U.S. to compete at CISM World Military Wrestling Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 29-Dec. 2
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
U.S. Armed Forces Sports will send a six-athlete team to compete in the 36th CISM World Military Wrestling Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, November 29-December 2.
The team will consist of four Greco-Roman athletes, one women’s freestyle athlete and one men’s freestyle athlete. Five of the six athletes are from the U.S. Army, with one of the athletes hailing from the U.S. Marine Corps.
The team will feature a pair of 2020 Olympians, Greco-Roman wrestlers Alejandro Sancho at 67 kg and John Stefanowicz at 87 kg. Sancho has also competed at the Senior World Championships.
Another team member competed on two past U.S. Senior World Teams in Greco-Roman, Dalton Roberts at 60 kg. Rounding out the Greco-Roman roster is 2022 U.S. Open champion Britton Holmes at 82 kg.
The women’s freestyle athlete is Tristan Kelly at 76 kg. Kelly was a 2022 U20 World bronze medalist.
The men’s freestyle competitor is Morgan McIntosh at 86 kg.
The competition is being held over four days. Wrestling on Thursday, November 30 is McIntosh. Competing on Friday, December 1 is Kelly. On the last day of wrestling, Saturday, December 2, Roberts, Sancho Holmes and Stefanowicz will be competing.
The 2023 Armed Forces Championships were held at Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Wash., Feb. 25-26. Of the members of the CISM World Team, Roberts, Sancho and Holmes won Greco-Roman titles.
36th CISM World Military Wrestling Championships
At Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 29-Dec. 2
U.S. CISM World Team roster
Greco-Roman
60 kg – Dalton Roberts (U.S. Army)
67 kg – Alejandro Sancho (U.S. Army)
77 kg – Britton Holmes (U.S. Army)
87 kg – John Stefanowicz (U.S. Marine Corps)
Women Freestyle
76 kg – Tristan Kelly (U.S. Army)
Men Freestyle:
86 kg – Morgan McIntosh (U.S. Army)
Coaching Staff
Spenser Mango
Shon Lewis
Iris Smith
CISM Wrestling Committee Member - Jon Jay Antonelli
U.S. Chief of Mission - Colonel Joseph Galvin
CISM World Military Wrestling Championships Event Schedule
Wednesday, November 29
Men’s Freestyle (57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg, 92 kg)
Women’s Freestyle (50 kg, 55 kg)
Preliminaries through Medal Matches
Thursday, November 30
Men’s Freestyle (61 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg)
Women’s Freestyle (53 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg)
Preliminaries through Medal Matches
Friday, December 1
Greco-Roman (55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg)
Women’s Freestyle (57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg)
Preliminaries through Medal Matches
Saturday, December 2
Greco-Roman (60 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg)
Preliminaries through Medal Matches