NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion wrestling team welcomed Brigadier General Austin Renforth to the Monarch wrestling room on Thursday afternoon. Brig. Gen. Austin Renforth is currently the commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Region. Brig. Gen. Renforth gave insight to the student-athletes on all the similarities both the Marine Corps and wrestling have together.
“All the values I needed in life were found in wrestling.”
Brig. Gen. Austin Renforth served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Provide Promise, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Brig. Gen. Austin Renforth provided his service on multiple levels in the Marines, including commanding the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The ethos of the Marine Corps is honor, courage, and commitment. Similarly, wrestling requires all of those characteristics to be a successful athlete on the highest level.