Pilot makes wrestling team, aspires for Olympic gold medal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alex Martinez
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Six minutes. It takes about six minutes to make a pot of coffee or get dressed for the day. However, six minutes for a wrestler is not as relaxed: It's hell.

A wrestling match is six minutes enhanced with the blood, sweat and emotions associated with the yearning of being the winner. Those six minutes can turn an underdog into a champion or a national wrestler into an Olympian.

For one Air Force captain, being an Olympian is his ultimate goal as he travels his road to victory.

Capt. Anthony Brooker, 37th Helicopter Squadron and member of the Air Force Wrestling Team, placed second in his weight class at the 2008 Armed Forces Wrestling Championship Tournament March 15 in New Orleans. Placing in this tournament allows him to participate in the Las Vegas U.S. National Championships April 24 through 26. If he places in the top seven, he earns an invite to the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

Captain Brooker, who wrestles in the 55 kilogram weight class, said he feels great about attending the upcoming National Championships.

"I'm definitely in the best shape of my life right now," Captain Brooker said with confidence.

In the Olympic Trials in June, he has to place in the top three spots in his weight class to represent the U.S. Olympic Team in Beijing this summer.

Captain Brooker earned a chance to wrestle in the 2004 Olympic trials and barely fell short of representing America in Greece.

While in the Air Force, his wrestling track record includes four-time Air Force champion, two-time armed forces medalist and three-time All American Wrestler.

Captain Brooker's dual role of a world-class wrestler and Air Force pilot makes his goal more difficult to reach. Most other wrestlers on this level practice full-time, including those from other military branches. There are even Army special-duty career fields specifically for wrestling, but not in the Air Force. The captain has to return to Warren between tournaments and fly missions.

He said it's difficult to juggle being a wrestler and an Airman.

"The older you get, the harder it is," the captain said. "There's more responsibility, especially when it comes to putting yourself in the right place for promotion."

The ambitious goal of attending the Olympics is within reach for the captain. He's made it this far with hard work and preparation in wrestling.

Captain Brooker has participated in intense workouts to condition his body and improve his wrestling technique. He and the rest of the Air Force Wrestling Team are currently at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., where his days are spent practicing.

The practices are twice daily and include "live wrestling" matches and scenarios, instruction by the coach on new moves and improvements, and supplementary workouts like running and weight lifting two to three times a week after or before practice.

Along with strenuous practices, Captain Brooker follows a strict diet. He has to keep his weight at 55 kilograms or under in order to wrestle in that weight class. So after practicing and diet management, he's ready for a tournament.

Before a match, he warms up with a fast workout similar to what he will endure during a match.

"At this level, you're actually putting yourself in a position where you're breaking a full sweat," he said. "It's like you're actually competing before you compete."

"This level" is wrestling against the highest-ranked wrestlers in the world. Only two wrestling events are between Captain Brooker and the Olympics.

"The Olympics [means] competing at the highest level possible without holding back," Captain Brooker said.

At international competitions, wrestlers may feel like they don't leave everything on the mat, but Captain Brooker said "If I leave everything on the mat, my training will represent itself. Hopefully that will lead to a medal."