Post-Collegiate Life for Wrestlers in Service Academies

Ben Pasiuk photo courtesy of Tony DiMarco

Several student-athletes across the country will end their wrestling careers after the 2023-2024 season to serve their country. Wrestlers go into college focusing on obtaining their degrees and establishing successful wrestling careers, but these wrestlers in particular are going after those accolades while preparing for their future careers in the United States Military. Wrestling and the military have had an excellent relationship. In fact, Military servicemen and servicewomen hand our wrestlers stop signs after winning Senior Nationals, US Open, and Fargo while sponsoring these tournaments. Soldier Salute and Armed Forces Wrestling Championship are also examples of how wrestling and the military support one another. The two acts joining forces are showing appreciation for our men and women serving our country and representing our country as USA athletes. Beyond the mat and spectacle, many wrestlers will grapple with public service and military service displaying true courage and dedication in the face of daunting challenges. This article aims to highlight our senior student-athletes who will serve off the mat, embodying the essence of heroism in the real world upon a 2024 graduation. 

Virginia Military Institute Seniors:

David Diaz: Plans to use his Chemistry Degree in the civilian sector or pursue graduate school.

Brian Jackson: “Following graduation, I will be commissioned into the US Army as an officer.” He plans to pursue law school and eventually become a Judge Advocate Officer.

Reid Hampton: Following graduation will be commissioned into the US Navy. He will be working in the Surface Warfare Community pursuing his interest in ship weapon systems. After his service, he plans to use his degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

Fred Junko: Will graduate with a Civil Engineering Degree. He plans to enter the civilization workforce using his degree. Hopes to stay involved in the sport of wrestling as a coach.

Ethan Barrett: Will graduate with a Mechanical Engineering Degree. Plans to attend graduate school to study in the aerospace sector.

Noah Roulo: Plans to attend graduate school and possibly continue to wrestle.

Isaac Dolph: Has secured a position with BWX Technologies working in their Nuclear Operations Security Group.

Josh Yost: Will graduate with a business and economics degree - plans on having a position in construction management. 

Travis Fridley: Will graduate with a degree in Psychology. Plans to enter the Virginia State Police.

Tyler Mousaw: Plans to graduate with a Business and Economics degree, and pursue a position using his degree.

The Citadel Seniors: 

Ben Stemmet: “I will be working at an investment bank. I have already received an offer and signed the contract with Guggenheim Partners in Atlanta. I will be working for the Technology Mergers and Acquisitions group.” 

Joe Clement: “My plans after graduation will be to first commission into the Army as a second lieutenant and then get a job in New York doing medical sales while serving in the Army Reserve.”

Ryan Duffelmeyer: “I am graduating with a civil engineering degree. After graduating I will be commissioned into the Army where I will serve for a minimum of 8 years. I want to branch infantry and serve as an infantry officer. Eventually, I plan on getting involved with anti-sex trafficking operations in my career outside of the Army.”

Tucker Allen: “My plans after this year are to get my Masters in Finance or possibly something else along those lines and wrestle for my fifth year. Either here at The Citadel or anywhere else if opportunities present themselves. After that, I plan to pursue Law School and if possible use my last year of eligibility in my first year at law school. I am going to get my masters just to have and also be able to wrestle one more year. As well as use that time to finish preparing and take the LSAT exam.”

Josh Stillings: Find a job in the finance sector in and around the Philadelphia area, specifically as a financial advisor, or as an accountant. “I will also continue to coach wrestling at the same club I grew up in called SEPA Wrestling where we coach kids K-12.”

West Point Seniors:

Logan Brown CDT: “My post-graduation plans are to be an Athletic Intern for a West Point Athletics Program for the first 6 months after graduation ending in December of 2024. Then in January of 2025, I will go to BOLC where I learn the job to specifically be a Field Artillery officer in Lawton, OK. After BOLC, I hope to stay in Lawton, OK for the rest of my 5 years or go where the Army needs me if I cannot. Non-militarily, I will be getting married in June 2024. As for wrestling, I don’t plan to compete after this year, but hopefully, if the opportunity arises I will get to coach my kids one day or help out a local wrestling club just to stay active in the sport!”

Dominic Carone CDT: “I plan to branch Field Artillery or Engineers. I would like to be a paratrooper and post with the 82nd Airborne Division in North Carolina. As of now, I plan on staying in the Army for 5-8 years but we will see how everything plays out down the road.”

Tanner Craig CDT: “After graduation, I am going to be an athletic intern for the wrestling team for six months. I branched signal with detail in the infantry. So for the first three years, I will be infantry. After being an AI I will go to IBLOC then to ranger school and airborne school.”

Daniel Lawrence CDT: “Upon graduating I’ll be an Engineer Officer and hope to become a Dive Officer. I also have personal goals of going to Ranger school and SAPPER school while in the Army. Currently, I’m not sure how long I plan to stay in the Army after my commitment is up. I do, however, hope to go to graduate school to earn a degree in an engineering field. Currently, I do not plan to wrestle competitively after graduating from West Point.” 

Nathan Lukez CDT: “After graduation, I do not plan to compete anymore. As for my military career, it’s currently up in the air. Assuming my cross-commission gets approved, I will be commissioned as a 2LT into the United States Marine Corps. I have always wanted to serve as a Marine. My father and two uncles were Marines, and I would like to carry on the family lineage of service in the Corps. If afforded the privilege to cross-commission, I am hoping to fly for the Marine Corps, ideally jets. I have always had an interest in aviation since I was a boy. If this process works out, I will attend The Basic School in Quantico, VA, and then report to Pensacola for primary flight training. Marines who I have spoken to have said they coached their sport in their free time at local high schools. I would like to do the same and get into coaching while I have the free time available.”

Tyler Morris CDT: “My plans post-graduation are to branch infantry, and in the upcoming month we will all find out where we will be posting to (which base we will start at). All of us will get a month or two off after graduation. I plan on sticking around West Point to help out with the Summer Camps and give back to the West Point community. After that, I will be going to the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) for my selected branch, IBOLC. After that, I plan on going to Airborne and Ranger School.”

Benjamin Pasiuk CDT: “After I graduate from West Point, I plan to branch Field Artillery and if given the opportunity AI at West Point for the first six months, which is where I would be an additional instructor for the wrestling team.” 

Matthew Williams CDT: “I chose to go into the infantry, so after graduation, I will attend IBOLC (Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course) and go into my unit after that. I might go into BJJ, but other than that I am not planning on continuing my wrestling career.” 

Thomas Deck, Mark Montgomery, Julian Sanchez, and Dillon Sheehy are also a part of the West Point graduating class of 2024 but were not available to comment. 

Navy Seniors: 

Grant Treaster: Navy Pilot

Chase Caprella: Naval Officer

Tyler Hunt: Marine Air

Luke Lucerne: Marine Ground

Christian Hodges: Naval Officer

Ben Bancroft: Navy Pilot

Andrew Cerniglia: Marine Ground

Zander Manuel: Marine Ground

David Key: Marine Air

Grady Griess: Navy Pilot

Christian Bryant: Submarine Warfare

Zane Chapman: Marine Ground

Rudy Rodriguez: Submarine Warfare

Air Force Seniors:

Noah Blake: Contracting

Wyatt Hendrickson: Air Force Acquisitions 

Garrett Henigin: Pilot

Garrett Kuchan: Medical School at Virginia Tech 

Crew Squires (mgr): Space Force Acquisitions 

Giano Petrucelli: Space Force Acquisitions

Cal Sund: Air Battle Manager

Sam Wolf: Pilot

Jeremiah Cronk (mgr): Intelligence