SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --
What does Greece, Rome and nearly every high school
across America have in common? Wrestling!
Staff Sgt. Robert Karasiewicz and Tech. Sgt. Jacob
Christensen, 372nd Training Squadron Detachment 1 mission ready
Airmen instructors, reached out to Team Seymour, to find others who shared
their love for wrestling, and thus began the SJ Wrestling Club.
This club, like many others, has its roots in the Make
It Better initiative, which kicked off in November 2014.
“This club started a little differently than most,”
Karasiewicz said. “Last year, Christensen and I decided we wanted to try
[competing in] a tournament, so we started practicing. We didn’t really have
intentions at first for this to become a club, but Col. [Mark Slocum, 4th
Fighter Wing commander] came through when we were practicing and encouraged us
to reach out to the base. We went to the first club day, where about eight
people signed up.”
Aside from the enjoyment participants’ experience,
Christensen stated the club is a great way for Airmen to work together to reach
common goals.
“We get to train together every week,” Christensen
said. “There is a lot of technique involved, and every wrestling style requires
something different. To succeed, you have to have strength, flexibility and
mental fortitude. You can’t give up. That’s how it is in the Air Force too.
I’ve seen people get back on track physically through club participation, but
I’ve seen people improve as Airmen too.”
Today, the club has about 10 members. Christensen
stated the rigors of training haven’t been the only struggles the club has
faced. Membership has been in a constant state of flux due to changes in work
schedules, deployments and family life. This hasn’t discouraged the club
mentors though, who continue to share their 30 years of combined experience
with the club.
“We have some really good Airmen in this club,”
Karasiewicz said. “We’ve had some of our guys help out high school and youth
programs around Goldsboro. This has been really rewarding and challenging so
far, and I look forward to having more involvement with the base and
community.”
The culmination of their training will come to a head
this weekend, at the Brawl at the Beach wrestling tournament in Leland, North
Carolina. A handful of members plan to attend the state’s only outdoor
freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling event this year.
The club’s ambition exceeds established tournaments,
they hope to start some events of their own as well.
“We are currently working toward having a practice and
dual meet with clubs from East Carolina University, Camp Lejeune and other
nearby wrestling communities,” Karasiewicz said. “We’re really hoping we can
get some more participation so we can make this happen.”
The SJ Wrestling Club meets every Monday and Wednesday
at 4 p.m. at the Eagle’s Landing ballroom.
For more information, check out the club page on the
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base official website, or the club’s Facebook page.