FORT BENNING, Ga. - In the opening finals match of the first National Guard combatives tournament, one Soldier made history.
Staff Sgt. Wendy Johnson of the Illinois Army National Guard became the first female to ever participate in an Army combatives final Aug. 17 here at the Briant Wells Fieldhouse.
"I try not to think about the fact that I was the first female, because I believe a Soldier is a Soldier, but I knew I needed to hold my ground and show that women can give all they have just as a man can," said Johnson, a flyweight, who placed second after losing to fellow Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Sgt. Joshua Crawford.
Fifty-three participants from Army National Guard units in 12 states participated in the two-day competition hosted by the Warrior Training Center.
Capt. Andrew Heyman, the tournament director, said the event was a step toward teaching more advanced combatives skills to National Guard Soldiers and encouraging more Guard units to incorporate combatives into their overall training.
"Combatives training is essential to being a complete Soldier," Heyman said. "All Soldiers must know how to go downrange and engage with the enemy if it's necessary."
The early rounds of the competition were conducted under the standard combatives rules, while the semifinals followed the intermediate limited strike rules.
The finals were conducted under advanced combatives rules, which allowed closed fist strikes, kicks, throws, ground strikes and submissions.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Hannan, a lightweight who won his finals match by submission, said the camaraderie between the Guard units is as important as the competition.
"We all flew out here together, and we wanted to show what we can do as a team," Hannan said. "All of the Guard units are passing along their knowledge and everyone is open to learning new techniques whether they're experienced or inexperienced fighters."
Here is how the competitors finished:
Flyweight
- 1st Place - Sgt. Joshua Crawford, Illinois Army National Guard
- 2nd Place - Staff Sgt. Wendy Johnson, Illinois Army National Guard
Lightweight
- 1st Place - Sgt. 1st Class Michael Hannan, Oklahoma Army National Guard
- 2nd Place - 2nd Lt. Thomas Robideau, Illinois Army National Guard
Middleweight
- 1st Place -1st Lt. Adam Moralez, New Mexico Army National Guard
- 2nd Place - Spc. Matthew Campbell, Alaska Army National Guard
Welterweight
- 1st Place - Spc. Adam Therriault, Illinois Army National Guard
- 2nd Place - Capt. Justin Towell, Illinois Army National Guard
Cruiserweight
- 1st Place - Sgt. David Stefl, Arizona Army National Guard
- 2nd Place - Spc. Eric Huntley, Illinois Army National Guard
Light Heavyweight
- 1st Place - Staff Sgt. Tony Genovese, Illinois Army National Guard
- 2nd Place - Sgt. Jeremy Stimac, Illinois Army National Guard
Heavyweight
- 1st Place - Sgt. Jesse Curry, Minnesota Army National Guard
- 2nd Place - Staff Sgt. Brian Friedrichs, Minnesota Army National Guard