Photo By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal | U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials competitors, huddle up...... read more read more
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HONOLULU -- Wounded warriors competed during the 2015 Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials (WWPT) through athletic events across the Island of Oahu from March 7-13.
Fifty one U.S. Navy Sailors and seven U.S. Coast Guardsmen tackled both mental and physical challenges to earn a position on the Team Navy roster and move forward to the 2015 Warrior Games.
During the trials, athletes tackled events including archery; cycling; track and field; shooting; sitting volleyball; swimming; and wheelchair basketball. Many athletes new to adaptive sports were able to train and compete alongside seasoned competitors.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Sancho Johnson, retired, four-time WWPT competitor, said that the trials are more than just a competition but also a way for wounded warriors, especially those new to adaptive sports, to gain confidence.
“What I hope they get out of this is that they see that they can do more than they thought they could,” Johnson said. “Everyone here has a story and when you hear other people's stories you might say ‘well my story is not as bad, and if they can do it I can do it as well,’ so that’s what I hope they get out of it as well as contribute to it.”
U.S. Navy Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Jim Castaneda, retired, was awarded the title honorary chief oetty officer during the trial’s opening ceremony and is one competitor who strives to contribute.
“I actually enjoy competing, meeting a lot of people and seeing my friends, guys that you met at the first Warrior Games or old timers like Sancho,” Castaneda said. “It’s just competition. You always want to have someone to compete with and he really pushes me in a way that other people don’t. I actually want to beat him. He’s a tough guy and he doesn’t give me an inch ever for nothing.”
Castaneda believes that not quitting and finishing what he starts is just as good as winning. During the 2012 Warrior Games in in Colorado Springs, Castaneda was competing in a 20-kilometer bicycle race when his left tire went flat. Due to combat injuries and surviving a series of strokes, Castaneda not only had to finish the race with a flat tire but overcome his significant paralysis due to his injuries. He managed to finish the race, knowing his son would be cheering him on at the finish line.
“Everybody has obstacles,” Castaneda said. “Everybody has a job to do every morning. My job is to make sure my son looks at me and I want him to see me as his hero. I don’t want him to think Michael Jordan is his hero. Michael Jordan is a great athlete, don’t get me wrong, but I want him to know that I don’t quit for nothing.”
Castaneda’s "don’t quit" attitude has driven some competitors to strive to bring out the best in them and because of this, Johnson believes that the title of Honorary Chief Petty Officer was given to the right U.S. Navy Sailor.
“I actually cried,” Johnson said. “He deserved it. I’ve known him since 2010 when we competed in the first Warrior Games. I’ve seen where he was then and I see where he is now and I have a great love and compassion for him. When they called his name I tried to hold it but I couldn’t. He really deserved that moment in time.”
Competing in the 2015 WWPT, win or lose, is just another step of self-improvement for Castaneda.
“Just because I’m in a wheelchair doesn’t mean that I’m not an athlete,” Castaneda said. “I’m not going to give up. Every day is a brand new day for me and I’m starting from scratch. Everyone has their own obstacles, everyone has their own demons but you have to fight them in your own way. The way I fought it is having someone like Sancho right next to me.”
Castaneda said that having had the opportunity to serve in the Navy was enough for him and receiving the title of honorary chief was just frosting on the cake.
“I was happy when I retired, I was just happy being in the Navy,” Castaneda said. “It’s an honor that I don’t take for granted. It’s beyond words and I’m going to cherish it. It’s the greatest thing that ever happened to me in my military career, nothing tops it … nothing.”
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.16.2015 17:27 |
| Story ID: | 157145 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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