Photo By Behnaz Nabavian/Special to the Paraglide Charles Daniles, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, in Blue, sprawls as he maintains control and forces Nicholas Baughman’s of Co. C, 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment shoulders to the mat forcing him to tap out.

For some Soldiers stepping into the wrestling circle is an opportunity to relive days of past glory and compete against other Soldiers, but for others, wrestling affords them the ability to continue to chase their dream of being immersed inside the sport.

On Nov. 8 and 9, the Ritz-Epps Fitness Center hosted a double-elimination tournament that allowed Soldiers in six varying weight classes to compete against each other for best wrestler on Fort Bragg.

“There is something about being in that circle facing another wrestler,” said 185-pound weight class champion, Charles Daniels of the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade. “I’ve been wrestling since I was in the eighth grade and just being out there brings outs the competitive nature in me.”

Wrestling is an individual sport, but most wrestlers are a part of a team in which they train and practice to hone their skills.

“You depend on your teammates to make you better and push you” said Daniels. “When you step onto that mat it is all about the wrestling skills you have practiced.”

Fort Bragg wrestling tournaments gives Soldiers the opportunity to continue wrestling careers.
Each match is broken down into three, one and a half minute periods. Wrestlers score points by pinning their opponents to the mat. The first wrestler to score six points in a period wins that period. The wrestler that wins two out of the three periods wins the match. Ties are decided by sudden death.

“One of my long-term goals in the military is I want to wrestle on the All-Army team,” said. 135-pound weight class champion, Kyle Alan Narburgh HHC 508th, Special Transport Battalion, 82nd airborne division. “Wrestling is great because it really helps me maintain fitness and has given me the opportunity to wrestle people from all over the U.S.”

Wrestling attracts a different type of loyalty from the athletes that participate in the sport.
“The thing about wrestling is it’s not like most team sports where you have tryouts like football or basketball in wrestling nobody cuts you,” said Daniels. “You cut yourself.”

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