Top U.S. military wrestlers to compete in CISM World Games in Korea, October 6-10
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Photo of Sergeant Justin Lester of the U.S. Army, after a win at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas, by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
A strong team of U.S. wrestlers from our military programs will compete at the 6th Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) World Games will be held in Mungyeong, South Korea. The wrestling event will be held October 6-10.
The Military World Games will feature over 80 nations and 5,000 athletes from around the world. These athletes will be united under the ideal of 'Friendship through Sport', the motto of CISM, as the military Olympics takes place in eight cities of Gyeongsanbuk Province. The U.S. Armed Forces delegation will consist of over 170 active duty athletes competing in 16 sports, including some of our Wounded Warriors competing in para-track and field and para-archery.
There will be 13 U.S. military wrestlers competing in the CISM World Games, seven in Greco-Roman and six in men’s freestyle. The team will be coached by U.S. Army head coach Shon Lewis and U.S. Marine Corps head coach Jason Loukides.
“This is a top-notch event in every sport. You get all the sports together and see what happens. Other than the Olympic Games and the World Championships, this is one of the toughest events on the planet. This is a great opportunity for all of these wrestlers,” said Lewis.
Leading the U.S. team are a pair of 2015 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team members, Sergeant Justin Lester of the U.S. Army at 75 kg/165 lbs. and Sergeant Caylor Williams of the U.S. Army at 98 kg/215 lbs.
Lester is a two-time World bronze medalist. He was a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, and has competed in seven Senior World Championships. He boasts six U.S. Open titles.
Williams has been a member of the last three U.S. Senior World Teams and has won the U.S. Open for the last two years.
“Coming off the World Championships, hopefully they can have a good performance. This is not a tune-up or a stepping stone for them. This is a major competition for them. Hopefully their bodies hold up, and physically and mentally they have enough in the tank to do very well,” said Lewis.
2015 Pan American Games champion Captain Jonathan Anderson of U.S. Army will compete at 85 kg/187 lbs. Anderson has been second in the U.S. World Team Trials the last three years. He is a graduate of Army West Point, where he competed on its wrestling team.
Others competing in Greco-Roman will be First Lieutenant Aaron Kalil of the U.S. Marine Corps at 59 kg/130 lbs., Sergeant Jamel Johnson of the U.S. Army at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. , Private First Class Michael Hooker of the U.S. Army at 71 kg/156 lbs. and Corporal Matthew Lamb of the U.S. Army at 130 kg/286 lbs.
A pair of NCAA Div. I qualifiers will compete in men’s freestyle at the CISM World Games, Captain William Simpson of the U.S. Army at 61 kg/134 lbs. and First Lieutenant Cole Von Ohlen of the U.S. Air Force at 65 kg/143 lbs. Simpson starred for Army West Point and Von Ohlen for the U.S. Air Force Academy when they were in college.
Also competing in men’s freestyle will be Sergeant Max Nowry of the U.S. Army at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., Sergeant Vladislav Dombrovskiy of the U.S. Army at 70 kg/154 lbs., Sergeant Victor Terrell of the U.S. Army at 86 kg/189 lbs. and Corporal Endyr Meza of the U.S. Army at 125 kg/275 lbs.
The U.S.CISM World Games team trained together at Fort Carson, Colo. prior to leaving for Korea this week.
“We hope to win 2-3 medals in each style. These are the top guys we are competing against. For many countries, they are not just their top military wrestlers. They are the top wrestlers in their entire nation,” said Lewis.
Founded in 1948, CISM is the second largest multisport organization in the world after the Olympics and the largest military organization in the world. The United States joined CISM in 1951 and remains one of the most active nations within the 134 member-nation CISM organization.
CISM WORLD GAMES
At Mungyeong, Korea
U.S. Greco-Roman Team
59 kg/130 lbs. – First Lieutenant Aaron Kalil (U.S. Marine Corps)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Sergeant Jamel Johnson (U.S. Army)
71 kg/156 lbs. – Private First Class Michael Hooker (U.S. Army)
75 kg/165 lbs. – Sergeant Justin Lester (U.S. Army)
85 kg/187 lbs. – Captain Jonathan Anderson (U.S. Army)
98 kg/215 lbs. – Sergeant Caylor Williams (U.S. Army)
130 kg/286 lbs. – Corporal Matthew Lamb (U.S. Army)
U.S. Men’s Freestyle Team
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Sergeant Max Nowry (U.S. Army)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Captain William Simpson (U.S. Army)
65 kg/143 lbs. – First Lieutenant Cole Von Ohlen (U.S. Air Force)
70 kg/154 lbs. – Sergeant Vladislav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army)
86 kg/189 lbs. – Sergeant Victor Terrell (U.S. Army)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Corporal Endyr Meza (U.S. Army)
Coach – Shon Lewis (U.S. Army coach)
Coach – Jason Loukides (U.S. Marine Corps coach)
Team Captain – Jim Medley
Medical – Kyle Eckert
Referee – Paul Kruggel
Referee – Tim Pierson
Referee – Roy Scott
CISM World Games Wrestling Event Schedule
Tuesday, October 6
Men’s freestyle
Wednesday, October 7
Men’s freestyle
Friday, October 9
Greco-Roman
Saturday, October 10
Greco-Roman
A strong team of U.S. wrestlers from our military programs will compete at the 6th Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) World Games will be held in Mungyeong, South Korea. The wrestling event will be held October 6-10.
The Military World Games will feature over 80 nations and 5,000 athletes from around the world. These athletes will be united under the ideal of 'Friendship through Sport', the motto of CISM, as the military Olympics takes place in eight cities of Gyeongsanbuk Province. The U.S. Armed Forces delegation will consist of over 170 active duty athletes competing in 16 sports, including some of our Wounded Warriors competing in para-track and field and para-archery.
There will be 13 U.S. military wrestlers competing in the CISM World Games, seven in Greco-Roman and six in men’s freestyle. The team will be coached by U.S. Army head coach Shon Lewis and U.S. Marine Corps head coach Jason Loukides.
“This is a top-notch event in every sport. You get all the sports together and see what happens. Other than the Olympic Games and the World Championships, this is one of the toughest events on the planet. This is a great opportunity for all of these wrestlers,” said Lewis.
Leading the U.S. team are a pair of 2015 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team members, Sergeant Justin Lester of the U.S. Army at 75 kg/165 lbs. and Sergeant Caylor Williams of the U.S. Army at 98 kg/215 lbs.
Lester is a two-time World bronze medalist. He was a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, and has competed in seven Senior World Championships. He boasts six U.S. Open titles.
Williams has been a member of the last three U.S. Senior World Teams and has won the U.S. Open for the last two years.
“Coming off the World Championships, hopefully they can have a good performance. This is not a tune-up or a stepping stone for them. This is a major competition for them. Hopefully their bodies hold up, and physically and mentally they have enough in the tank to do very well,” said Lewis.
2015 Pan American Games champion Captain Jonathan Anderson of U.S. Army will compete at 85 kg/187 lbs. Anderson has been second in the U.S. World Team Trials the last three years. He is a graduate of Army West Point, where he competed on its wrestling team.
Others competing in Greco-Roman will be First Lieutenant Aaron Kalil of the U.S. Marine Corps at 59 kg/130 lbs., Sergeant Jamel Johnson of the U.S. Army at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. , Private First Class Michael Hooker of the U.S. Army at 71 kg/156 lbs. and Corporal Matthew Lamb of the U.S. Army at 130 kg/286 lbs.
A pair of NCAA Div. I qualifiers will compete in men’s freestyle at the CISM World Games, Captain William Simpson of the U.S. Army at 61 kg/134 lbs. and First Lieutenant Cole Von Ohlen of the U.S. Air Force at 65 kg/143 lbs. Simpson starred for Army West Point and Von Ohlen for the U.S. Air Force Academy when they were in college.
Also competing in men’s freestyle will be Sergeant Max Nowry of the U.S. Army at 57 kg/125.5 lbs., Sergeant Vladislav Dombrovskiy of the U.S. Army at 70 kg/154 lbs., Sergeant Victor Terrell of the U.S. Army at 86 kg/189 lbs. and Corporal Endyr Meza of the U.S. Army at 125 kg/275 lbs.
The U.S.CISM World Games team trained together at Fort Carson, Colo. prior to leaving for Korea this week.
“We hope to win 2-3 medals in each style. These are the top guys we are competing against. For many countries, they are not just their top military wrestlers. They are the top wrestlers in their entire nation,” said Lewis.
Founded in 1948, CISM is the second largest multisport organization in the world after the Olympics and the largest military organization in the world. The United States joined CISM in 1951 and remains one of the most active nations within the 134 member-nation CISM organization.
CISM WORLD GAMES
At Mungyeong, Korea
U.S. Greco-Roman Team
59 kg/130 lbs. – First Lieutenant Aaron Kalil (U.S. Marine Corps)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Sergeant Jamel Johnson (U.S. Army)
71 kg/156 lbs. – Private First Class Michael Hooker (U.S. Army)
75 kg/165 lbs. – Sergeant Justin Lester (U.S. Army)
85 kg/187 lbs. – Captain Jonathan Anderson (U.S. Army)
98 kg/215 lbs. – Sergeant Caylor Williams (U.S. Army)
130 kg/286 lbs. – Corporal Matthew Lamb (U.S. Army)
U.S. Men’s Freestyle Team
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Sergeant Max Nowry (U.S. Army)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Captain William Simpson (U.S. Army)
65 kg/143 lbs. – First Lieutenant Cole Von Ohlen (U.S. Air Force)
70 kg/154 lbs. – Sergeant Vladislav Dombrovskiy (U.S. Army)
86 kg/189 lbs. – Sergeant Victor Terrell (U.S. Army)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Corporal Endyr Meza (U.S. Army)
Coach – Shon Lewis (U.S. Army coach)
Coach – Jason Loukides (U.S. Marine Corps coach)
Team Captain – Jim Medley
Medical – Kyle Eckert
Referee – Paul Kruggel
Referee – Tim Pierson
Referee – Roy Scott
CISM World Games Wrestling Event Schedule
Tuesday, October 6
Men’s freestyle
Wednesday, October 7
Men’s freestyle
Friday, October 9
Greco-Roman
Saturday, October 10
Greco-Roman
