Four Hill Airmen selected to attend 2009 Air Force Wrestling training camp

  • Published
  • By Rich Essary
  • 75 Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Four Airmen at Hill Air Force Base were recently called upon to fight a different kind of fight, taking the meaning of "Warrior Airman" to a whole new level.

Senior Airman Jake Asher, 388th Fighter Wing; Airman Chris Bloom, 388th FW; Airman 1st Class Enrique Gaitan, 388th FW; and Airman 1st Class Robby Hedrick, 75th Air Base Wing, were selected this month to attend the 2009 All Air Force Wrestling Trial and Training Camp from Feb. 13 through Apr. 11 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The four were handpicked from more than 200 Airmen who initially responded to the Air Force Sports Program selection announcement calling applicants for the All Air Force Wrestling Team, and are now amongst 29 people Air Force-wide invited to the training camp that gives them a shot at representing their service.

The AFSP is designed to allow Air Force members an opportunity to participate in armed forces, national and international sports events. Athletes selected for training are invited to attend trial camps and other Air Force championship events throughout the year.

Hedrick, 27, a native of Duncan, Okla., who wrestled in high school and grappled in college, said he's grateful for the chance to possibly represent the Air Force as a competitive wrestler.

"This is an awesome experience that few people have the opportunity to do," Hedrick said. "With the elite caliber of coaches and participants, it is truly a privilege to represent Hill Air Force Base, and possibly a chance to represent the Air Force."

Gaitan, 28, agreed. Originally from Oak Park, Ill., who also wrestled in high school and college.

"It's a great opportunity for me and the other guys to represent Hill Air Force Base at a competitive level," Gaitan said. "I'm excited to wrestle once again, and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Coach Rich Estrella, a 22-year veteran coach of Air Force wrestling and member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team coaching staff, will train the athletes 10 to 12 hours a day, six to seven days a week for more than a month.

He said the training will include an extraordinary amount of running, weightlifting, wrestling drills, and team building activities.

"The structure of the camp is very rigid," Estrella said. "The key is routine, routine, routine. I want the athletes to not just learn how to wrestle, but wrestle to win."

The athletes attending the camp will compete for 14 spots on the All Air Force Wrestling Team during a wrestle-off March 7 and 8. Seven athletes will be picked to wrestle Greco-Roman and seven will be chosen to wrestle Freestyle - both of which are internationally recognized wrestling styles.

All four Hill AFB athletes said they believe the training will be an intense and demanding experience.

Asher, 22, said he looks forward to the training and mat time he'll get during the camp. The St. Helens, Ore., native said he believes "the knowledge gained from Coach Estrella will be extremely productive."

Bloom, 22, said he started wrestling in the eighth grade and vows that he "will not fail." He said he wants to make his hometown of Clearfield, Pa., proud.

According to Estrella, the unique thing about this year's athletes is that "almost all of them are rookies." He said it doesn't mean they haven't wrestled before, but that they have to learn how to wrestle competitively at a higher level.

"Everyone wants to make the team and compete," Hedrick said. "But with that caliber of coaches and competitors, we will have no choice but to improve our skills exponentially in an attempt to represent ourselves as well as Hill."

Hedrick said the camp will be an "awesome experience few people will ever have the chance to do."

The 14 athletes chosen for the All Air Force Wrestling Team will participate in the 2009 Armed Forces Championship at Mountain Home AFB March 12-16 followed by the 2009 USA Wrestling National Championships April 7-11 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Estrella said he has a few goals in mind this year. In addition to identifying people for the future of the Air Force's wrestling program, he wants the Air Force to win the Armed Forces Championship.

"This is an opportunity for these athletes to represent their service, their commands and their units," Estrella said. "I really appreciate all that the commanders and units do to make this happen."