An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Article Display

Winning it yourself

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Adrian Borunda
  • 123rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  With leaves turning shades of red and brown here, service men and women from around the world competed inside Griffith Field House and Fitness Center during the 29th Annual International Military Sports Council World Military Wrestling Championships Oct. 3, 2014.

Among those competing is Army Sgt. Jamel Johnson, a unit supply specialist with the World Class Athlete Program, and Winston-Salem, N.C., native.

"For me, [wrestling was a way] to stay in shape for football in high school, but then I got beat up real bad and I wanted to make it my actual sport," Johnson said. "I wanted to conquer it; I just fell in love with it after that."

He started his collegiate wrestling career at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where after two years the program was discontinued. It was only after one of his coaches provided facilities and equipment that Johnson continued wrestling and started competing nationally and internationally.

"I started winning national tournaments like the NYAC nationals, and all of a sudden the Army wanted me on their team so I joined. It was a perfect opportunity to continue wrestling," he said.

Johnson sways from to side to side to stay warm before each match. His vision is fixed to the front as he stretches his wrists, fingers and neck. One moment he is talking to one of his coaches about his pregnant wife, and the next his brilliant smile and charisma are gone and he's ready to face his opponent across the mat.

"It's more nervous and excitement, I'm just ready to grab somebody. The feeling is awesome. I'm addicted to it. I love it. That's why I can't stop," he said.

"I like the toughness of it and that it's just you and that guy out there; your fight, your battle," Johnson said. "I like the idea that you don't have to count on anyone at that time to win the match. You gotta win it yourself."

On the mat, he only has himself, one against one, but off the mat he realizes that as a soldier he is a part of something bigger, and special.

"It's a big family, everyone has your back, the team is full of national champions, Olympians, world medalists, and it's hard, it's tough, but when you come out [on to the mat] you know you did something," Johnson said.

This is his first international military tournament for the team, and he finished fifth in his weight class. Johnson was surprised how friendly the other competitors were.

"It helps to bring the countries together. I could go over seas and be met with a welcomed hand," he said. "It's good to see the good sportsmanship, and I gained respect for what the other countries are doing because it's all heart at the end of the day."

Johnson hopes to compete in the 2015 world championships in Las Vegas and 2016 Olympics.

"I've learned from wrestling that life can be a lot tougher than what it is, things could go a lot worse than they could go," Johnson said. "It taught me to push forward in life, to keep conquering, keep conquering and don't stop."