Commands battle it out for Sports Day Challenge title

Designated locations were set up around the base with MWR representatives officiating the competitions and tallying up points to see who would be taking the Sports Day Challenge trophy home this year.

Paddlers on the canoe teams were blindfolded to add a little extra excitement to how the race unfolded. Most of the teams took off successfully, but a few were left behind which added a lot of laughter to the canoe race Aug. 24. Photo by MC1(SW) Heather Ewton

The competition was kicked off with the blindfolded canoe race. One of the few teams that didn't end up in the water was Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven (CPRW-11). They quickly made it through the course and were able to cinch the first place title for that race.

''It feels great to win first place! We attribute our win to our fearless coxswain,'' said CPRW-11 Capt. Sean Buck.

''Guess what I am going to do now? I'm going to Disney World,'' added Lt. Cmdr. Scott Fuller, who was also on the winning CPRW-11 team.

AD3 Abrigo Gavin of VP-5, effortlessly takes the ball to the hoop as defenders try their best to stop him during the Sports Challenge 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament Aug. 24. Photo by MC1(SW) Heather Ewton

The good times and camaraderie didn't stop there. After the canoe race, the games continued to the outdoor basketball courts where a grueling 3-on-3 tournament took place. VP-5 took charge of the courts and racked up the points for that challenge taking first and second place. Later on in the day, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Jax took first and second place in the bowling tournament men's division and the ladies of VP-45 reigned in the two top spots in the bowling tournament for their division.

The second day of the competition was almost completely washed out by the rain. Due to the looming thunderstorms, the golf challenge as well as the 3-on-3 volleyball tournament had to be cancelled.

The command that has earned bragging rights as this year's champions was VP-5. Their dedication to teamwork won the trophy and they will remain the champions until another command tries to win it from them during the next Sports Day Challenge. Naval Hospital Jax took second place overall and VP-30 slid into third place.

HM3 Jennifer Shaffer of Navy Medicine Support Command, keeps a watchful eye out for oncoming projectiles, while reaching for a dodge ball to return to the opposing side. Photo by MC2 Brian Smarr

MWR is still deciding if the Sports Day Challenge will be an annual or semi-annual event. ''We plan on making this a tradition here at NAS Jax. With the amount of people who came out to support the event, it doesn't seem like it will be a problem to keep the momentum going,'' said NAS Jax Athletic Director Tim McKinney. ''This was a great chance to get everyone out here to mingle, laugh and build camaraderie. The challenge's success is due to the people who came out to compete or even cheer their commands on and also to the upper echelon giving their support to it as well.''

Overall, the competitors had fun, laughed and enjoyed a day of unit-building competition.

A group of runners wait the for the signal to start at the beginning of the 5K run Aug. 25. Photo by MC2(AW) Suzi Cornell

ET1 David Castro of Air Ops was on the second place team of the canoe race. ''I definitely had a great time and not to mention, it was a great break from the every day work schedule,'' he said.

For more information on the upcoming schedule for the next Sports Day Challenge, contact McKinney at 542-3239.