Photo By Cpl. Christian Ayers | U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. John Stefanowicz a member of the All Marine Wrestling...... read more read more
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U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. John Stefanowicz is all too familiar with hard work. Achieving the name Marine takes a tremendous amount of dedication to one’s mental and physical performance. It takes even more perseverance to accomplish what Stefanowicz has done. In April 2021, Stefanowicz competed in the U.S. Olympic trials and qualified to represent not only the Marine Corps, but the United States of America, at the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
“Being able to represent the USA on an international level while being in the Marine Corps is the highest honor that I have ever felt,” Stefanowicz said. “It is something that is almost indescribable; I have finally accomplished this mission that has had an insurmountable amount of adversity, that has required years and decades of perseverance.”
Stefanowicz said without his team’s and coach’s support he would not have been able to be this successful.
“This could not be possible without the support I have had from my team and coach,” Stefanowicz said. “The struggles that we have had to overcome as a team have made us all stronger, and particularly coach Jason Loukides has helped transform me into the person and Marine that I am today.”
Captain Daniel Miller, the company commander for the All Marine Wrestling Team, stated he was proud and excited for Stefanowicz.
“I am extremely proud to be a part of the team and a training partner for Stefanowicz,” Miller said. “He is such a warrior and high caliber athlete who has achieved such an amazing accomplishment.”
Miller also stated that Stefanowicz has continued to push through adversity to become an Olympian.
“It has been such a challenging year for training,” said Miller. “Having to continue training while still in a pandemic, the delay of the Olympics, it has been so amazing to watch him persevere, to accomplish the mission.”
According to Miller, since Stefanowicz has made it into the Olympics he has given the team more drive and motivation to work even harder.
“Since he made it, we have recognized that we have more Marines that are on the path to go to the Olympics,” Miller said. “We have to continue working harder to make sure that next time at the Olympics, it is not just Stefanowicz going.”
Stefanowicz will be going to several national training camps, as well as overseas training before competing in the 2020 Olympic Games in July 2021.
| Date Taken: | 05.13.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2021 13:23 |
| Story ID: | 396323 |
| Location: | MCB CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 587 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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