11 Airmen selected for Air Force wrestling team

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian S. Orban
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (ACCNS) --  After three weeks of training here, 11 Airmen face off against the U.S. military's top wrestlers following their selection to join the All Air Force Wrestling Team March 6.

Of the more than 75 Airmen that initially responded to Coach Richard Estrella's invitation to join the team, 30 were selected to attend the Air Force wrestling camp here. During the camp, which started in late February, competitors battled in the 55-, 60-, 66-, 74-, 84-, 96- and 120-kilogram weight classes.

The Armed Forces Wrestling Championship runs from 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 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."

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, Md.

Staff Sgt. Walter Hoffman; 84 kilograms; Barksdale AFB, La.; Chesapeake Beach, Md.

Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Zastro; 84 kilograms; Air Force Academy, Colo.; Whitewater, Wis.

Senior Airman Nader Maghribi; 96 kilograms; Travis AFB, Calif.; Kennesaw, Ga.

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 two-mile runs, weightlifting, wrestling training, drills and workouts meant to build team cohesion.