Ohio National Guard News

Annual OHARNG combatives competition exhibits warrior spirit

Story, video and photos by Staff Sgt. George B. Davis, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Six Soldiers won championship belts in the 2018 Ohio Army National Guard Combatives Tournament Aug. 19, 2018, at the Maj. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Pictured are (from left): 2nd. Lt. Valerie Stearns, 812th Engineer Company, lightweight champion; Spc. Anthony Skulina, 296th Engineer Detachment, welterweight champion; Cpl. Ray Fisher, 811th Engineer Company, middleweight champion; Spc. Thomas Lawson, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Armored Regiment, cruiserweight champion; Spc. Mitchell Peck, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Battalion, light heavyweight champion; Spc. Derrick Yant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, heavyweight champion. | SEE ALL RESULTS

Participants and referees gather for a photo following the 2018 Ohio Army National Guard Combatives Tournament Aug. 19, 2018, at the Maj. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Nearly 50 Soldiers from units across the state battled for championship belts in six weight classes, using skills and hand-to-hand combat techniques learned through the Modern Army Combatives Program.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (08/19/18) — Nearly 50 Soldiers from Ohio Army National Guard units across the state battled to be the best during the 2018 Ohio Army National Guard Combatives Tournament Aug. 19 at the Maj. Robert S. Beightler Armory.

The tournament called on Soldiers’ skills and hand-to-hand combat techniques learned through the Modern Army Combatives Program, a core Soldier competency in which all Soldiers have some training. This year’s tournament featured a variety of skill levels among its participants. While many returning participants are experienced students of wrestling or martial arts, the majority of this year’s competitors were first-time participants looking for experience.

“A lot of people think you need the experience of a level one basic course just to come here but they don’t. They just need some basic skill and some fight in them to compete,” said Staff Sgt. Roger M. Richie, training noncommissioned officer with the 323rd Military Police Company, based in Toledo, Ohio, who finished third in the cruiserweight division.

Male and female competitors were divided into six weight divisions, and fought six-minute preliminary rounds in a double-elimination format.

“The first time I came to the combatives tournament, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew three solid moves, that’s all I had to go on,” said 2nd Lt. Valerie Sterns, a platoon leader with the 812th Engineer Company, based in Lorain, Ohio, who won this year’s lightweight division championship. “I came in with a positive attitude and once I got here I realized that a lot of the other competitors were in the same boat as me.”

The semifinal rounds were 10 minutes and were conducted with intermediate combatives rules, which incorporates body strikes to include punches, kicks and open hands to the face.

“The semifinal rounds are a lot more technical fighting,” said Capt. Carl Roberts, the event officer in charge. “It (was) a really good competition this year and there (were) some dynamic fights.”

Added Ritchie: “It’s almost like a practical exercise where you figure out what moves do and don’t work against certain fighting styles. The experience makes you take it seriously and makes you want to train even harder.”

For more information, on the Ohio Army National Guard Modern Army Combatives Program and annual combatives tournament, visit the GKO website. (Military CAC access and Guard Knowledge Online account required)

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