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The OVAC wrestling tournament means many things to many individuals who have competed on the mats over the past 55 years, but one of those wrestling standouts will not be joining the 25 year past champions and for good reason.
Fritz Braunlich, the 1983 OVAC champion at 185-pounds, has been fighting in a different spectrum than on a wrestling mat – Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Wheeling Central graduate has been using his medical skills abroad in the armed forces since 2003 as an orthopedic surgeon.
“Flights come in every day with wounded soldiers that are amputated or have multiple broken limbs,” Braunlich said in a telephone conversation from his residence at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Braunlich’s work, along with many other military surgeons, is being compiled as data in a study to see to whether or not they can return wounded soldiers as functional people in society after serving in the military conflict in the Iraq and Afghanistan.
“It is sad to see these young American soldiers, but it rewarding because you know you are involved in helping,” Braunlich explained. “We hope in the long run we can see these guys get back into a productive state.”
According to Braunlich, the study will be comparing data used from the war in Vietnam that is likely to vary because of the advances made in artillery and improvised explosion devices (IED).
“I think the data will show people are not as well because of the extents of their injuries,” Braunlich said. “In Vietnam, guns and bullets were the main forces of artillery, but with IED you see a lot more soldiers coming in with lost limbs.”
The move to Europe was a difficult one for Braunlich and his family. It was one that he had to take his family and his country into great consideration and he hasn’t doubted his service ever since.
“I feel I have a better purpose where I am at,” Braunlich said about not being able to be honored with the other 25 year champions at the OVAC wrestling tournament this weekend. “To make that trip – which we do every year to be with family – you have to plan far ahead and with the kids in school it wasn’t feasible.”
Braunlich’s absence from the valley still has not taken that competitive edge out of him as he is currently serving as an assistant wrestling coach where his son, Luke, goes to school.
“It is a lot of fun,” Braunlich said about becoming a coach. “They use folk style wrestling in the U.S. military schools for active duty soldiers children and have similar competition. We’ll have a tournament with the military schools across Germany, almost like a small state tournament.”
Another wrestling advantage Braunlich’s son is receiving is knowledge of Greco Roman and Freestyle wrestling that is very popular in that part of the world.
“You can pick up the newspaper everyday and find tournaments to go to,” Braunlich said. “Working with some different German coaches we have been fortunate that the language barrier has not been a problem and have benefitted that so many Europeans are bi-lingual.”
The two time OVAC and West Virginia state champion plans to make a permanent return to the states in the summer when his term of service expires.
“We are going to set up an orthopedic practice in Wheeling. It will be great. We are looking forward to it,” Braunlich graciously said about moving back to the area. “We looked at some different places in West Virginia, but it always pointed back to Wheeling.”
The move back to the Friendly City is what the doctor ordered and will help the wrestling-minded surgeon get back to his roots.
“I always enjoyed to touch base with guys in the valley,” Braunlich said in regards of keeping contact with the wrestling community. “Each year I would keep track of the OVAC (tournament) online and sometimes family members would send me clippings. Even my son’s Christmas gift last year was Bill Welker’s book – The Wrestling Drill Book.”
With the United States finest men and women in the hands of Braunlich, the OVAC wrestling will continue to keep Braunlich, his wife Jamie and their three children Luke,14; June, 10; and Grace, 9, in their thoughts and prayers wishing them a safe return to the United States.
Braunlich is the son of Earl and the late Sara Braunlich of Wheeling.
Cook can be reached at bcook@timesleaderonline.com