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Memorial Day salute to active-duty military wrestlers who have qualified for 2019 Final X

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Leslie Fuenffinger and Ildar Hafizov of the U.S. Army battle in the 2019 U.S. Open. They will face each other again in Final X: Lincoln. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com

Memorial Day is a time to recognize those individuals from the U.S. military who gave their lives in protection of the United States, who made the ultimate sacrifice preserving our freedom.

Along with Veterans Day, Memorial Day provides another time to thank all Americans who have served and are serving in the military of the United States. It allows us to show appreciation and respect for veterans, as well as active-duty military.

USA Wrestling is blessed to have a strong segment of athletes who are active-duty military and compete at the Senior level in our sport. There are athletes from every branch of the U.S. military who are pursuing their Olympic dreams while also serving the nation.

Final X represents the very best Senior wrestlers in the United States, those talented enough to be among the top two athletes in the nation in their weight class. For 2019, there are 13 active-duty members of the U.S. military who have qualified for Final X, 11 in Greco-Roman and two in women’s freestyle. This includes eight who represent the U.S. Army, four who represent the U.S. Marine Corps and one who represents the U.S. Air Force.

There are four guaranteed spots on the 2019 U.S. Senior World Team for military wrestlers, as both of the finalist competitors in Final X in those weight classes are from the U.S. military. The final number of military wrestlers on the 2019 U.S. Senior World Team will be determined in June.

There are six military wrestlers in Final X: Rutgers and seven military wrestlers in Final X: Lincoln. We will recognize these athlete based upon which Final X location they will be competing, with their Final X matchups and biographies below.

FINAL X: RUTGERS MILITARY ATHLETES
At the RAC in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, June 8


Men’s GR 82 kg – U.S. Open champion Kendrick Sanders (Marquette, Mich./New York AC) vs. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion John Stefanowicz (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps)
Women’s FS 50 kgU.S. Open champion Whitney Conder (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) vs. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion Victoria Anthony (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids)
Men’s GR 55 kg U.S. Open champion Max Nowry (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) vs. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion Brady Koontz (Plover, Wis./Ohio RTC)
Men’s GR 67 kgU.S. Open champion Ellis Coleman (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) vs. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion Jamel Johnson (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps)
Women’s FS 57 kg – U.S. Open champion Becka Leathers (Chapel Hill, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Tarheel RTC) vs. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion Jenna Burkert (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)

FINAL X: LINCOLN MILITARY ATHLETES
At Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, June 15

Men’s GR 60 kgU.S. Open champion Leslie Fuenffinger (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) vs. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion Ildar Hafizov (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
Men’s GR 72 kgU.S. Open champion Raymond Bunker (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps) vs. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion Alex Mossing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Force RTC)
Men’s GR 63 kgU.S. Open champion Ryan Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) vs. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion Xavier Johnson (Camp LeJeune, N.C./U.S. Marine Corps)
Men’s GR 97 kg – U.S. Open champion champion G’Angelo Hancock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) vs. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion Lucas Sheridan (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)

BIOS OF FINAL X: RUTGERS MILITARY ATHLETES (alphabetically)

57 kg Women
Jenna Burkert, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Northern Michigan High School: Marquette (Mich.) Born: May 9, 1993
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2014 and 2018 U.S. World Team member
• 2018 Final X runner-up
• 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2017 U.S. Open champion
• Second in 2014, 2015 and 2019 U.S. Open
• Third in 2018 U.S. Open
• Fourth in 2017 CISM Military World Championships
• Three-time UWW Junior World Team member (2011-2013)
• Third in 2012 and 2013 World Team Wrestle-off
• Fifth in 2010 Youth Olympic Games
• 2009 Junior Nationals champion
• 2010 and 2011 ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year

67 kg Greco-Roman
Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Northern Michigan High School: Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park River Forest) Born: August 16, 1991
• Three-time World Team member (2013, 2017, 2018)
• 2012 Olympian
• Five-time U.S. Open champion (2013, 2016-2019)
• Two-time Junior World bronze medalist (2010, 2011)
• Two-time World Team Trials runner-up (2013, 2014)
• Second in 2019 Pan American Championships
• Third in 2010 Pan American Championships

50 kg Women
Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Northern Michigan High School: Puyallup, Wash. Born: May 6, 1988
• Six-time U.S. Open champion (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• 2015 Pan American Games champion
• Three-time U.S. World Team member (2011, 2014, 2015)
• 2007 Junior World champion
• Second in 2014 CISM Military World Championships
• 2018 Pan American Championships champion
• Second in 2010 and 2012 Pan American Championships
• Second in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
• 2015 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• Second in 2013 and 2017 World Team Trials

67 kg Greco-Roman
Jamel Johnson, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)

College: UNC-Greensboro High School: Winston-Salem, N.C. Born: June 9, 1991
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Third in 2018 and 2019 U.S. Open
• Third in 2012 University World Championships
• 2012 New York AC International champion
• Fourth in 2013 U.S. Open
• Third in 2013 Pan American Championships
• Three-time Armed Forces Greco-Roman silver medalist (2015, 2016, 2019)
• Ninth in 2019 CISM Military Worlds

55 kg Greco-Roman
Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Northern Michigan High School: Wheeling, Ill. Born: March 16, 1990
• 2018 and 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2019 Pan American Championships champion
• Second in 2018 World Team Trials
• 2012 Olympic Team Trials runner-up
• 2012 University World champion
• Six-time Armed Forces champion (four in freestyle, two in Greco-Roman)
• 2013 Pan American champion
• Four-time National Team member (2nd in 2018, 3rd in 2017, 3rd in 2013, 2nd in 2012)
• 10th in 2015 CISM World Championships

82 kg Greco-Roman
John Stefanowicz, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)

High School: Fawn Grove, Pa. (Kennard-Dale) Born: September 20, 1991
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second in 2017 U.S. World Team Trials
• Fifth in 2019 U.S. Open
• Sixth at 2018 U.S. Open
• Two-time Armed Forces Greco-Roman champion (2018, 2019)
• 2018 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• Fifth in 2014 and 2018 U.S. Open
• Second in 2017 Armed Forces Championships in Greco-Roman
• Second in 2012 University Nationals
• Ninth in 2017 CISM Military World Championships

BIOS OF FINAL X: LINCOLN MILITARY ATHLETES (alphabetically)

72 kg Greco-Roman
Raymond Bunker, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)

High School: Bensenville, Ill. (Fenton) College: Harper College Born: April 26, 1994
• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• Sixth at 2018 U.S. Open
• Second in 2018 Armed Forces championship in both styles
• 2017 University Nationals champion
• Sixth at 2017 U.S. Open
• Second in 2017 Armed Forces championships
• Third in 2018 Lavrikov Tournament (Russia)
• 2017 CISM World Military team member

60 kg Greco-Roman
Leslie Fuenffinger, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

High School: Hibbing, Minn. College: Augsburg College, Northern Michigan Born: July 17, 1992
• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• Second at 2018 U.S. Open
• Fourth in 2018 Greco-Roman World Team Trials
• 2017 and 2018 Armed Forces champion in freestyle
• Fourth at 2018 Nikola Petrov champion
• Third at 2018 Dave Schultz Memorial International…
• Fifth in 2012 U.S. Open
• 2011 and 2012 Junior World Team member
• Two-time NCAA Div. III champion for Augsburg

60 kg Greco-Roman
Ildar Hafizov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

High School in Tashkent, Uzbekistan College: Olympic College
RTC (UZB) Born: Jan. 30, 1988
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2017 U.S. World Team member
• 2017 U.S. World Team Trials champion
• Second in 2018 Greco-Roman World Team Trials
• 2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan
• Three-time World Team member for Uzbekistan
• Fifth at 2007 World Championships
• 2016 U.S. Open champion
• 2019 U.S. Open runner-up
• 2017 Armed Forces champion
• Second at 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials
• Fifth at 2017 CISM Military Worlds

63 kg Greco-Roman
Xavier Johnson, Camp LeJeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)

High School: Orangeburg, S.C. Born: July 3, 1995
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Third in 2018 Greco-Roman World Team Trials
• Second in 2018 U23 World Team Trials
• Second in 2019 Grand Prix Zagreb Open (Croatia)
• 2018 Armed Forces Greco-Roman champion
• Second in 2019 Armed Forces in Greco-Roman
• Sixth in 2017 and 2019 U.S. Open
• Fifth in 2015 U.S. Open

63 kg Greco-Roman
Ryan Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Stanford High School: St. Louis, Mo. (Whitfield) Born: Aug. 17, 1991
• 2018 and 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2017 U.S. Open runner-up
• 2018 Armed Forces champion in Greco-Roman and freestyle
• Second in 2019 Pan American Championships
• Second in 2013 and 2018 World Team Trials
• Third in 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials
• Two-time NCAA All-American
• 2008 Junior National Freestyle and Greco-Roman champion
• 2006 Cadet National Freestyle and Greco-Roman champion
• 2006 Cadet National Greco-Roman champion

72 kg Greco-Roman
Alex Mossing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Air Force Regional Training Center)

College: U.S. Air Force Academy High School: Toledo, Ohio (Central Catholic) Born: November 11, 1995
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2017 U23 World Team member
• 2017 University Nationals champion
• 2017 U23 World Team Trials champion
• Seventh at 2017 Senior World Team Trials
• Third at 2016 at University Nationals

97 kg Greco-Roman
Lucas Sheridan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

College: Indiana High School: Concord, Calif. (De La Salle) Born: June 6, 1993
• 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second in 2019 U.S. Open
• Third at 2018 U.S. Open
• Third in 2018 Greco-Roman World Team Trials
• Fourth in 2017 U.S. World Team Trials
• Fourth in 2016 and 2017 U.S. Open
• 2017 Armed Forces champion
• 2013 University Nationals champion
• Third in 2016 Bill Farrell International
• Second in 2014 Freestyle University Nationals
• 2012 Junior World Team member
• Fourth in 2010 Youth Olympic Games

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