Air Force Wrestling Team selects athletes for 2008 season

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samantha S. Crane
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFPN) --  Thirteen Airmen have been selected for the 2008 Air Force Wrestling team by officials here recently.

After almost two dozen athletes from around the Air Force traveled here to participate in the All Air Force Wrestling Camp, which started Feb. 13, the final wrestling competition held March 1 determined who would become part of the team.

More than 120 Airmen initially responded to Coach Richard Estrella's invitation to try out for the team, but only 23 received news they were selected to attend the camp, which was hosted by the 366th Services Squadron. The final 13 will train for 1.5 weeks at Mountain Home Air Force Base before traveling to New Orleans to participate in the Armed Forces Championship hosted by the Navy and other national wrestling events with the Olympics set as the ultimate goal.

Dean Maraj, a network administrator from the 422nd Communication Squadron at Royal Air Force Croughton, England, was among the final 13 selected for the 2008 team. It will be his first year representing the Air Force.

"Wrestling is one of those sports that challenges you mentally and physically," said Maraj, who began wrestling as a freshman in high school. "It's hard to stay away from because it's not something anyone can just pick up. You've got to train and work hard to be good at it, which is why it's so appealing to me."

"I have some guys I've been working with for a number of years, and I have great confidence in them along with the team as a whole," Coach Estrella said.

The following will be wrestling in the Greco-Roman category:
-- At 55 kilograms: Anthony Brooker from F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
-- At 60 kilograms: Andrew Perez from Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
-- At 66 kilograms: Jacob Hey from Peterson AFB, Colo.
-- At 74 kilograms: Peter Hicks from Peterson AFB.
-- At 84 kilograms: Brett Spangler from Schriever AFB, Colo.
-- At 120 kilograms: Nader Maghribe from Travis AFB, Calif.

The following will be wrestling in the freestyle category:
-- At 55 kilograms: Jason De Rosa from Kadena Air Base, Japan.
-- At 60 kilograms: Dean Maraj from RAF Croughton.
-- At 66 kilograms: Thamir Rimbert from Mountain Home AFB.
-- At 74 kilograms: Aaron Drain from Minot AFB, N.D.
-- At 84 kilograms: Walter Hoffman from Barksdale AFB, La.

Justin Millard from Peterson AFB will wrestle in the 96 kilogram weight class in both the Greco-Roman and freestyle categories.

Tyler Moore from Aviano AB, Italy, will join the team as the assistant coach and an alternate for the 60 kilogram weight class in either category.

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