freestyle champions

57kg/125.6 lbs. – SrA Mitch Brown (U.S. Air Force)

61kg/134.4 lbs. – SPC Dalton Duffield (U.S. Army)

65kg/143.3 lbs. – 2d Lt Sidney Flores (U.S. Air Force)

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

74kg/163.1 lbs. – Capt Gerald McGinty (U.S. Air Force)

79kg/174.1 lbs. – SPC Kamal Bey (U.S. Army)

86kg/189.5 lbs. – GySgt John Stefanowicz (U.S. Navy)

92kg/202.8 lbs. – SPC Timothy Young (U.S. Army)

97kg/213.8 lbs. – SSgt Diante Cooper (U.S. Air Force)

125kg/275.5 lbs. – 1LT Jermiah Imonode (U.S. Army)

2024 Armed Forces Women’s Freestyle champions

50kg/110 lbs. – SPC Nina Pham (U.S. Army)

57 kg/125.5 lbs. – SPC Abigail Nette (U.S. Army)