FEATURE: Air Force star Cole VonOhlen seeks freestyle medal at CISM World Games
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by Marcus Rodriguez, USAFA Athletic Communications
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. - Air Force 1st Lt. and Academy graduate Cole VonOhlen will be heading to Mungyeong, Korea this October as part of the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) to compete in the 2015 CISM Military World Games.
A 2015 All-Armed Forces gold medal champion and a four-time NCAA Wrestling Championships qualifier, VonOhlen is only the third Falcon wrestler to achieve four NCAA appearances in Academy history. VonOhlen has proven his might as a Falcon wrestler by achieving the school career fall record with 51, and earning 139 career victories, ranking third in school history. As a senior wrestler, VonOhlen was ranked as high as third in all major national polls (149 lbs) and made it to the round of 12 in the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Championships.
After earning his commission, VonOhlen toured the world during his 60-day post-graduation leave, visiting 11 countries on three continents. The vacation would prove a well-deserved break for the new lieutenant, but VonOhlen knew there was work to be done and he was ready to get back to business.
“After 60 days, I reported to Biloxi, Mississippi at Keesler Air Force Base for Cyber Warfare Technical School. It was a six-month program, that I have to say was pretty difficult,” claims VonOhlen.
While studying to become a cyber officer, VonOhlen’s love for the sport would take precedence yet again when he decided to chase his dream of wrestling in the US Air Force World Class Athlete Program.
“Upon graduating from training, I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Air Force WCAP in order to train,” VonOhlen said. “I returned to Colorado Springs in order to utilize both the training facilities of the Air Force Academy and the Olympic Training Center.”
Following VonOhlen’s selection to the elite ranks of the WCAP, he would begin training amongst the nation’s top tier wrestlers, to include Olympic hopeful Chase Pami, who is now the volunteer assistant coach for Air Force wrestling. VonOhlen’s peers in the WCAP are considered to be the most outstanding competitors the U.S. Military has to offer.
“Over the last year, it has been such a privilege to train and transition to the international freestyle scene,” VonOhlen said.
As a WCAP athlete, VonOhlen demonstrated his ability for competition by attending the Air Force Wrestling training camp at McGuire AFB, New Jersey where he would secure a position on the All-Air Force team.
“I had a great training camp,” he said. “With the help of my coaches and teammates, I was able to really focus and prepare for my upcoming matches at the All-Armed Forces Championships.”
In April 2015, VonOhlen and the All-Air Force team arrived at Fort Carson, Colo., to compete in the All-Armed Forces Championships. The top wrestlers of the sister service branches were in attendance including a US Marine and Naval Academy graduate by the name of Bryce Saddoris. Saddoris is a nationally renowned wrestler with NCAA All-American credentials and was a member of the 2014 and 2015 Greco-Roman World Team.
“I knew that [Saddoris] was going to be a very strong opponent and that he would want to try to go upper body with me being that his main focus is Greco,” said VonOhlen. “So I tried to move ties and get to good leg shots and then to my leg lace and it paid off.”
In the wake of an arduous journey, VonOhlen achieved glory for himself and Air Force wrestling at the All-Armed Forces Wrestling Championships where he went 3-0 on the event, tallying victories over Saddoris of the Marines by tech fall, 16-6, Adam Montoya of the Navy by fall in 41 seconds, and Warren Stewart of the Army by fall in 1:59.
The elation of being an All-Armed Forces gold medalist will fade as VonOhlen looks ahead to the next mission, competing to win at the Sixth 2015 CISM Military World Games in the 65Kg (143.3 lbs) class.
“It is such a great opportunity to be able to represent both the United States and the military in such a prestigious event,” VonOhlen said. “I find it truly inspiring that not only countries, but the militaries of those countries can come together in friendly competition in sports that produce a common ground.”
The Military World Games will act as a precursor to prepare VonOhlen for the upcoming trials and potentially the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Not only will this be a large-scale international stage, but VonOhlen’s bracket will likely be shared with prior Olympic wrestlers representing their nation’s military.
“All in all, it should be a great event,” proclaims VonOhlen. “Thankfully, my wife Melissa will be coming over to watch me wrestle. Having her support there is going to make this competition and experience truly amazing.”
VonOhlen was training at Penn State University in State College, Penn., before his departure to competition at the end of September. The Sixth CISM World Military Games will be hosted in Mungyeong, Korea from October 2nd-11th. More information can be found at the CISM website, http://www.cismmilsport.org.
A 2015 All-Armed Forces gold medal champion and a four-time NCAA Wrestling Championships qualifier, VonOhlen is only the third Falcon wrestler to achieve four NCAA appearances in Academy history. VonOhlen has proven his might as a Falcon wrestler by achieving the school career fall record with 51, and earning 139 career victories, ranking third in school history. As a senior wrestler, VonOhlen was ranked as high as third in all major national polls (149 lbs) and made it to the round of 12 in the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Championships.
After earning his commission, VonOhlen toured the world during his 60-day post-graduation leave, visiting 11 countries on three continents. The vacation would prove a well-deserved break for the new lieutenant, but VonOhlen knew there was work to be done and he was ready to get back to business.
“After 60 days, I reported to Biloxi, Mississippi at Keesler Air Force Base for Cyber Warfare Technical School. It was a six-month program, that I have to say was pretty difficult,” claims VonOhlen.
While studying to become a cyber officer, VonOhlen’s love for the sport would take precedence yet again when he decided to chase his dream of wrestling in the US Air Force World Class Athlete Program.
“Upon graduating from training, I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Air Force WCAP in order to train,” VonOhlen said. “I returned to Colorado Springs in order to utilize both the training facilities of the Air Force Academy and the Olympic Training Center.”
Following VonOhlen’s selection to the elite ranks of the WCAP, he would begin training amongst the nation’s top tier wrestlers, to include Olympic hopeful Chase Pami, who is now the volunteer assistant coach for Air Force wrestling. VonOhlen’s peers in the WCAP are considered to be the most outstanding competitors the U.S. Military has to offer.
“Over the last year, it has been such a privilege to train and transition to the international freestyle scene,” VonOhlen said.
As a WCAP athlete, VonOhlen demonstrated his ability for competition by attending the Air Force Wrestling training camp at McGuire AFB, New Jersey where he would secure a position on the All-Air Force team.
“I had a great training camp,” he said. “With the help of my coaches and teammates, I was able to really focus and prepare for my upcoming matches at the All-Armed Forces Championships.”
In April 2015, VonOhlen and the All-Air Force team arrived at Fort Carson, Colo., to compete in the All-Armed Forces Championships. The top wrestlers of the sister service branches were in attendance including a US Marine and Naval Academy graduate by the name of Bryce Saddoris. Saddoris is a nationally renowned wrestler with NCAA All-American credentials and was a member of the 2014 and 2015 Greco-Roman World Team.
“I knew that [Saddoris] was going to be a very strong opponent and that he would want to try to go upper body with me being that his main focus is Greco,” said VonOhlen. “So I tried to move ties and get to good leg shots and then to my leg lace and it paid off.”
In the wake of an arduous journey, VonOhlen achieved glory for himself and Air Force wrestling at the All-Armed Forces Wrestling Championships where he went 3-0 on the event, tallying victories over Saddoris of the Marines by tech fall, 16-6, Adam Montoya of the Navy by fall in 41 seconds, and Warren Stewart of the Army by fall in 1:59.
The elation of being an All-Armed Forces gold medalist will fade as VonOhlen looks ahead to the next mission, competing to win at the Sixth 2015 CISM Military World Games in the 65Kg (143.3 lbs) class.
“It is such a great opportunity to be able to represent both the United States and the military in such a prestigious event,” VonOhlen said. “I find it truly inspiring that not only countries, but the militaries of those countries can come together in friendly competition in sports that produce a common ground.”
The Military World Games will act as a precursor to prepare VonOhlen for the upcoming trials and potentially the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Not only will this be a large-scale international stage, but VonOhlen’s bracket will likely be shared with prior Olympic wrestlers representing their nation’s military.
“All in all, it should be a great event,” proclaims VonOhlen. “Thankfully, my wife Melissa will be coming over to watch me wrestle. Having her support there is going to make this competition and experience truly amazing.”
VonOhlen was training at Penn State University in State College, Penn., before his departure to competition at the end of September. The Sixth CISM World Military Games will be hosted in Mungyeong, Korea from October 2nd-11th. More information can be found at the CISM website, http://www.cismmilsport.org.
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