JB MDL ushers in CISM World Wrestling Competition

Published Oct. 2, 2014
By Senior Airman Ryan Throneberry
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- A delegation of 225 athletes representing 24 countries converged on Griffith Field House to usher in the week-long CISM World Wrestling Competition Oct. 2, 2014, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

The 29th iteration of the competition commenced with each country's delegation entering the arena followed by a brief introduction from the base commander.

"I'd like to formally welcome everyone to the United States as well as JB MDL," said Col. James Hodges, JB MDL and 87th Air Base Wing commander. "This is a gathering of some of the finest athletes and service members the world has to offer, coming together in the spirit of friendship and competition."

Wrestlers from Algeria, Armenia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and the United States will compete in freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling until Oct. 7.

Also attending the event was special guest Randy Couture, five-time Ultimate Fighting Championship title-holder and former U.S. Army Wrestling Team CISM competitor.

"It was here on this post back in 1985 where I got my start on the Army's wrestling team which allowed me to represent the U.S. at the CISM championships in Sicily," said Couture. "It was at that time in my life when I learned I could compete at an international level. It's an honor for me to be back here and I'm very much looking forward to the competition."

The first day of wrestling will be Oct. 3, 2014, and will feature Freestyle fighting.

The United States last hosted the CISM World Military Championships in 2000 at the U.S. Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The team earned 12 medals at that event, led by Greco-Roman champion Duaine Martin at 58 kg and freestyle champions Jeff Bedard at 63 kg and Mike Van Arsdale at 97 kg.

CISM, founded in 1948, is the Conseil International Du Sports Militaire (International Military Sports Council) and is one of the largest multidisciplinary organizations in the world. CISM includes 134 countries that come together with a goal of "Uniting armed forces through sports." The CISM motto is "Friendship through Sport." Wrestling is one of 23 sports that CISM organizes competitions for.