11 Airmen selected for Air Force wrestling team

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian S. Orban
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFNS) --  Eleven Airmen have been selected for the All Air Force Wrestling Team after three weeks of training March 6 at Mountain Home Air Force Base. 

More than 75 Airmen responded to join the team, of which 30 were selected to attend the Air Force wrestling camp here that started in late February with competitors battling for spots in the 55-, 60-, 66-, 74-, 84-, 96- and 120-kilogram weight classes.

To prepare for the Air Force championships, competitors trained here at least six days a week with some days running from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The daily training regimen included 2-mile runs, weightlifting, wrestling training, drills and workouts meant to build team cohesion.

Competitors on this year's All Air Force Wrestling Team, their weight class, current unit and hometown are as follows:
-- Senior Airman Eddie Fore; 55 kilograms; Fairchild AFB, Wash.; Bonanza, Ore.
-- Senior Airman Tyler Moore; 55 kilograms; Aviano Air Base, Italy; Nampa, Idaho.
-- Airman 1st Class Matthew Adams; 60 kilograms; Spangdahlem AB, Germany; Marietta, Ga.
-- Senior Airman Dean Maraj; 66 kilograms; RAF Croughton, United Kingdom; Yucca Valley, Calif.
-- 2nd Lt. Brandon Wilson; 66 kilograms; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; Colorado Springs, Colo.
-- Staff Sgt. James Hodges; 74 kilograms; Ramstein AB, Germany; Shillington, Pa.
-- Airman 1st Class Daniel Logsdon; 74 kilograms; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Amherst, Ohio.
-- Airman 1st Class Kevin Justin; 74 kilograms; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Baltimore.
-- Staff Sgt. Walter Hoffman; 84 kilograms; Barksdale AFB, La.; Chesapeake Beach, Md.
-- Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Zastro; 84 kilograms; U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.; Whitewater, Wis.
-- Senior Airman Nader Maghribi; 96 kilograms; Travis AFB, Calif.; Kennesaw, Ga. 

The 11 Airmen will now face off against the U.S. military's top wrestlers at the Armed Forces Wrestling Championship March 13 to 15 here, with training scheduled to start March 7. This is the first time the base will host the championship since 2003.

"We feel fortunate and proud to be representing all the men and women in the military, including those who are deployed," said Coach Richard Estrella, who coached the 2008 U.S. Olympic wrestling team. "We really appreciate all the units that allowed their people to participate in the Air Force-sponsored wrestling team."

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