Marines with 8th Communication Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, have established a grappling team that travels around North Carolina competing in U.S. Grappling sponsored tournaments.

“It keeps the Marines in shape,” said SSgt. Luke Hussey, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge with the team and a communication security manager with 8th Comm. Bn. “The competition helps you build a good bond with the Marines and it helps them further their combative mindset as Marines.”

The vision came from retired Master Sgt. Edward Raimo who trained the coaches to take over the team. With the dedication of Raimo and the coaches, the team made a statement immediately. After their first official tournament in April, the five Marines returned proudly to Camp Lejeune with nine medals: six gold and three silver.

“I couldn’t ask for any better,” said Hussey, a Robbins, North Carolina native. “We went up against formal martial arts academies that have had more time to train than us and like the Marine Corps does, we did more with less.”

Members of the team practice together during their lunch hours if they can, or the coaches will work with them after work hours.

“We are teaching the team basic wrestling and ju-jitsu. We have a certain style we use which is a more combative style,” said Sgt. Kevin S. Pelzel, a coach and field wireman with 8th Comm. Bn., and a Savoy, Texas native. “We don’t do too much sport-type grappling. It’s all about being combative, staying on top and winning.”

There is no rank bias or prerequisites for joining the team; anyone is welcome if they are willing to work hard.

“Everyone comes from different backgrounds; some have high school wrestling backgrounds, some who have trained ju-jitsu prior to joining the team and even some Marines with no experience but a desire to learn,” Hussey said.

The next step for the team is a tournament in Morrisville, N.C. this July.

“We have about three months to prepare, we’re taking a lot of new guys in, so my main mission right now is to give them the fundamentals they need to go to the tournament and compete successfully,” Pelzel said. “I would say we have come a long way. We are making progress.”

Pelzel wants the team to make a lasting impression. As the team continues to train, build and become more successful, they hope to open the team up to Marines outside of the 8th Comm. Unit.