Air Force wrestling team competes at Las Vegas/ASICS United States National Wrestling Championships

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Robby Hedrick
  • 75 Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAS VEGAS, Nevada --  The Air Force wrestling team competed at the 2009 Las Vegas/ASICS United States National Wrestling Championships April 8 through 11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. 

Thirteen athletes competed for the tournament with two garnishing All-American honors, with one of two, one qualifying for the World Team Trials May 30 and 31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

The competitors went against some of the best wrestlers in the nation in the four day tournament to demonstrate their dominance and proceed to the next level. The skill level ranged from the high school level through former and current Olympians. 

The Air Force had two wrestlers in the Greco-Roman category. At 55kg Airman 1st Class Tyler Moore, 32nd Security Forces Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, placed 8th. In the 84kg class Senior Airman Walter Hoffman, 2 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale, La. took 4th place. 

In the FILA Junior category Airman 1st Class Kevin Justin, 96th Security Forces Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, took 2nd place and qualified for the Junior Worlds at the Olympic Training Center in May. 

"This was one of the most demanding things I have ever been a part of...both physically and mentally," said Justin. "Even though it was tough I can't wait to take on the next challenge." 

The Air Force team also took 2nd place in Division II for the team event.
Although the wrestlers were excited, no one was more excited than Air Force wrestling coach, Rich Estrella. 

"I'm just so thrilled for these guys," said Coach Estrella. "They put their heart and soul into the limited training time we had and it showed today; not every match was won with skill but a great amount of heart."