Little Rock NCOs take it to the mat Published April 22, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The wrestler grappled with his opponent, determined to gain the advantage. After shifting into a head and shoulder lead, the wrestler executed a takedown move and won the match. Ever since the sport of wrestling was introduced in Arkansas high schools five years ago, two Little Rock NCOs have dedicated themselves to mentoring the young athletes of Beebe High School's wrestling team and transforming the young men into a winning team. Tech. Sgt. Michael Heister, a 19th Equipment Maintenance Squadron training section chief, and Staff Sgt. Anthony Robertson, a 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electronic warfare craftsman, recently guided the Beebe Badgers to the state championships and won. And they did it by volunteering. Sergeant Robertson started coaching for the team five years ago. "I read an article [and found out] they were going to start a wrestling program in this state," said Sergeant Robertson. The article listed several schools starting a wrestling program for the 2006-2007 school year and invited residents with wrestling experience to help out. "I lived in Beebe, so I contacted the coach, told him I wrestled in high school and asked if he wanted any help," Sergeant Robertson said. About a month later, Sergeant Heister heard about the start of the program and decided to lend his nine years of experience to the fledgling team. "I'm passionate about the sport, so as soon as I heard that they were starting a program, I wanted to get involved," he said. The two maintenance NCOs had humble goals for the team as they started out. "In our first year, we were focused on introducing the sport," said Sergeant Robertson. "Arkansas wasn't a sanctioned state [for wrestling], so even if you won state, it didn't count. You had to go through the probationary period. "In our third year of coaching, it was an actual sport sanctioned by [Arkansas Activities Association] and Josh Freeman, our 103-pounder, won the state championship for his weight class that year [2008-2009]," Sergeant Robertson said. There are a total of 14 weight classes. The team garnered two more state champs in other weight classes that same year. One of them, Sammy Williams who wrestled in the 171-pound weight class, was voted by the coaches as "outstanding wrestler." "Being nominated as 'outstanding wrestler' is recognition of a player's discipline, courtesy, respect and proper sportsmanship," said Sergeant Heister. The team's winning streak continued under the guidance of the two Airmen. "During our first year, we had only one medal winner, but the next year we had six," Sergeant Heister said. The team won 10 medals for the 2009-2010 school year and followed that up with 12 medals for the 2010-2011 year. Medals are given to the top six state winners. For Sergeants Robertson and Heister, this kind of volunteerism is fulfilling, thanks to their passion for the sport. "We definitely have an emotional vested interest in these kids," said Sergeant Robertson. "We watched them grow from young kids with an attitude to young men getting ready to leave school. It's really gratifying." Sergeant Heister agrees with his fellow coach's sentiments. "I've seen the maturity levels grow from a freshman to now a senior," he said. "They're teaching themselves how to be wrestlers, and it's getting to a point now where we step in and fill in the gaps and we polish." Both Airmen understand the image they project when interacting with the local community. "[The wrestlers] see us and the way we present ourselves and ask us what we do [in the Air Force] and what it's like being in the Air Force," said Sergeant Robertson. A few of the team members have expressed an interest in joining the military, he added. Part of the professional image the two NCOs project is being good role models for the young students preparing to enter the real world. "One of our wrestlers asked me for a character reference, and I thought it was really cool that he would take my opinion of him so highly," said Sergeant Heister. David Payne, Beebe High School Badgers head coach, appreciates everything the two Airmen have done for the team. "Mike and Anthony had been volunteering since the birth of the program, and I am glad they have chosen to stay," Coach Payne said. "It takes a special kind of person to spend the amount of time they do without pay. When we go to tournaments, which usually take an entire weekend, they are always there. "It's just pure love for the sport and for the kids," he added.