FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
They file into the open gym, three fighting mats set up around the room with judges tables near each. They begin to stretch, don the proper gear, listen to the rules and mentally prepare themselves for what is to come. The annual competition to show the warrior spirit in each one of them is about to begin.
The 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade hosted the annual Fort Eustis Combatives Tournament at the McLellan Fitness Center, May 12.
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Department of Defense civilians registered for the competition the day before at the Fort Eustis Combatives Academy. After filling out their registration paperwork, they were weighed, placed into one of seven weight categories and assessed by a Special Troops Battalion, 7th Sus. Bde. medic to ensure they were in proper health for the competition. Forty-three competitors signed up in all.
"This is going to be a great competition," said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Luis Romero, the Fort Eustis Combatives Academy head instructor. "We have a lot of great competitors which means there will be a good amount of competition in each weight class. This serves as a good chance for the Soldiers here at the Combatives Academy to apply what they have learned and test their skills against other fighters in their weight class."
Before the competition began, the fighters were shown the various holds and chokes that would earn them points in their matches. Each competitor in the bantamweight, welterweight, cruiserweight, lightweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight categories had to lose two matches to be out of the tournament. As each fighter progressed in the brackets, the rules got harder.
"In the first few rounds the fighters will only be allowed to do take-downs, chokes and arm or leg bars to cause their opponents to tap out or to gain enough points to win the match," said Romero. "In the finals, kicks, close body punches and open-palm slaps to the head and face will be allowed and counted for points."
Fights lasted anywhere from one minute to three six-minute rounds, depending on how quickly one fighter could submit the other. In the early rounds, all but 21 competitors were eliminated.
"I really didn't come out to the competition to win. I just wanted the chance to match myself against some of the other fighters and see where I stood," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Payne, a 7th Sus. Bde. medic, who did not make it to the finals. "The competition here was excellent, and the fighters I went up against were very talented. I had a great time."
After the preliminary rounds, the fighters had a 30-minute break to rest and prepare themselves for the finals. Three competitors from each weight class would endure harder conditions and contend with the new striking rules in order to have a chance to earn their gold medals. Fighting attitudes in the room began to change as some tried to fight fast and fierce to beat their competition quickly, while others showed a more hesitant approach to conserve energy and avoid mistakes.
"One of the rules we have in this competition is the fighters must actively engage at all times," said Romero. "If we see them just standing off or not fighting so they can conserve energy, we stop the fight, and they can even lose points."
At the end of the competition, each fighter was awarded their respective medals and many of them even chatted with each other after the fights.
The winners of each category and their brigades were:
Bantamweight: Spc. Heather Gonzalez, 7th Sus. Bde.;
Lightweight: Sgt. Bryce Lewis, 7th Sus. Bde.;
Welterweight: Spc. Dontay Rushing, 7th Sus. Bde.;
Middleweight: Staff Sgt. William Harper, 1-222nd Aviation Brigade;
Cruiserweight: Cpl. Johnny Ulrich, 7th Sus. Bde.;
Light heavyweight: Spc. Moosa Limon, 7th Sus. Bde.;
Heavyweight: Sgt. Lizandro Gonzalez, 7th Sus. Bde.
"This was a very successful event and I think everyone had a great time," said Capt. Elsa Karmen, the 73rd Transportation Company, 10th Trans. Bn., 7th Sus. Bde., commander, and competition officer-in-charge. "No one got hurt, everyone came out and gave their all, and I think everyone involved today will make an effort to do this again next year."