Capt. Weston S. Kelsey, force support officer, 310th Mission Support Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., scores the final point in a recent Epee fencing match. Kelsey was named Air Force 2011 Male Athlete of the Year and was also named to the U.S. Olympic team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London (Courtesy photo)
Airman 1st Class Emily J. Shertzer, instrumentalist, 553rd Air Force Band of the Mid-Atlantic, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., crosses the finish line of the Missoula Half Marathon on July 10, 2011. The win was one of many 2011 accomplishments that contributed to her being named Air Force 2011 Female Athlete of the Year. (Courtesy photo)
by Eric M. Grill
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
4/6/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO -- RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials recently named the service's 2011 top male and female athletes of the year.
Capt. Weston S. Kelsey, a force support officer from the 310th Mission Support Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., is the 2011 male athlete of the year. Airman 1st Class Emily J. Shertzer, an instrumentalist with the 553rd Air Force Band of the Mid-Atlantic at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., is the 2011 female athlete of the year.
Male Athlete of the Year Kelsey is the nation's top Men's Epee fencer. He won the December 2010 North American Cup, led the U.S. Men's Epee Fencing Team to the 2011 National Team Championship and the 2011 Zonal Team Championship. He finished seventh in the World Fencing Championship in Paris, leading the U.S. team to its first ever World Cup gold medal in the sport. Kelsey also led the team to silver medals at the World Cup Tallinn in Estonia and the World Cup Heidenheim in Germany. He is currently ranked 14th in the world in this sport and will represent the United States in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London; his third time making the U.S. Olympic Team.
When recognized for his 20 years of hard work and dedication to fitness and fencing, Kelsey said he's humbled and honored to not only represent himself and the Air Force, but the entire nation in the upcoming Olympics.
"When I was 10 years old, I had two friends who were fencing," Kelsey said. "I was ready to move on from baseball so I thought I would give fencing a try. I never imagined that I would be still fencing 20 years later in the Olympic Games."
Female Athlete of the Year Shertzer won the 2011 International Biathlon Union's Nation Summer Biathlon and was the fastest female in the history of the All-Guard Marathon Team, finishing the Lincoln National Guard Marathon with a time of 2:54:20. She set the course record for the Missoula Half-marathon in Montana and led the Air Force to the 2011 Armed Forces Marathon Championship, finishing the event with a U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials-qualifying time of 2:45:55. Shertzer also set the course record when she won the Kauai Half-Marathon in Hawaii and won the Women's Division of the Wildwood Triathlon in New Jersey and the Patriot's Triathlon in Pennsylvania.
Being chosen for the award is both a surprise and an honor for Shertzer.
"I know there are many quality athletes in the Air Force who are deserving of this distinction, some of whom are teammates I've had the pleasure of competing with the past year," she said.
Shertzer continues to challenge herself not only by running marathons, but by honoring her fellow service members as well.
She donned a 35-pound rucksack March 24, and joined 38 Army and Air National Guardsmen on a 26.2-mile march to honor the 39 National Guardsmen killed in action since Sept. 11, 2001. She will also compete with the Pennsylvania National Guard Biathlon team in the Summer Biathlon Championships.
For more information about the Air Force Athlete of the Year and other Air Force Sports programs, visit http://www.usafsports.com/.
Comments
4/12/2012 10:52:27 AM ET Biathleteduathlete...there is a difference. I don't see any skis or rifles. Learn the difference before publishing the article Mr. Grill.
biathlete, Knowledge US
4/10/2012 4:53:26 PM ET TSgt V I totally get it's a combined force and totally appreciate it... that said when it comes to some things it's very different. Yes you have jobs to balance -and a great little law that makes your employer work with you on it- but it isn't the same... AD ANG AFR are all different in many ways look at deployment and PCS stability. Think it's easier to train for world class athletics when you're not on a 2 year hitch to Guam or a non-vol 365 I'd have an AFR ANG and AD component to these awards so we acknowlege the unique hurdles in place that's all I'm saying.
JB, GA
4/10/2012 7:38:58 AM ET JB- I do appreciate your candid comments about the Air Guard and Reserves. In the times of Total Force however there simply is not room for those who do not understand the sacrifice of the ARC member. Many of the Part-Time Airmen juggle demanding civilian jobs with giving up time to dedicate to their military occupation. Does it mention in there whether A1C Shertzer is AGR- Active Duty ANG It's a TOTAL FORCE Air Force. Accept it. Congratulations to these 2 fine Airmen on their accomplishments.
TSgt V, Air Guard USA
4/9/2012 9:00:08 AM ET They probably shouldn't mix ANG and AFR with AD when it comes to these things. I appreciate the on her own time aspect but you know what she's got a lot more of her own time being in the guard... she's not getting called for base beautification squadron formations and things like shift work. To the Shirt in SWA... if you're so keen on reading start with doing some yourself. That post played up the acheivement and spoke to a responsibility of the AF to develop an airman. You say probably on that ruck and those races but you don't know... I hope you're more thoughtful and judicious with your opinions in your job. Otherwise you're just another crappy shirt perpetuating this nonsense of personal interests before mission.
JB, GA
4/7/2012 5:58:54 PM ET @AmazedYour points are honorable. However these men and women recognized for such outstanding achievements bring to the fight more than what meets the eye. These Airmen serve as model servicemembers and as ambassadors on behalf of the Air Force. When the public hears of their achievements and hard work they know the quality of our people is second to none. Whatever we can do to further that image is well worth the minimal cost.These recognitions aren't about the individuals themselves but rather how we all work together as Airmen to make our United States Air Force a stronger force for good.
Drew, Beale AFB
4/7/2012 8:44:17 AM ET It never ceases to amaze me that some people only come to AF.MIL in an attempt to take out there anger on innocent Airmen. To AMAZED next time at least read the article before making ignorant comments. A1C Shertzer is ABSOLUTELY in the Air Force to be a musician She is assigned to the BAND And just the fact that she is in the Guard should tell you that she is probably training and running these Marathons Half-Marathons Biathlons and Ruck-Marches on her personal time. The whole concept behind these annual awards for athletes is to recognize our outstanding Airmen Athletes and the way they represent the Air Force in a positive light.
Deployed First Sgt, Kabul Afghanistan
4/6/2012 11:25:56 PM ET To Amazed...A1C Shertzer is a traditional Guardsman wearing the uniform 1 weekend per month. I would assume all or most of her training time is between drills in order to keep her performance at her current level. Very few traditional have fit-prep time due to mission training requirements unlike our active dutyfull-time counterparts. The fact that she beat real Air Force people speaks for her dedication to fitness and how important it is for today's airmen.
Chuck Edgerly, Massachusetts
4/6/2012 4:04:30 PM ET @Amazed Actually being a musician is A1C Shertzer's primary AF job as a Air National Guardsman. Until that sort of billet goes away your argument is invalid. But what is really amazing is that Maj Jill Metzger didn't win female athlete of the year again given how she is back on active duty. Maybe this time she is doing her job.
CP, Fraggle Rock Colo.
4/6/2012 12:09:48 PM ET Kudos great acheivements but the time adn focus of these things detracting from the mission really needs to be looked at. Great players terrible game. An A1C in the band with time off to do a big memorial ruck and all this isn't being given core competencies towards fly fight and win. We need a realistic approach to developing airmen vs individual interests and the skills they need. You're not in the AF to be a musician or an athlete.
