Army Soldiers Victorious At 2021 Wrestling Olympic Trials by Brittany Nelson, U.S. Army Installation Management Command
April 11, 2021
Sgt. Ildar Hafizov and Spc. Alejandro Sancho fought their way to
victory at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials in Fort Worth,
Texas on April 2-3, earning themselves spots on the U.S. Wrestling
Olympic Team, where they will represent the Army at the Summer
Olympic Games this July in Tokyo, Japan.
U.S. Army Sgt. Ildar Hafizov
(top) and Spc.Alejandro Sancho (bottom) earned their spots on the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team in the men’s Greco-Roman 60kg weight class and 67kg weight class, respectively, at the 2021 U.S. Wrestling Olympic Trials on April 2-3 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Image
created by USA Patriotism! from photos by Brittany Nelson,
U.S. Army Installation Management Command.)
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Hafizov and Sancho, members of the U.S. Army’s World Class
Athlete Program (WCAP), are joining six other Soldier-athletes at
the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, now being held in July 2021 due a
delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hafizov grabbed the
Olympic title for the Greco-Roman 60kg weight class and Sancho for
the Greco-Roman 67kg weight class. The strength of the Army was on
display at the nationally broadcasted event as both Soldiers
competed against fellow WCAP opponents in their Championship Series;
Hafizov faced Sgt. Ryan Mango and Sancho went up against Sgt. Ellis
Coleman.
Sancho’s emotional victory marks his first time
making the U.S. Olympic team. He beat Ellis in the
best-of-three-series, 2-0 and 3-1.
“This feels
unbelievable,” Sancho said shortly after his win. “This is such an
amazing feeling and I am so proud to be part of the Army team. WCAP
and the Army have changed my life. I can’t thank them enough for
what they have done for me.”
Sancho noted that mental
preparation is crucial and the Army values helped keep him
disciplined throughout the competition.
“Anything can happen
in this sport,” said Sancho. “I just wanted to keep a good position
throughout the matches and kept my mind on the goal, to win.”
Hafizov fell short at the 2016 trials as the runner-up in the
67kg weight class. He earned a long-awaited victory this time
around, beating Mango 7-0 and 8-0.
“I feel so great,” Hafizov
said after his win. “I have an overall sensation of happiness, I am
so proud of myself. I have been waiting five years for this moment.”
A former Uzbekistan Olympian, Hafizov came to America to chase
his dreams, a goal he was able to achieve through his victory at his
second U.S. Olympic trials appearance.
“Like everyone else, I
wanted a better life for my family. My wife and kids are my
inspiration,” said Hafizov, father of two. “I am so proud to
represent our great country and the Army. The Army gave me the
ticket for a better life.”
Staff Sgt. Spencer Mango, one of
WCAP’s wrestling coaches, spoke of the Army’s large presence at the
trials, with five Soldier-athletes making it to the Championship
Series round.
“We bring quality Soldier-athletes into the
program and our strength shows,” said Mango, 2018 U.S.A. Greco-Roman
Wrestling Coach of the Year and two time Olympic Team Member. “These
guys went through a lot of adversity this year and they have been
working hard. They stayed focus and were able to get the job done.”
Sgt. Jenna Burkert, a competitor in the Women’s Freestyle 57kg
weight class, was among the five Soldier-athletes to make it to the
championship round. Her emotionally-charged and hard fought battle
did not go unnoticed.
“Jenna has had a rough month, her mom
passed away last week,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jermaine Hodge, WCAP’s
women’s wrestling coach. “She is a gamer, she has trained for these
trials and she is giving it her all. All you can do is live for the
moment.”
After Burkert’s debut at the Olympic trials, the
2019 Pan American silver medalist thanked her mom.
“It is an
absolute honor to be her daughter,” the three-time Wrestling World
Team Member said. “At the end of the day I know my mom didn’t care
about the wins or the losses; she wanted me to have fun and do my
best. She meant everything to me and is my champion.”
It’s
safe to say the Army walked away from the trials victorious with two
more Solider-athletes crowned as Olympians to compete in the
upcoming Summer Games.
Hafizov and Sancho bring the total
number of Olympic qualified WCAP Soldier-athletes to eight. The six
other Soldier-Olympians are Staff Sgt. Naomi Graham, boxing; Staff
Sgt. Sandra Uptagrafft, 1st Lt. Amber English, and Staff Sgt.
Nikolaus Mowrer, shooting; and Sgt. Amro Elgeziry and Sgt. Samantha
Schultz, modern pentathlon.
Follow @USArmyWCAP to see the
Olympic journey of these Soldier-athletes and others still competing
for their chance to represent the nation this summer.
The
U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program is part of Family and Morale,
Welfare and reaction and the U.S. Army Installation Management
Command.
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