Sports Day Challenge

"We are holding this event to bring the commands here together for some friendly competition and get people out of their workspaces to participate in some sports activities. Everyone has been really receptive to this two-day event and we've had a lot of people sign up for the competitions," explained NAS Jax Athletic Director Tim McKinny.

"We hope to hold this event twice a year. We didn't have one this spring though because VP-5 was on deployment and they won the Sports Challenge last year and we wanted to give them the opportunity to defend their title."

"VP-5 is one of the pioneers of the Sports Challenge. They brought it to our attention that we should be holding events like this on base to get people out to try some different sports. It's a two-day fun event and everything is free," added NAS Jax Sports Coordinator Bill Bonser.

AE3 Hunter Faulkner reaches the finish line just ahead of AW2 Marlon Jordan for the first place win in the 1,500-meter relay. Both teams were from VP-5. Photo by MC2(AW/NAC) Kaitlyn Patterson

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.

The competition was kicked off Thursday with a 1,500-meter relay at the base track.

"The run was a great event to watch because the competition was so intense. One heat came down to the wire as a

runner who was way behind came up and won," said MWR Athletic Director Tim McKinney.

Other events held Thursday included a 3-on-3 basketball competition, bowling, dodge ball and one-pitch softball. "We are out here today to win the trophy. Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Jax is going to take it home. We've got some great teams and plan to take it all," said ITC(SW) Robert Haynes at the basketball competition.

The competition was fierce throughout the two-day event as VP-5 fought to defend their existing title and used their previously earned trophy to entice the other teams by displaying it at each of the events.

ACC Karl Vliet of NAS Jax Air Operations swings at a ball in the one-pitch softball game. Photo by MC2(AW/NAC) Kaitlyn Patterson

"We are out here to sustain our trophy and take it back with us. It's a traveling trophy and it's going right back to our squadron. This really is a good time for everyone to come out and enjoy some camaraderie and rivalry between the different commands on base," said Lt. David Trenholm, VP-5's Sports Challenge coordinator. "We had max participation last time and showed our team spirit and are doing it again this year. Our entire squadron is out here if they aren't on the work schedule. We have teams in every event."

Friday's events included 3-on-3 sand volleyball, washers, tug-of-war and the ever-popular CO Challenge Canoe Race.

After all the events were completed, the Sports Challenge ended with a huge surprise as Personnel Support Detachment Jax was presented the trophy after earning 1,038 points with VP-5 placing second. "This is a big turnaround. We certainly didn't expect this," said McKinney.

"This is awesome! We're a smaller command and don't have a lot of Sailors attached to us. And, we have to stay open for business and can't have everyone out here. We realize that it was a marathon and not a race in any one event so just getting involved in every event and doing well was our goal," said Personnel Support Detachment Jax Officer in Charge Lt. Cmdr. Matt Waesche.

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

They are off! The start of the CO Challenge Canoe Race during the 2007 Command Sports Challenge. Photo by Shannon Leonard

PSD wins first place overall! From left to right: Lt. Cmdr. Matt Waesch, PS3 Karon Tate, PS1 Ronald Owens and PSC Victor Burgos. Photo by MC2(AW/NAC) Kaitlyn Patterson

CO Challenge Canoe Race

1. REDCOM

2. VP-5

3. PSD

3-on-3 Basketball

1. NCTS

2. Air Ops

3. PSD

Bowling

1. PSD

2. NCTS

3. Air Ops

Dodgeball

1. NCTS

2. Air Ops

3. PSD

Softball

1. VP-30

2. REDCOM

Volleyball

1. Air Ops-B

2. Air Ops-A

3. VP-30

Washers

1. PSD-B

2. Air Ops-A

3. PSD-A

Tug-of-War

1. VP-5

2. Air Ops

3. PSD

1,500-Meter Relay

1. VP-5-B

2. VP-5-A

3. NCTS

Overall Results

1. PSD

2. VP-5

3. Air Ops