Army Sweeps Swimming Finals

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by on May 24, 2011 at 11:25 am {one comment}

By SSG Emily Anderson, WTC Stratcom

MSG Rhoden Galloway after the swimming finals. He won four of the Army’s fifteen medals, three of them are first place finishes.

The Army athletes came to the finals focused on one thing, a medal. Little did they know they would be taking home 15. The swim team proved they are a force to be reckoned with after winning four gold, three silver, and eight bronze medals in the swimming finals during the 2011 Warrior Games.

“What we did was phenomenal,” said Holly Roselle, the Army’s swimming coach. “They came together this week and supported each other. Nice work.”

“They did things they hadn’t done before,” Roselle said. “They really stepped up and performed at a higher level.”

From Wednesday’s preliminaries to Friday’s finals, many of the finalists decreased their swim times by seconds, which helped them seal the win in a couple of swim meets.

“Many of them did better than they thought they would,” Roselle added. “We actually won more than we were slated to coming into the finals.”

MSG Rhoden Galloway, who won three of the four gold medals and one of the silver medals, agrees with Roselle.

“After you’re injured, you’re told you can’t do things and that’s crushing,” said Galloway. “Knowing you’ll never be able to run again, especially being in the military where you have to complete physical fitness tests, being able to run is important. Having the chance to swim gave us a chance to compete in adaptive sports again.”

The Army’s swimming medals are broken down as follows:

MSG Rhoden Galloway – 3 Gold, 1 Silver
SSG Kenny Griffith – 1 Bronze
SPC Michael Grover – 1 Bronze
SPC Andy Kingsley – 1 Silver, 2 Bronze
SSG Stefanie Mason – 1 Gold, 1 Bronze
SFC Landon Ranker – 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
CPL Harrison Ruzicka – 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
SPC Galen Ryan – 2 Silver
SGT Gavin Sibayan – 1 Bronze

Congratulations to all winners and to all who participated.

The day is now over. The swim goggles are hung up or folded away. These nine athletes will never forget last week. They showed that an illness or injury would not stop them from setting and reaching a goal, and they have the medals to prove it.

 

Goodbye Preliminaries, Hello Finals

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by on May 19, 2011 at 3:24 am {one comment}

By SSG Emily Anderson, WTC Stratcom

The 2011 Warrior Games Army swimming team before their swimming meet preliminaries on Wednesday.

CPL Harrison Ruzicka was told he signed up for the 2011 Warrior Games two months too late, but fate stepped in a month later when another Soldier had to drop out of the competition. Ruzicka, currently assigned to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) Warrior Transition Unit, was given the opportunity to go for gold in the 50-meter men’s freestyle swimming event.

For Ruzicka, the swimming competition adds extra pressure, not because of his injuries, but because every time he dives into the water the memory of his accident flashes into his mind.

Ruzicka, who qualified for the swimming finals, was injured August 7, 2009, when an improvised explosive device (IED) hit his vehicle while he was deployed to Afghanistan. Due to the IED, he was trapped under his vehicle in a river. He eventually lost his right leg and had pins haloed around his left leg to keep the bones intact.

“Training and competing is about 200 percent more mental than physical for me,” said Ruzicka. “I used to dive growing up, but since the accident, it’s been harder.”

“I have to focus on controlling my heart rate before I dive into the water, and I still can’t wear dark goggles when I dive,” he added. “This time last year I was still healing, so I’m just happy to be here.”

CSM Jesus Febo-Colon, the WRAMC Warrior Transition Brigade Command Sergeant Major, has been very supportive of the Army swim team by attending all of the training sessions and the preliminaries where he has Ruzicka and six other Soldiers assigned to the WRAMC Warrior Transition Unit competing in the swimming events.

“It’s a priceless personal experience to see our boys and girls working so hard to prove that there is no misfortune that doesn’t bring some good with it,” Febo-Colon said. “In spite of all their losses, their souls are full of hope; their hearts are overflowing with positive emotions; and there is only one thought going through their minds—I can.”

During the swimming preliminaries, the Army’s team took to the water with an agenda of not letting any other branch excel in this event.

That goal was achieved. After the long training hours and the extra practices to make sure they were ready, the Army’s team had 15 Soldiers qualify for the finals.

SGT Angel Herrera
MSG Rhoden Galloway
SSG Kenny Griffith
SPC Michael Grover
SPC Andy Kingsley
SSG Robert Laux
SSG Stefanie Mason
SPC Evan Marcy
CPT Elizabeth Merwin
SPC Jasmine Perry
SFC Landon Ranker
CPL Harrison Ruzicka
SPC Galen Ryan
SGT Gavin Sibayan
SGT Matthew Sullivan

“I definitely think we are the top dog of today’s events,” Febo-Colon said after the preliminaries were over and the results were announced.

Congratulations to the finalists! Everyone did a great job and I look forward to seeing the team give it their all at the finals.

AW2 Soldier’s Life After Injury

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by on May 18, 2011 at 12:01 am {no comments}

By SSG Emily Anderson, WTC Stratcom

SSG Marcia Morris-Roberts, an Army Warrior Games swimmer mentally prepares to compete in the 50-meter freestyle swimming event.

As I sit at the pool, listening to the chatter and the cheers of the athletes who are competing in the 2011 Warrior Games swimming events, I start to think if I were in their situation, would I have the courage to do what they are doing? Would I be able to embrace what has happened to me and show that it is not stopping me from accomplishing new goals? Would I be able to inspire and motivate another person by just talking about my injuries and explaining how this has not crushed my spirit, but only made me stronger?

The swimming competitors are coming together to train and hone in and sharpen their skills. While they practice diving into the pool, racing against each other, and working on their swimming techniques, the phrase “There is no such thing as handicapped, we are handi-capable,” is showcased throughout the training sessions. One AW2 Soldier in particular, SSG Marcia Morris-Roberts, uses this as her own personal motto.

Morris-Roberts, who will be competing in the 50-meter freestyle swim event, had a difficult year. In February 2010, when leaving for Smyrna, TN to receive additional training as a supply specialist, the military specialty she had been working in for the past two of her sixteen year career, she had no way of knowing what was in store for her.

While attending her training course, Morris-Roberts began to develop mysterious symptoms. “I was so cold and my fingers and toes were turning purple and causing a terrible pain,” Morris-Roberts said. “At first I thought it was just a symptom of me having lupus. I thought it would get better if I better managed taking my medicine, but it only got worse.”

After the month-long training course was over, Morris-Roberts made the trip back to her home in Georgia. When she went into work the next day, she was still in pain.

“It felt like a pit bull had bit my foot. I finally decided to go to the doctor, to figure out what was going on,” she said. “I knew if I went during my training course the doctors would admit me to the hospital because of my lupus. I would have failed the course because you can’t miss more than eight hours. ”

After several visits with physicians, she learned that it wasn’t her lupus, it was frost-bite and she was suffering the onset of gangrene. Eventually, she had to have her left leg, one toe from her right foot, and her third finger on her right hand amputated.

“The amputation was ultimately my decision,” she said. “I didn’t want them to keep cutting section by section, so I just told them to take the leg.”

Morris-Roberts has not let what happened in the past year keep her from having a positive outlook and looking for the silver lining.

“I appreciate the opportunity to participate and share with others,” Morris-Roberts said. “Even though we are physically challenged, we are still human and can do anything.”

“My goal is to become a motivational speaker. I’ve always wanted to wear a smile on my face,” she added. “Through hard work and perseverance, I want to motivate people.”

“It’s just amazing the things you see people work their way through,” she said. “I really want to assist Soldiers with injuries more serious than mine and help them find their way with the support of their Families.”

Growing up, she was a cheerleader, played softball and basketball. She was also an avid cyclist, and rollerbladed regularly. She also said participating and competing in sports helps her to feel normal. She continues to work out several times a week and maintains a very active lifestyle.

“Adaptive sports are a great tool for the physically challenged and what better way to show our therapists the hard work has paid off,” Morris-Roberts said. “The team building and camaraderie keeps everyone motivated.”

“I’m participating in Warrior Games to challenge and motivate myself and show other amputees that they can do the same and more,” Morris-Roberts explained. “I am inspired to compete in the Warrior Games as a personal challenge.”

Morris-Roberts’ ultimate goals are to continue serving in the Army as a model Soldier and have a positive impact by inspiring others.

“I love the military and take my career seriously. I plan to get better, stay focused, participate in team building events, and be a beacon to light the paths of other Soldiers,” she said. “I’ll be that light that inspires others to be better than they were.”

Editor’s Note: SSG Marcia Morris-Roberts also competed in the shot put sitting field event on Tuesday and earned a silver medal.

 

Swimming Training Boosts Competitor’s Rehabilitation

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by on May 13, 2011 at 3:53 pm {one comment}

By SSG Emily Anderson, WTC Stratcom

SSG Stefanie Mason, right, and her fraternal twin sister, Jennifer Mason after swimming practice at the Schlessman Natatorium on the Colorado College campus in Colorado Springs, CO.

SSG Stefanie Mason, an AW2 Soldier, will never forget the date April 20, 2010. This was the day her whole life changed.

While deployed to Kabul with the 354th Civil Brigade as a civil affairs specialist, SSG Mason was involved in a vehicular accident. The vehicle was going 50 mph when it hit a cement wall head-on.

SSG Mason, who was in the passenger seat and wearing her seatbelt, went head first into the windshield. She was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and sustained nine head fractures, a torn muscle behind her eye that still causes double vision, and a shattered tibia. She now has two plates in her right leg.

However, these injuries have not stopped SSG Mason. Thirteen months later, she is walking, something her doctors told her she would not be able to do, and vigorously training to compete in the 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter backstroke swimming events in the 2011 Warrior Games.

“The Warrior Games is very exciting and wonderful experience. It’s a privilege to be here, because not many people get to experience this,” SSG Mason said. “I’m honored to be nominated to represent the Army and look forward to competing in the games.”

“I’ve always been competitive, and before the accident, I was a great runner. I actually ran the Army 10-Miler,” she added. “The Warrior Games has given me a chance to compete competitively again.”

During training week, SSG Mason, along with the other Army swimming competitors, are practicing their freestyle and backstroke styles and learning new techniques to use during the competition.

“It is physically demanding and I’m being pushed to my limits, but I’m hoping to do well in the Warrior Games and be a great inspiration,” SSG Mason said. “The games help us to look further and to achieve something.”

Before training week, SSG Mason was swimming several times a week including one-on-one swimming sessions with the Warrior Games Army swimming coach.

“I gained about 20 pounds while I was injured, so I wanted to see if I could get back into swimming to get in shape since I couldn’t run anymore,” said SSG Mason, who was on the swim team in high school. “The Warrior Games swimming coach saw me swimming and told me about the Warrior Games. I thought it sounded nice, so I tried out and made the Army’s team.”

According to Jennifer Mason, Stefanie’s fraternal twin sister and non-medical caregiver, the Warrior Games has been very beneficial for her

SSG Stefanie Mason, a Warrior Games Army swimmer, practicing her backstroke during a training session on Tuesday.

sister.

“I think her training for the Warrior Games has helped her get better. It’s great to see her silly, happy-go-lucky personality again,” Jennifer said. “I think her recovery would have taken a lot longer if she didn’t have this to work toward.”

“Growing up we have always been heavily involved in sports,” Jennifer added. “She knows she has an obstacle to overcome, but she doesn’t think of it that way. She is setting her mind toward something, and focusing non-stop. Stefanie has worked very hard to get where she is today. I’m very proud of her. It’s inspiring to see her and the other Soldiers competing.”

SSG Mason credits swimming for motivating her to push through her injuries. It continues to be an inspiration.

“Swimming has been great for me. It has helped me get better physically and mentally because it challenges me,” SSG Mason said. “It teaches me to be tough regardless of disability and makes me focus on my abilities.”

SSG Mason continues to take it one day at a time. She is determined to do her best and make the most of competing in the Warrior Games.

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