Service members take hold of grappling tournament

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Corenthia Fennell | Senior Airman Joshua Alvarez, 332nd Expeditionary Force Support Squadron food services, places his opponent in a submission hold during a grappling tournament May 7, 2011. The morale event was sponsored by the joint 5/6 organization. Airman Alvarez is deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.  

SALAH AD DIN, IRAQ

05.07.2011

Story by Senior Airman Tong Duong 

332d Air Expeditionary Wing

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - More than 500 JBB members gathered to watch 69 competitors attempt to grapple their way to first place at the east gym here May 7.

Members of Joint 5/6 enlisted council organized the event to promote inter-service esprit-de-corps.

"We wanted to give those who train in submission grappling an opportunity to test their capabilities and boost morale for both competitors and spectators," said Staff Sgt. Michael Pendleton, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group noncommissioned officer in charge of reports and analysis.

The single-elimination tournament separated fighters by different classes.

"Those who won, advanced to the next round and continued to fight until there were only two left in each weight division," said Tech. Sgt. Ryan Schreiner, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron plans and programs noncommissioned officer in charge.

Soldiers, sailors, Airmen and different civilian agencies from JBB, as well as a dozen soldiers flew in from different forward operating bases in Iraq to participate.

Male and female contestants competed in lightweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners respectively, Sergeant Schreiner, a native of Kihei, Hawaii, said.

Each match was limited to five minutes, or until someone "tapped-out." Points were awarded for submission attempts, sweeps (fighter maneuvers from the non-dominant position to the dominant position,) back and full mount (two of the worst positions to be caught in) and side control (another bad position to be caught in,) Sgt. Schreiner, who is deployed from Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, said.

Referees chosen were experienced in submission grappling, as safety was a main concern, Sgt. Pendleton, a native of Memphis, Tenn., who is deployed from Royal Air Force Alconbury, United Kingdom, said.

Event coordinator, Sgt. Schreiner considered the tournament a success.

"Commanders, chiefs, supervisors and peers came to support their fighters and to represent their squadron, battalion, forward operating base and agency," he said. "We had twice the number of fighters and triple the amount of spectators than expected."

The sergeant also said there were zero injuries and no unsportsmanlike acts.

"The fighters gave their all and then shook hands," Sergeant Schreiner said. "They showed respect to each other and the love of the sport, which was the end goal."

Mastermind behind the event, Sgt. Schreiner originally planned the tournament to be a onetime deal. He and others may organize another tournament "JBB Grappling Part II: Redemption," sometime in early June, after receiving much positive feedback.

Weight category winners:

Lightweight: Senior Airman Brandon Adviento, 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron

Middleweight: Sgt. 1st Class Jason Klenk, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force

Light heavy weight: Sgt. Russell Elleby, 6-17 Cavalry

Heavy weight: 1st Lt. Jacob Devlin, 25th Intelligence Squadron

Females open weight: Sgt. 1st Class Crystal Smith, CJSOTF

• Date Taken: 05.07.2011
• Date Posted: 05.13.2011 06:48
• Story ID: 70311
• Location: SALAH AD DIN, IQ