Army wheelchair basketball team dominates at Warrior Games

Photo By Sgt. Kyle Wagoner | Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III fires up the U.S. Army wheelchair basketball team during a huddle after their victory against the U.S. Air Force team during the 2012 Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., on May 2nd, 2012. Chandler was in attendance as the team won the game 57-6. The team are among the 50 disabled, injured or ill soldiers and veterans competing in the Warrior Games for gold in seven sporting events against the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Special Operations Command and for the Chairman's Cup, an award given to the top-performing service branch.  

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

05.02.2012

Story by Cpl. Kyle Wagoner 

43rd Public Affairs Detachment

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. Army wheelchair basketball team claimed victory in their first match at the 2012 Warrior Games on May 2 against the U.S. Air Force team at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Army team, featuring wounded, injured and ill soldiers and veterans, defeated the Air Force team 57-6. The Warrior Games, hosted by the U.S. Olympic Committee and supported by the U.S. Department of Defense, began April 30 and concludes May 6th.

The Warrior Games allow athletes to demonstrate the dedication and determination of men and women of the armed forces by highlighting their abilities as athletes and warriors. Soldiers and veterans in the games are competing against service members from the Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Special Operation Command for gold in seven sporting events and for the Chairman’s Cup, an award given to the top-performing service branch.

Some of the distinguished members of the audience during the game included Army Brig. Gen. Darryl Williams, the commander of the Warrior Transition Command and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler III.

Coach Doug Garner, the wheelchair basketball coach, attributes the victory to his players’ confidence and a tough offensive and defense.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Garner. “Our plan was to go out and play our game and everything else would take care of itself.”

The team will be playing their next game against the Marines on May 3rd.

“We’re going to go over a few things tomorrow and tweak what we did today,” he said. “Hopefully that will be enough to get us into that gold medal game.”

• Date Taken: 05.02.2012
• Date Posted: 05.03.2012 22:28
• Story ID: 87853
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US