Army wins Armed Forces Championships in both styles; Seven qualify for Olympic Trials

The U.S. Army swept all of its dual meets during the weekend, and won the Armed Forces Championships in both freestyle and Greco-Roman in New Orleans, La., March 6-7. It was also the first qualifying event in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials process. The winners in each weight class in Greco-Roman qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling in Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23. In Greco-Roman, the U.S. Army defeated the U.S. Marines, 18-9 in the deciding dual meet. The Marines were second with a 2-1 record, followed by the U.S. Air Force in third at 1-2 and the U.S. Navy at fourth at 0-4. The U.S. Army had four individual Greco-Roman champions: Anthony Gibbons at 55 kg/121 lbs., Glenn Nieradka at 60 kg/132 lbs., Jason Loukides at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Dremiel Byers at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Other individual Greco-Roman champions were James Shillow of the U.S. Marines at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Steve Woods of the U.S. Air Force at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Jacob Clark of the U.S. Marines at 84 kg/185 lbs. In freestyle, the deciding match was again the U.S. Army vs. the U.S. Marines, with the Army edging the Marines, 14-12, in the deciding dual meet. The Army finished with a 3-0 record and the Marines at 2-1. The U.S. Navy was third at 1-2 and the U.S. Air Force was fourth at 0-4. The Army had the most freestyle champions with three: Nieradka, plus Glenn Garrison at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Dominic Black at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. The U.S. Marines had two champions, Clark and Justin Cannon at 55 kg/121 lbs. Other individual champions were Donald Waters of the U.S. Navy at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Kevin Hoy of the U.S. Air Force at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Two athletes were able to win double titles, taking both the freestyle and Greco-Roman gold medals: Glenn Nieradka of the U.S. Army at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Jacob Clark of the U.S. Marines at 84 kg/185 lbs.