Robert “Rob” Arlett, a former county councilman in Delaware, ran for U.S. Senate in 2018, losing to incumbent Democratic Sen. Tom Carper. In 2016, Arlett was state chairman for Donald Trump.
So what brought him and Lorna, his wife of nearly 30 years, to San Diego on Friday night, sitting on the flight deck of the USS Midway?
Nothing political. Call it nautical.
They and perhaps 500 others were drawn to the third annualBattle on the Midway collegiate wrestling tournament.
Rob Arnett, next to wife Lorna, applauds Navy wrestlers after flying 3,000 miles. His son is a manager on the team. Photo by Chris Stone
The season-opening event saw Army defeat Fresno State 29-9 and powerful Wisconsin (ranked No. 4 or No. 6 in the nation, depending on poll) swamp Navy 24-12.
The Arletts cheered the Midshipmen from $125 front-row seats since Jared, one of their two sons, is a student manager for Navy’s wrestling team (and a backup grappler himself as a former Delaware prep standout).
Jared is “living the dream,” his father said between matches. The Annapolis junior had wanted to attend Navy since grade school. Jared’s grandfather was a 1968 Naval Academy graduate.
It also was a homecoming for the Arletts, since Rob, 52, moved to San Diego County when he was 4 years old, attending Bonita Vista Junior High (now middle school), Bonita Vista High School and Ramona High for a time.
Rob has a brother who still lives locally, and former Chula Vistan Lorna Arlett has a cousin they’re staying with on this trip — also in Chula Vista.
But the Arletts hadn’t been back since the early 1980s. So they’ll extend their stay through Nov. 9 and take in another Navy meet Saturday — against California Baptist University in Riverside.
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Fresno State’s Gary Joint reaches for mat during 133-pound action against Army’s Cole Wyman. Joint won 10-2. Photo by Chris Stone
Fresno State’s Jeremy Trinh looks up against Army’s Trey Chalifoux in opening 125-pound match won by Chalifoux in a fall. Photo by Chris Stone
Navy’s Tyler Dow lifts Wisconsin’s Andrew Buckley in 184-pound match. Photo by Chris Stone
Navy’s Tyler Dow lifts Wisconsin’s Andrew Buckley in 184-pound match. Photo by Chris Stone
Wisconsin’s Andrew Buckley seeks advantage over Navy’s Tyler Dow in 184-pound match decided in “sudden victory overtime.” Photo by Chris Stone
Wisconsin wrestlers celebrate win with their coach after defeating Navy 24-12 in opening match of season. Photo by Chris Stone
Army and Navy athletes saluted color guard at the beginning of the event. Photo by Chris Stone
The USS Midway “41” overlooks flight-deck wrestling event, which kicked off the national collegiate season. Photo by Chris Stone
Rob Arnett, next to wife Lorna, applauds Navy wrestlers after flying 3,000 miles to see team his son helps manage. Photo by Chris Stone
Wisconsin fan cheers the Badgers, ranked as high as No. 4 nationally in preseason collegiate polls. Photo by Chris Stone
Referee watches if points scored in the Battle on the Midway. Photo by Chris Stone
Army’s Noah Stewart was slow to get up after being slammed to mat in 184-pound match. Photo by Chris Stone
Referee signals disqualification of Fresno State’s Hunter Cruz after an illegal move. Photo by Chris Stone
West Point Army coaches watch match with Fresno State in an event to be aired on CBS Sports Sunday and on Veterans Day. Photo by Chris Stone
Army senior Alex Hopkins is declared winner over Fresno State freshman Ryan Reyes in a 197-pound match. Photo by Chris Stone
Wisconsin head coach Chris Bono shouts instructions to Tyler Dow in 184-pound match with Navy’s Andrew Buckley. Dow won in overtime. Photo by Chris Stone
Navy junior Cody Trybus was bloodied in match against Tristan Moran in the Battle on the Midway. Photo by Chris Stone
Wisconsin’s Tristan Moran handles Navy’s Cody Trybus in a 141-pound match won by the Badger. Photo by Chris Stone
Navy sophomore Morgan Fuenffinger is held by Wisconsin’s Cole Martin in a 149-pound match the Badger would win. Photo by Chris Stone
Navy supporters cheer their Midshipmen in the featured set of matches that lasted until 11 p.m. Photo by Chris Stone
Fresno State’s Hunter Cruz (in red) forces Army’s Noah Stewart backward in a 184-pound match, causing the Bulldog to be disqualified. Photo by Chris Stone
Referee goes low, looking for a pin during Army vs. Fresno State match at the Battle on the Midway. Photo by Chris Stone
Bulldogs wrestler Greg Gaxiola of Clovis climbs back toward mat after tumbling off stage in a 149-pound match with Army’s P.J. Ogunsaya. Photo by Chris Stone
A family member intently watches and roots for Army in the third annual Battle on the Midway. Photo by Chris Stone
West Point Army parents react as they watch a match against Fresno State University. Photo by Chris Stone
On a crispy cool night, wrestlers in 10 weight categories grappled on a mat warmed by sponsor Powerblanket to prevent condensation. Photo by Chris Stone
Fans show support for the Army West Point Black Knights in match against Fresno State. Photo by Chris Stone
The day after flying home 3,000 miles, Rob said, “we’re driving up to Pennsylvania because we’re wrestling Penn State, which is the No. 1 program in the country. That’s how you get better.”
He kept his glass-half-full attitude about the Badgers beating his Navy boys.
“I think that Navy will take this experience from tonight and launch … a very successful season,” he said. “We’re very proud of the Navy wrestlers and all the supporters from our great beloved San Diego city.”
In fact, a daylight wrestling event on the Broadway Pier was called the AFC (for America’s Finest City) Duals, where Wisconsin beat Fresno State (31-8) and Army (16-15). (Organizers said 1,047 attended events overall.)
The Badgers flew in Wednesday, having left with snow on the ground. The Army wrestlers wore T-shirts in warmups with a twist on another phrase. They boasted “Boots on the Mat.”
CBS Sports taped the featured nighttime matches on the legendary aircraft carrier for airing Sunday morning and again on Veterans Day.
Out of respect for the historic venue apparently, Wisconsin wrestlers wore camouflage outfits. Navy athletes wore gold singlets with the legend “Don’t give up the ship.”
Seconding that motion was wrestling dad Arlett — a former intelligence specialist in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
“Tonight was a great experience,” he said, “but we will never give up our ship.”
