Soldier Earns Berth in World Wrestling Championships

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Army News Service | Tim Hipps | June 01, 2006

Sioux City, IA - Five U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program wrestlers reached the finals and one earned a berth in the World Championships during the 2006 World Team Trials for USA Wrestling May 27-28 at the Tyson Events Center.

Staff Sgt. Dremiel Byers of Fort Carson, Colo., won the 264.5-pound Greco-Roman division with a 2-0 victory in his best-of-three championship series against New York Athletic Club’s Russ Davie.

A 2002 world champion and six-time national champ, Byers qualified to represent the Army and compete for Team USA at the World Championships of Wrestling Sept. 26 through Aug. 2 in Guangzhou, China. Byers is scheduled to make his third appearance in the world championships.

“This gives me an opportunity for redemption of my poor performance last year in the world championships,” said Byers, who was eliminated in the second round at Budapest, Hungary. “Everybody’s going to be at the world championships so I expect a great competition. I just want to be on that podium. I want to get our flag raised and our song played. That’s most important right now.”

On Memorial Day eve, Spc. Aaron Sieracki of Fort Carson faced top-seeded Marine Corps Sgt. Jacob Clark of Quantico, Va., for the 185-pound Greco-Roman crown. Clark needed three rounds to defeat Sieracki, who won their first match. Clark saluted the crowd after prevailing 3-2, 1-1 in the deciding bout.

“It’s great for both of us to be able to represent our parts of the service here,” Clark said. “It is Memorial weekend so there’s nothing better than bringing a world team trials spot back to the Marine Corps. It’s not such a big deal for me but I’m happy for the Marines serving overseas. I’m doing my job here and they’re doing theirs over there. I owe it to them.”

Clark also applauded Aaron’s older brother, Army Staff Sgt. Keith Sieracki, for mentoring him through years of military, national and international tournaments.

“Since I came up as a young buck on this scene, he kind of took me under his wing and really pulled me along and helped build my confidence,” Clark said. “They’re family and I respect them more than most anybody else.”

Aaron Sieracki, who returned to the mat after an 18-month hiatus following nine years of Air Force service, upset three-time U.S. world team member and 2004 Olympian Brad Vering of the New York Athletic Club in the semifinals.

“If I’m not better then I’m just as good as before wrestling at this level, maybe even a step up,” Aaron Sieracki said. “The time off really helped me regain my focus.”

Keith Sieracki, a 2001 U.S. World Team member and two-time winner of the U.S. Olympic Trials, lost in the 163-pound Greco semifinals to WCAP teammate Pfc. Brandon McNab. Keith Sieracki took third place with a victory over Army teammate Sgt. Jess Hargrave, who finished fourth.

Top-seeded T.C. Dantzler of the Gator Wrestling Club defeated McNab 2-0 in the finals.

Capt. Phil Johnston, another former Air Force wrestler turned WCAP Soldier, upset top-seeded Adam Wheeler of the Gator Wrestling Club in the finals of the 211.5-pound challenge tournament. In the championship finals, Johnston lost 2-0 to 2005 world bronze medalist Justin Ruiz of the NYAC.

In the 145.5-pound Greco-Roman finals, WCAP Staff Sgt. Marcel Cooper lost 2-0 to Harry Lester of the Gator Wrestling Club. Cooper also posted a rugged 2-0, 1-2, 1-1 victory over All-Army teammate Sgt. Glenn Garrison, who finished third. Sgt. Oscar Wood, a 2004 Olympian, finished fifth in the weight class.

Spc. Jermaine Hodge took third place in the 121-pound Greco-Roman division by injury default against teammate Spc. Josh Habeck. Sgt. Brad Ahearn finished fourth in the Greco-Roman 185-pound weight class after losing to Vering.

A triumphant performance in China would be a steppingstone toward Byers’ ultimate goal of winning an Olympic gold medal for his deceased grandfather, Theodore Byers.

“He passed last year so I really want to get him an Olympic medal,” Dremiel said. “He had Alzheimer’s. He couldn’t remember much but he remembered that he had a grandson in Colorado who was in the Army and he remembered that I got a silver medal at Pan Ams. He was so proud of that and he had always remembered that. He asked about the Olympic medal, but I didn’t get it for him yet, so that’s my goal.”

Byers will have little time to savor this victory. He and teammate McNab are scheduled to compete in the Pan American Championships at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 2 and 3.

“I tried to stay focused on what’s going on here, but I kept thinking about [world champion Mijial] Lopez [of Cuba] and those crunch times and the time it was taking me to get my lock,” Byers said. “I can’t afford to do that with him next week so I’ve just got to mentally prepare and make that happen a lot faster.

“I feel real good, real strong,” Byers said. “My training has been good. I feel my lungs are there and I’m trying to wrestle with more technique.”

College Sports Television plans a two-hour broadcast of the World Team Trials on June 6. Check local listings for times stations.

The U.S. World Team Trials for women are scheduled June 29 and 30 at Colorado Springs Christian School in Colorado Springs. Reigning 158.5-pound freestyle world champion Sgt. Iris Smith and Sgt. Tina George, a two-time world silver medalist at 121 pounds, are expected to compete. Both are Soldiers in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.

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