Falcon Wrestling Visits Moffett Field
1/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – Falcon wrestling was honored to spend time with the great pilots of the 9th Operations Group, out of Beale AFB, at Moffett Field, while in California for a pair of duals against Stanford and Cal Poly. Colonel A.J. Werner, 9th Operations Group Commander and class of 1993 wrestling alumni, introduced the Falcons to the T-38 aircraft.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for our cadet athletes to meet some of the men that have taken the path through the U.S. Air Force Academy,” said head wrestling coach Sam Barber. “The men of the 9th Operations Group shared valuable perspective and I think these visits have a lasting impact on our athletes.”
Lt. Col. Mike "Hap" Gilmore, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron Commander and Air Force wrestling alumni, answers questions about the T38
Falcon wrestling alumni and 99th Reconnaissance Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Mike “Hap” Gilmore (2000), brought along two pilots from the 99th, Captains Art “Mega” Bull and Taylor “YOMO” Griffin, to show the aircraft and speak with the wrestlers about their experiences as operational Airmen.
“These kinds of visits are great, they motivated me to compete much harder when I was a cadet,” said Captain Bull, a pilot with the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron. “The athletes are the guys we can really identify with, especially wrestlers and other combative athletes; the warrior mentality they take to the mat is the same mentality we take to the sky.”
Col. A.J. Werner, 9th Operations Group Commander and Air Force wrestling alumni, explains the T38 control panel to C2C Zen Ikehara
“If we can sway some wrestlers, even if it’s just a few guys, to come fly long term,” continued Bull, “there is no doubt that the bar of excellence will continue to climb higher.”
The Falcons take on Cal Poly, Sunday, Jan. 22, in San Luis Obispo, Calif., at 12:00 p.m. PT. Live tracking for the dual can be accessed by going to goairforcefalcons.com and clicking the live tracking link in the schedule dropdown.
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