Photo By Kristen Wong | The members of the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 51 team pose for a photo after the...... read more read more
Subscribe
KANEOHE, Hawaii - More than 40 competitors made a splash at the 101 Days of Summer Intramural Swim Meet June 17 at the base pool.
Quentin Redmon, drug demand reduction coordinator, Substance Abuse Counseling Center, said that although the number of attendees is consistent with that of last year, he has seen new faces this year at the swim meet.
“Overall it’s going pretty good,” Redmon said of 101 Days. “We’re getting ready to kick off the major events [of the program].”
The swim meet is part of the 101 Days of Summer program, held annually by the base Substance Abuse Counseling Center and Marine Corps Community Services Semper Fit division, to encourage service members to choose healthy summer activities and prevent risk-related behavior.
Units who participate in the 101 Days of Summer events will earn points. One large and one small unit will win first place for having the most points and will receive $750 toward their unit fund.
Units in the small and large unit category who come in second place will receive $500 toward their unit fund. Because the swim meet is also an intramural event, units can earn points toward the Commander’s Cup as well.
Units competed in several events including the 50-Meter Freestyle Individual, the 50-Meter Backstroke Individual, and 50-Meter Butterfly Individual.
“It was tiring,” said Navy Lt. Becky Bujaki, airframes officer in charge, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24. “I came in last but I tried.”
Bujaki, of Otisville, Mich., said she participated in the swim meet to support her fellow service members.
For Sgt. John Guzman, air traffic control communications chief, Marine Corps Air Station, the feeling was mutual. Guzman and fellow colleagues from MCAS had little time to prepare, but were
determined to win.
“[The] Main thing is we all came out to support our unit,” Guzman said.
Among other competitors was Cpl. Jose Duran, squad leader, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, who competed in the meet for the first time. Duran, of Chico, Calif., said events like the
meet make people mentally stronger.
“If you’re not a strong swimmer, it comes down to your mind pushing you to finish,” Duran said.
Some of the competitors were experienced swimmers, like Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Chaffee, naval aircrewman, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 51, who placed third in the 50-meter butterfly individual.
Chaffee, who was on the swim team in high school, said he missed swimming and wanted to have some fun while hanging out with his fellow service members.
Others were getting reacquainted with the water. Cpl. Vincent Havelaar, a rifleman for Weapons Company, 3/3, had only performed the breaststroke once before in his life, and doing it this time felt “really weird.”
Navy Cmdr. Jon Hurst, executive officer, VR-51, won first place in several of the events including the 50-meter freestyle individual, 50-meter breaststroke, and 50-meter butterfly individual.
Hurst, of Sumner, Wash., normally swims twice a week, though this was his first time competing. He said he was amazed at how many participants there were. Though temporarily fatigued during the 200-meter individual medley, Hurst said the meet overall was good fun.
“Commander Hurst was the star of the show,” said Maj. Steve Monsour, the base communications officer of the Communications and Information Systems Directorate.
Monsour, who took third place in the 50-meter breaststroke, said trying to keep up with Hurst was good motivation.
The overall winner for the swim meet was VR-51, but “the winners are the folks who participate," said Dan Dufrene, coordinator, Health Promotions Program.
The next event is a bowling tournament at K-Bay Lanes June 29. For more information about 101 Days of Summer, call 254-7636.
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2011 19:27 |
| Story ID: | 72707 |
| Location: | KANEOHE, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 297 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Making a splash: VR-51 sailors take top honors at 101 Days of Summer swim meet, by Kristen Wong, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT