“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” and while that proverb was first said back in 1659, it still rings true today. For Sailors assigned to the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), most of the hours of the day are be taken up by work. Whether it’s office work, maintenance or painting, Sailors are always on-the-go working. But in those precious hours that they get to go on liberty, many choose different activities, and one of the favorites, is sports. And Reagan Sailors need look no farther to get their athletic fix than their own ship’s command sports teams.
Whether the sport of choice is softball, basketball, volleyball or football, the command sports teams are some of the most successful in all of the 7th fleet. With over 10 championships in the two past years, the Reagan sports teams are tough to beat.
“I had played sports in high school and college and I was just used to being in some kind of competitive sport,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) Nicholas Janda, V-5 division leading chief petty officer. “It’s scratched the itch of competition that I had grown up with and has stayed with me through my career.”
The Reagan Reapers, the command softball team, has been one of the most consistent command sports teams, having won seven straight championships in Captain’s Cup tournament play. From one-pitch tournaments to league play, the Reapers consistency can’t be beaten. They’ve won so many titles, in fact, that some of the team’s trophies have had to be moved from the case on the ship to the Reagan Ranch.
“You would think that going out, hitting dingers and winning every game, would get boring after a while,” said Electrician’s Mate Fireman Garrett Gilbreath, from Frisco, Texas. “The reality is, it is just as exciting to win a championship now as it was when we started this seven title streak two years ago. It just feels so good.”
The Reapers just recently finished their most recent full season on April 3, winning their last three games back-to-back-to-back to take home their aforementioned seventh title.
“The drive to want to win every game has been an amazing feeling,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 1st Class Jonathon Hollenbaugh, from Scranton. Pennsylvania “It is fun to watch the team come back when we are down and pull together to overcome our opponents. We are looking forward to taking our talents to the foreign ports we are scheduled to visit so we can enjoy the friendships we make and the stronger ties we will create with our allies and neighboring countries.”
The Reapers are not the only Reagan team that has had some recent success. The soccer teams have won quite a few games against the ships in the past few months and the Reagan Men’s basketball and volleyball teams both recently won base Captain’s Cup tournaments. Volleyball even came back and knocked off their rival shipmates on USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) to win the championship.
“We worked our way through the competition like a katana through a watermelon,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Kyle Smith, from Kaukauna, Wisconsin. “When our name came up on Blue Ridge’s schedule, so did their white flag. Out of sheer domination, we outright took the Captain’s Cup.”
While winning in ultimately the goal of playing sports, making connections and friends while playing can help even off-the-field back on the ship.
“Connecting off the field has been amazing,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Blake Loucks, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “It’s given the junior Sailors a common subject to speak about with our superiors that we wouldn’t have otherwise known existed. It’s been a great way to connect and allow those of us in junior positions to feel more comfortable around the boat knowing we have friends that support us on and off the field.
And if the allure of winning championships or making friends isn’t enough, playing command sports supports Ronald Reagan’s message of making safe and responsible liberty choices, trading sitting in a bar or on a couch for the fresh air and exercise outside on the field.
“For me [command sports] have no real effect as my liberty choices usually involve sports, outdoor events and family time,” said Senior Chief Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) Jason Pierson, RM division leading chief petty officer. “But for a junior or single Sailor, I believe it has a very positive impact as they have something to do, they get to be outside and gives an outlet that is not drinking or playing video games.”
As Ronald Reagan heads out and begins the 2017 patrol season, Sailors all over the ship will begin their busy underway schedule, and no doubt will be looking forward when they can take the field next in the future.
| Date Taken: |
06.01.2017 |
| Date Posted: |
12.27.2017 06:45 |
| Story ID: |
260249 |
| Location: |
U.S. 7TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY |
| Web Views: |
65 |
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0 |
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This work, The Best of the Best: With double digit title since being in Japan, how can anyone stop these Reagan Sports teams?, by PO1 Charles J Scudella III, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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