Participants in this year’s Ohio Army National Guard Combatives Tournament got a special visit from the founder of the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP).
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter welcomed over 65 competitors this year’s tournament, conducted Sept 14 at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory, home to Joint Force Headquarters-Ohio. It was an exciting opportunity for Ohio’s fighters to display their fighting prowess for the Soldier who developed the program years ago.
“I love to see the competition,” Ferriter said. “I love to see the technique and athleticism and especially the determination of these young men and women.”
Since its inception, the program has remained an important part of the U.S. Army warfighting doctrine and has been embraced with enthusiasm by the Ohio Army National Guard.
“Last year I got silver in the lightweight category,” said Cadet Samantha Hawkins, who is attached to Company C, 837th Engineer Battalion in Columbus. “This year I lost my first bout by points, won my second by submission and lost my third again by points. But I did not tap out.”
The competition was held in six weight classes and was conducted in a double-elimination format. There were many returning fighters, as well as some first-time competitors. The Ohio Army National Guard maintains an active MACP and the tournament was officiated by the state’s cadre of certified MACP trainers and master trainers.
As the tournament is limited to currently serving Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, Ferriter was not eligible to compete. But that did not stop him from getting on the warm-up mats and rolling with several of the competitors, providing some tips before their bouts.
“I’m really proud to be here today,” he said. “I’m really proud of the Ohio National Guard and its very organized program of training, culminating in a very well-organized tournament.”
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2019 OHIO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD COMBATIVES TOURNAMENT RESULTS (Sept. 14, 2019, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory, Columbus, Ohio)
Lightweight division (males 140 lbs. and under; females 150 lbs. and under):
Gold
Rank/Name: Sgt. Martin Cruz
Unit: Company B, 837th Engineer Battalion, St. Marys
Hometown: Cleveland
Silver
Rank/Name: Spc. Michael Nemeth
Unit: 324th Military Police Company, Middletown
Hometown: Lebanon
Bronze
Rank/Name: Capt. Courtney Sheehy
Unit: Headquarters, 73rd Troop Command, Columbus
Hometown: Painesville
Welterweight division (males 141-155 lbs.; females 151-166 lbs.):
Gold
Rank/Name: Spc. Anthony Skulina*
Unit: 296th Engineer Detachment, Mansfield
Hometown: Streetsboro
Silver
Rank/Name: 1st Lt. Isaac Bray
Unit: Company E, 237th Support Battalion, Springfield
Hometown: Wilmington
Bronze
Rank/Name: Cpl. Raymond Ewert
Unit: Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Columbus
Hometown: Olmstead Falls
Middleweight division: (males 156-170 lbs.; females 167-182 lbs.):
Gold
Rank/Name: Capt. Jonas Bray
Unit: Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, Columbus
Hometown: Wilmington
Silver
Rank/Name: Staff Sgt. Christopher Kervick
Unit: 180th Fighter Wing, Swanton
Hometown: Columbus
Bronze
Rank/Name: Spc. Richard Palmer
Unit: Company A, 237th Support Battalion, Cleveland
Hometown: Warren
Cruiserweight division: (171-185 lbs.; females 183-198 lbs.):
Gold
Rank/Name: Spc. Grant Blumenthal
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, Walbridge
Hometown: Twinsburg
Silver
Rank/Name: Spc. Jeremiah Slagle
Unit: 324th Military Police Company, Middletown
Hometown: Sidney
Bronze
Rank/Name: Sgt. Robert Eleyet
Unit: Company B, 837th Engineer Battalion, St. Marys
Hometown: Bellefontaine
Light heavyweight division: (186-205 lbs.; females 199-219 lbs.):
Gold
Rank/Name: Spc. Nickolai Timbs
Unit: 211th Maintenance Company, Newark
Hometown: West Salem
Silver
Rank/Name: Sgt. Mitchell Peck
Unit: Battery A, 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment, Delaware
Hometown: Delaware
Bronze
Rank/Name: Spc. Mark Poupard
Unit: 811th Engineer Company, Amanda
Hometown: Toledo
Heavyweight division: (206 lbs. and up; females 220 lbs. and up):
Gold
Rank/Name: Spc. Sean Dinan
Unit: 838th Military Police Company, Youngstown
Hometown: Wellsville
Silver
Rank/Name: Spc. Brandon Long
Unit: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 155th Chemical Battalion, Kettering
Hometown: St. Paris
Bronze
Rank/Name: Cpl. Dylan Williams
Unit: Troop A, 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment
Hometown: Brookville
(*Denotes repeat champion)