Photo By Spc. Carleeann Smiddy | Spc. Lauren Peel defeats her opponent during the 2022 Ohio Army National Guard...... read more read more
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BEIGHTLER ARMORY, Ohio – Ambition, excitement and determination filled the eyes of Spc. Lauren Peel as she stepped foot on the mat ready to take on her opponent.
“Competitors ready?” echoed over the loudspeaker as Spc. Lauren Peel shook hands with her opponent.
The annual combatives tournament held at Beightler Armory (Ohio National Guard Joint Force Headquarters) in Dublin, Ohio, took place on Saturday, July 23 and featured Ohio Army National Guard Soldiers.
Combatives is a battle between two individuals using hand-to-hand combat techniques. Within the U.S. Army, there are three different skill levels, each requiring a different course to be taken.
Peel, alongside many Soldiers, had no background in combatives until this competition.
Spc. Lauren Peel is assigned to the 323rd Military Police company in Toledo, Ohio. As the tournament drew closer, her company began to encourage her more and more to compete in the event.
“It’s always been something that I’ve been interested in for a while now,” said Peel. “I’ve just never really pursued it as formal training.”
Combatives is more than just an individual sport, it builds resilience, strength, and comradery through all Soldiers who participate, no matter their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).
“No matter your MOS you can participate,” explained Peel. “It unifies everyone and allows people to come and have competitive joining of different groups of people”
Peel felt this was a moment of opportunity to test not only her physical strength, but also her mental strength.
“I have had a lot of previous injury in the Army, including two previous knee surgeries,” said Peel.“Combatives proves that I can still push my body and prove to myself that I can still get out there and roll around.”
Peel was one of five females to compete in this year's tournament consisting of 25 total competitors.. She competed in the lightweight division and took home second place against a talented male competitor. Although she was pleased with her performance, taking second has encouraged her to learn more about the sport and challenge herself more as an individual.
“I competed for the finals against a male that outnumbered me in skillset and poundage. It’s great to be able to represent the females,” explained Peel. “It’s definitely something to be proud of and it puts into perspective that it is a level playing field for everybody.”
The Ohio National Guard Combatives Tournament gives Soldiers from across the state, like Spc. Peel, the opportunity to compete against their peers in a ferocious and controlled environment. Combatives serves as a tool to increase individual Soldier readiness, resilience and strength.
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2022 16:16 |
| Story ID: | 426992 |
| Location: | DUBLIN, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 452 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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