FEATURE: Major Jay Antonelli and the U.S. Marines instruct Iraqi youth about wrestling
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Major Jay Antonelli served a number of years as the head coach of the U.S. Marines Corps wrestling team, and has coached numerous U.S. teams in competition worldwide in Greco-Roman wrestling.
His most recent assignment for the Marines has been to serve as the Media Chief for Multinational Forces in Iraq, working on a daily basis coordinating press coverage with international journalists and the U.S. Marines there.
However, Antonelli had an opportunity to provide some tremendous goodwill with the Iraqi people as well as share his passion and expertise in wrestling.
On Dec. 22, a group of 24 young wrestlers from all over Iraq traveled to the International Zone in Baghdad to receive first-hand instruction from Antonelli. The Iraqi Reconstruction Management Office and service members invited the Kademeya Wrestling Club to attend a two-hour clinic. The club actually brought a mat with them to them to this restricted area where U.S. troops are headquartered.
“It took a lot of security to get them into the fortified Green Zone,” said Antonelli. “Seeing the smiles on those kids faces made it all worth it.”
The clinic started off with warm-up drills, which were followed by one-on-one training where wrestlers partnered up to test out their new moves.
“Wrestling is in my blood and I was itching to get on the mat,” said Antonelli. “I wanted to become involved because sports transcend all politics. This was a big step for this program and I think all of the kids appreciated what we did.”
Antonelli noted that the wrestlers were among the best Junior-level athletes in the nation, and that their skill levels were impressive.
“The instruction we received was very thorough and informative,” said one of the young Iraqi wrestlers. “I learned many new moves to use from now on. All of the wrestlers benefited from this experience.”
Coaching the Iraq club wrestlers was Abdul, one of the top coaches in the nation.
“We’re very confident after having someone like Jay Antonelli help train my boys,” said Abdul. “Only champions know the things he taught us. As a coach, I’m very happy to now have strong relations between the American and Iraqi people.”
For the clinic participants, this was the first time they had received instruction from an American wrestling coach.
“We’ve been separated for a very long time from the rest of the world, so we need to work very hard,” said Abdul. “This has been a great opportunity for all of us.”
In addition to sharing wrestling information, Antonelli was excited about the way that this kind of exchange will strengthen the bond between to people of the two nations.
“Maybe these wrestlers go home and tell their parents about their experiences with a U.S. Marine,” said Antonelli. “It makes all the difference in the world.”
Although Antonelli is a Greco-Roman specialist, he taught both freestyle and Greco-Roman techniques to the young wrestlers. He was very pleased with the results of the clinic.
“Wrestling and the military go hand in hand,” said Antonelli. “You have a job to do and always stick to it whatever the grind entails. No matter what disappointments or setbacks you experience, you keep your head down and achieve the mission. I feel honored to have been a part of this and added something that’ll help the Iraqi people. I’m very proud to have been able to do that.”
There has been a history of cooperation between the United States and Iraq in wrestling. In 2004, four Greco-Roman wrestlers and two coaches came to America for joint training with Team USA at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Two of the Iraqi wrestlers competed in the Titan Games. Antonelli’s clinic is another step forward in the friendship between the two nations.
Antonelli has also learned a tremendous amount and experienced personal growth with his military duties in Iraq.
“It has been an awesome experience,” said Antonelli. “I learned a lot about the resolve of the Iraq people. It is a shame that a small group is trying to get democracy out of Iraq. A majority of the people want to move forward with a better life.”
– Written with information and quotes provided by Sergeant Clinton Firstbrook.
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