Sports In the ring for Rocky October The Frontline Sgt

Sports In the ring for Rocky ... October 26, 2006 The Frontline 1C Sgt. Ben Brody Spc. Veronica Green-Windham of 703rd FSB receives her red boxing sweats from Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, 3rd Inf. Div. commander, at Sports USA Friday. Lynch announced the names of 24 fighters and six alternates for the upcoming Dog Face Duke Out, scheduled for Dec. 13 at Newman Physical Fitness Center. Dog Face Duke-Out Boxing Teams WEIGHT CLASS NAME AND UNIT Sgt. Shawn Jones, B Btry., 1/41 FA 140 and under Spc. Matthew Skinner, E Co. 1/30 Inf. Spc. Veronica Green-Windham, 703rd FSB Staff Sgt. Michael Layne, A Btry., 1/76 FA 141 - 160 Sgt. Jesus Ramirez, B Co., 603rd ASB Sgt. Betty Martinez, HHC, 2nd BCT Sgt. David Joseph, HSC, 603rd ASB 161 - 175 Spc. Chavis Rose, A Btry., 1/76 FA Spc. Poloka Aieti, A Troop, 5/7 Cav. 176 - 200 Spc. Nicholas Washington, A Btry., 1/76 FA Sgt. Daniel Carmack, A Co., STB, 3rd Sust. Bde. 201 and up Sgt. Javier Espitia, A Co., 1/15 Inf. Spc. Diovani Padilla, 260th Qm. Bn. Pvt. Mitchell Malone, HHB, 1/10th FA Sgt. Cheree Colbert, B Co., 603rd ASB Pfc. Javir Albunica, 1/30th Inf. Pvt. Thermon Green, B Co., 203rd BSB Sgt. Aieshah Pittman, STB, 3rd Sust. Bde. Sgt. 1st Class James Braet, 4/64 Armor Sgt. Harley Castro, 4/64 Armor Spc. Victor Flores, A Co., 1/15 Inf. Pfc. Steven Lonix, C Co., 603rd ASB Pvt. John Jackson, A Co., 203rd BSB Spc. Josiah Blystone, 4/64 Armor vs. Duffer donates time and tips on golf course Spc. Dan Balda 4th BCT PAO Command Sgt. Maj. Clarence Stanley, 1st Brigade Combat Team’s top enlisted man, loves golf and loves being around Soldiers. One way in which he can do both, while giving back time to the Fort Stewart community is by volunteering as a course ranger at the Taylor Creek golf course. Serving as a ranger involves making sure the golfers begin smoothly first thing in the morning, and then they cruise the course to make sure that everybody is following the rules of the course. Stanley was first introduced to the game 25 years ago when he first enlisted in the Army. A friend of his who played on the All-Army Golf Team told him he wanted to play some golf with Stanley. He spent most of their time together showing Stanley how to play the game right, and now Stanley loves golf so much he has a little putting green in his house he can practice on. When Stanley arrived at Fort Stewart a couple years ago he realized there wasn’t any real volunteer base at the golf course so he volunteered his time and ended up doing odd jobs around the course. More often than not, he helped with the landscaping. Later he joined the golf council and began recruiting senior NCO’s to volunteer on the course as well. Currently, Stanley has talked five sergeants major into donating time out of their busy schedules to act as rangers on the course. One of the things that drew Stanley to volunteer was the promise of free golf, but the real reason he’s out there regardless of the weather is because, “It’s a (Morale Welfare Recreation) facility and it’s for the Soldiers and their families and I just want to make sure that everyone gets a chance to enjoy the best facility we can give them.” Stanley proudly mentions that Taylor Creek (and Hunter Golf Club, the two are combined for financial purposes) are in the Top Ten for all the Department of Defense golf courses in money earned. “I think a lot of that has to do with how great the course looks and because (the 3rd Infantry Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch’s) emphasis on golf as he is a golfer himself,” Stanley said. One of the reasons Stanley enjoys the job is because of the social aspect of golf. He gets to meet Soldiers, retirees and visitors, and most importantly he gets to spend alone time with his favorite golfing partner; his wife. “We make sure we get out about once a week and play,” Stanley said. “It’s great because it’s about four hours of uninterrupted us-time.” Stanley doesn’t mind playing solo either, some times he prefers it. “The thing I love most about golf is that I concentrate on playing and forget everything else,” Stanley said. It’s four hours a week where I get to relax and unwind. I don’t think about any of the stresses involved in what we do.” Stanley uses his time away from the course trying to convince as many people as possible that golf is worth their time and energy. He likes the fact that he can play by himself of as part of a group. More importantly, he is the only person responsible for how well he plays. “Golf is a game you either love or you hate and if you love it you really love it,” Stanley said. “I always say it’s as addictive as crack as twice as expensive.” Stanley enjoys the physical exercise of walking the course, but puts more stock in the mental exercise involved in the sport. “It’s great for self-discipline,” Stanley said. “A wise old man once told me you can tell a lot about a person by the way they play golf. If you cheat yourself you will cheat others and when you play golf it’s all about the rules. The only person that can make you play by yourself is yourself. If you follow the rules of golf it’s a difficult game. If you cheat, you don’t cheat anybody but yourself.” As a Soldier there is another skill that golf helps him with; shooting. “It’s a muscle memory thing; you have to do the same thing everytime, like breathing steady and calming your nerves,” Stanley said. Even if he didn’t love golf so much, Stanley would have found his way to community involvement somehow. The last words his father spoke to him were, “Make my kids good citizens.” “In order to tell my kids to be good is to be a good example myself and doing this is one way I can do that.” As a course ranger, Stanley is able to give many aspiring duffers small tips to help their games. One of his favorite things is when the players he has helped recognize him around post and tell him how their skills have improved thanks to his suggestions. Those same Soldiers bring their children out many times, making Stanley very happy. The course has developed a whole children’s section to the front nine holes. Children have their own distances, score cards and tees to hit from. “Nothing is worse in golf then when you can’t play it. It’s discouraging for a golfer to see Tiger Woods hit a golf ball 340 yards and they can’t do it, and it’s even more discouraging for little kids. Having their own tees makes them feel better about themselves and that’s what golf is all about,” Stanley said. Spc Dan Balda Command Sgt. Maj. Clarence Stanley, 1st Brigade Combat Team volunteers at Taylors Creek Golf course and with the golf council. 2C The Frontline October 26, 2006 2006 INTRAMURAL FLAG-FOOTBALL SCHEDULE MARNE CONFERENCE DATE Oct. 24 Oct. 25 ROCKY CONFERENCE SCORES DATE Oct. 24 DESERT CONFERENCE SCORES DATE Oct. 26 TIME LOCATION 8:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm Field#3 Field#2 Field#3 Field#2 Field#3 Field#2 Field#1 Field#1 Field#1 Field#2 Field#2 Field#1 Field#3 Field#1 Field#3 Field#1 Field#3 TEAMS A Co., 3rd FSB Vs. G Co., 3rd BSB 6/8 Cav. Vs. HHC, 4-3 BTB G Co., 3rd BSB Vs. F Co., 703rd BSB 135th QM Co. Vs. 92nd Chem Co. E Co., 3/7 Inf. Vs. A Co., 3rd FSB F Co., 26th BSB Vs. Det. 2 – 3rd Sig. HHC, 4-3 BTB Vs. 135th QM Co. 92nd Chem Co. Vs. A Co., 3rd FSB Det. 2 – 3rd Sig. Vs. G Co., 3rd BSB TIME LOCATION 6:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm Field#2 Field#2 Field#3 Field#2 Field#1 Field#1 Field#1 Field#3 Field#2 Field#2 Field#2 Field#2 Field#3 TEAMS TIME LOCATION 6:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm Field#2 Field#3 Field#2 Field#3 Field#2 Field#3 Field#2 Field#2 Field#2 Field#2 Field#2 Field#2 Field#2 Field#2 Field#2 TEAMS C Co 2/7 IN Vs. C Co 4/64 AR F Co 3rd FSB Vs. A 3/7 IN D Co 703rd FSB Vs. B Troop 3/7 CAV E Co 4/64 AR Vs. B Co 703rd BSB HHT 6/8 CAV Vs. B Btry 1/9 FA C Co 2/7 IN Vs. F Co 3rd BSB C Co., 2/7 IN Vs. B 1/9 FA F Co., 3rd BSB Vs. B Troop 3/7 CAV C Co., 2/7 IN Vs. ENGN Co., 4/64 AR D 703rd FSB Vs. F Co., 3rd BSB C Co., 2/7 IN Vs. A 3/7 IN B Troop 3/7 CAV Vs. B 703rd BSB F Co. 3rd BSB Vs. ENGN Co., 4/64 AR D 703rd FSB C Co 2/7 IN Vs. B Troop 3/7 CAV SCORES STB 3rd ID Vs. E Co., 703rd BSB B Co., 3/7 IN Vs. C Troop 3/7 CAV A Co 3/69 AR Vs. C Co 4/64 AR A Co., 2-3 BTB Vs. 15th ASOS 3rd SB STB Vs. C Co 4/64 AR A Co 3/69 AR Vs. C Troop 3/7 CAV STB 3rd ID Vs. 15th ASOS B Co., 3/7 IN Vs. A Co., 2-3 BTB 15th ASOS Vs. A Co 3/69 AR C 4/64 AR Vs. C Troop 3/7 CAV 3rd SB STB Vs. E Co., 703rd BSB HHC 1/64 AR Vs. 15ASOS A 3/69 AR Vs. A Co., 2/3 BTB Oct. 25 Nov. 2 Oct. 26 Oct. 30 Oct. 30 6/8 CAV Vs. E 3/7IN 135th QM Co. Vs. G Co., 3rd BSB E 3/7 IN Vs. 92nd CHEM Co. G Co., 3rd BSB Vs. HHC 4/3 BSTB F Co., 26th BSB Vs. 6/8 CAV 135th QM Co. Vs. DET 2/3d SIG Co. A 3rd FSB Vs. F Co. 703rd BSB 92nd CHEM Co. Vs. G Co., 3rd BSB Nov. 1 Nov. 6 Nov. 2 Nov. 7 END OF REGULAR SEASON, PLAY OFFS TBA END OF REGULAR SEASON, PLAY OFFS TBA END OF REGULAR SEASON, PLAY OFFS TBA ATLANTIC CONFERENCE DATE Oct. 24 SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE SCORES DATE TIME LOCATION TEAMS SCORES DATE Oct. 30 HUNTER AAF TIME LOCATION 6:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm Field#1 Field#2 Field#3 Field#1 Field#2 Field#1 Field#2 Field#3 Field#1 Field#2 TIME LOCATION 6:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm Field#1 Field#3 Field#1 Field#3 Field#1 Field#3 Field#1 Field#3 Field#1 TEAMS A Btry., 1-76th FA VS B Co., 4/64 Armor E Co., 26th BSB VS HHC, 26th BSB D Co., 3/7 Inf. VS HHC, 3/7 Inf. 226th QM Co. VS HHC, 1/3 BTB HHC, 3/7 Inf. VS HHC, 26th BSB E Co., 26th BSB VS 632nd Maint. Co. A Btry., 1-76th FA VS HHC, 1/3 BTB 226th QM Co. VS G Co. 703rd BSB G Co., 703rd BSB Vs. 632nd MT Co. TEAMS HHC 4/3rd AVN Vs. 10th TRANS Co US Coast Guard Vs. A Co 603rd AVN C Co., 2/3rd AVN Vs. BYE D Co., 4/3rd AVN Vs. B Co 603rd AVN C Co., 4/3rd AVN Vs. 512th QM Co 512th QM Co. Vs. 10th TRANS Co. HHC 4/3rd AVN Vs. A Co., 603rd AVN B Co., 603rd AVN Vs. BYE C Co., 4/3rd AVN Vs. C Co., 2/3rd AVN D Co., 4/3rd AVN Vs. US Coast Guard SCORES Oct. 24 Oct. 30 Nov. 1 8:30pm 8:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm Field#3 Field#3 Field#3 Field#3 Field#1 Field#1 B Btry 1/41 FA Vs. C Co 3/7 IN A Btry 1/41 FA Vs. B Btry 1/41 FA Nov. 1 B 1/41 FA Vs.. D Troop 3/7 CAV C Co., 3/7 IN Vs. HHC 4/64 AR A 1/41 FA Vs. HHB 1/41 FA HHC 2nd BCT Vs. A Co., 703rd BSB Oct. 30 Nov. 1 6:30pm END OF REGULAR SEASON, PLAY OFFS TBA END OF REGULAR SEASON, PLAY OFFS TBA END OF REGULAR SEASON, PLAY OFFS TBA October 26, 2006 The Frontline 3C Get Ready, set, go to the Top of the Rock Run Special to the Frontline Soldiers of the Marne Division will be offered an opportunity to demonstrate who stands tall at the Top of the Rock Run Oct. 28 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Fort Stewart Quick Track, across from Newman Fitness Center. The event has a 5-kilometer and 10K runs with 10 age categories for male and female runners and a 10K team competition. Groups must have at least 10 members to participate in the team competition. All participants will receive T-shirts with trophies awarded to the top three overall 5 and 10K male and female winners, top two finishers in each age category and top two team winners. The age categories are 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54 and 55 and up, Walker said. The course starts at the Quick track on 6th street and Bundy, moves west to 18th Street, turns on Wilson and races back to 6th street. The 5K ends there, but the 10K participants get to do another lap. Interested people can call 767-8238 for more information. Registration is ongoing at Newman Gym from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and cost $10. “This annual event started when a number Soldiers who competed in regional and national competitions elsewhere asked to start one locally,” said Randy Walker, Fort Stewart Intramural Sports Director. “It didn’t happen on a couple of occasions due to deployments, but its been a annual competition for many years now. The race is open to Soldiers, family members, Department of Defense Civilians and local community members.” Last October, according to Spc Derek Del Rosario, Task Force Bayonet Public Affairs, Many Soldiers who were deployed to Iraq couldn’t participate in the Army 10-miler, nor the Top-of-the-Rock Run. That didn’t stop those deployed Soldiers from taking their love of the sport to the track. They participated in the Camp Liberty 10-miler. The race started with a siren. More than 450 Soldiers blasted off and raced through a track that snaked through Camps Liberty and Victory in Baghdad. They ran around lakes, over bridges and past Saddam Hussein’s former palace, back to finish at Strawberry Hill where it started. The top three male finishers were 2nd Lt. Jamie Carmichael, 546th Area Support Medical Company, with a time of 53 minutes, 42 seconds; Staff Sgt. David Bice, 18th Military Police Brigade Team, at 54 minutes, 4 seconds; and civilian Damien Gonzales at 56 minutes, 30 seconds. The top three female finishers were Sgt. 1st Class Delia McKalpain, 35th Signal Brigade, with a time of 66 minutes, 5 seconds; Sgt. Trista Neinast, Central Criminal Court of Iraq, at 69 minutes, 20 seconds; and Kellie Robinson, Australian Army Headquarters, at 69 minutes, 35 seconds. The winner of the team competition was the 18th Military Police Brigade, made up of Chaplain (Col.) Donald Holdridge, Master Sgt. Don Vasher, Staff Sgt. David Bice, Sgt. John Gossett and Sgt. Nicole Eckert with an average time of 62 minutes, 11 seconds. Flag-Football Standings Southeastern Conference Win Lost G Co 1-9 FA HHC 4/64 AR D 130th IN D Troop 3/7 CAV HHB 1/41 FA A 1/41 FA HHC 2nd BCT C Co 3/7 IN B 1/41 FA A 703D BSB 8 5 3 4 3 2 4 0 1 5 0 3 4 3 5 4 4 6 4 2 Atlantic Conference Win Lost E Co 26th BSB HHC 3/7 IN HHC 1-3 BTB HHC 26th BSB B Co 4/64 AR 632nd MT Co G Co 703D BSB D Co 3/7 226th QM Co A 1-76th FA 4 4 2 5 4 2 3 0 4 3 3 3 3 1 2 5 3 4 3 4 Rocky Conference Win Lost E Co 703D BSB STB 3rd ID 15 ASOS 3rd SB STB A Co 2-3 BTB C Troop 3/7 CAV HHC 1/64 AR A 3/69 AR B Co 3/7 IN C 4/64 AR 5 5 4 6 1 2 6 2 1 0 2 3 1 1 5 4 1 3 6 6 Marne Conference Win Lost DET 2, 3 SIG Co HHC 4-3 BSTB F Co. 703D BSB A 3rd FSB 135th QM F Co. 26th BSB B Troop 6/8 92nd CHEM Co E Co. 3/7 IN G Co. 3rd BSB 6 2 4 2 3 3 1 1 0 2 0 3 2 3 1 3 5 4 5 0 Spc. Derek Del Rosario Unable to participate in the Army 10-Miler and 3rd Inf. Division Top of the Rock Run, more than 450 Soldier participated in the Camp Liberty 10-Miler race in Oct. 2005. Desert Conference Hunter AAF Flag-Football Standings American Conference Win C Co. 4/3rd AVN B Co. 603rd AVN 10th TRANS Co. A Co. 603rd AVN HHC 4/3rd ANV 2 7 5 7 1 Win Lost B 1/9 FA D 703D FSB ENGN Co. 4/64 AR HHT 6/8 CAV B Troop 3/7 CAV B 703D BSB A Co 4/64 AR C Co. 2/7 IN F Co. 3rd BSB A 3/7 IN 2 4 5 4 0 3 1 1 3 4 2 2 1 3 5 4 7 3 0 1 National Conference Win Lost Win US Marine Corps 224th MI BN E Co. 2/3rd AVN 202nd QM Co. HHC 3/3rd AVN D Co. 3/3rd AVN 8 4 3 6 4 2 Lost 5 0 2 1 7 512th QM Co. US Coast Guard D Co. 4/3rd AVN C Co. 2/3rd AVN 3/160th SOAR Lost 0 5 2 3 0 5 15th ASOS AF HHC AVN BDE D Co. 2/3rd AVN 110th QM Co. B Co. 603rd AVN E Co. 1/3rd AVN Win Lost 2 1 0 6 0 3 4 4 2 4 4 2 0 3 3 2 4 8 4 4 1 2 4C The Frontline October 26, 2006 Army swimmer makes the cut for 2008 Olympic trials Eric Melanson Goarmysports.com “ ... and swimming in lane eight, representing the United States Military Academy, Jacob Mentele. Swimmers take you mark, set, BEEP.” As he leaves the block and enters the water, he’s not thinking about his time or his competitors, he’s thinking about his stroke technique. He’s confident that if he swims his race, he can accomplish his goal. Army swimmer Jake Mentele has constantly set goals for himself as an athlete, and more often than not he accomplishes them. Last winter at the U.S. Open in Auburn, Ala., Mentele reached another one of his goals. He didn’t even realize it. “I had won my heat and looked up at the clock thinking I had made the cut, but I just missed it, laughs Mentele. “I thought to myself maybe next time, but then realized I was looking at the time for the wrong lane. I was in lane eight and I had made the cut.” The cut was for the 2008 Olympic Trials, and with his time in that preliminary heat, against some of the top swimmers in the world, the Sioux Falls, S.D., native had reached another one of his goals. It seems as if he has built his swimming career around setting goals, accomplishing them and then raising the bar. “If I was content with myself as is, I wouldn’t be progressing,” comments Mentele. “I wouldn’t be able to reach my future goals, so I must keep looking forward.” It was that mindset that got his competitive swimming career started over 13 years ago. The Lincoln High graduate started swimming at a young age because his father, Joseph, felt it was important for him to know how to swim for safety reasons. Little did he know how well his son would adapt to life in the water. Jake took well to the water and before he knew it had advanced to the high level classes. Being only seven, he was too young to move on so he started repeating courses and that’s when competitive swimming was brought to his attention. “My instructor suggested that instead of repeating all the courses until I was old enough, to go and tryout for the Snow Fox Swim team,” says Mentele. “I went to one of their practices and the coach had me jump in the pool to evaluate my technique. I made the team and started swimming competitively that summer.” It didn’t take long for Jake to adapt to life as a competitive swimmer. In his first summer of competition in 1993, he won his first medal, a bronze medal in the butterfly. “(Winning) was special to me,” smiles Mentele. “It helped me decide that maybe swimming was the way to go. I tried other sports, but they didn’t feel like they were right for me. Swimming just felt like my sport.” The current West Point junior was right, at the age of seven, he made the right choice and decided to put all his effort into swimming. Over the next few years, Mentele set goals for himself, small and attainable. He would go on to swim Top 16 times for his age group. The next step was to set state records – mission accomplished. The breastroke specialist holds countless South Dakota state age group records ranging from ages seven to 18. After the local and state success, it was time for a new goal. It was time to compete on the national level. In his freshman year of high school, he made his first U.S. Open cut and achieved his first national ranking. “That put things in focus for me,” states Mentele. “When I made those cuts I realized that swimming wasn’t a high school thing anymore and decided that I wanted to swim in college, at the Division I level.” As his high school career drew to an end, Mentele started to strongly consider what school he should attend to continue his swimming career. He wanted a place that would challenge him and prepare him for life after swimming. “When I came on my official visit in October of my senior year, I viewed college from a whole different level,” mentions the Military History major. “I saw the cadets parading and all the things going on here and felt it was something I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to be a part of something Courtesy photo Jacob Mentele bigger than myself. I’m glad I made the choice to attend West Point.” Challenging yourself, setting goals, pushing yourself beyond belief, Jake made the right choice. West Point was the perfect fit for the Mount Rushmore State native. After surviving plebe summer and starting the academic school year, it was time for a new set of goals. “Going into my plebe season, I set some loftily goals,” Mentele sid. “I wanted to set plebe records in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke.” Attainable, certainly, but it would be a challenge. In order for the former Eagle Scout to break those records he would have to swim career bests in both events. As the season played out, the image of setting new standards seemed out of reach. That was until the Patriot League Championships. “All the training and hard work came together,” smiles Mentele. “Everything fell into place at Patriots and I was able to set both records.” With his record-setting performance, Jake won both the 100 and 200 breaststroke and was named the Patriot League “Rookie of the Meet.” More important to him was the fact that he had helped his team to a second place finish. “I was able to score valuable points for the team,” mentions Mentele. “Anything I can do to help our team improve and help take us to the next level feels awesome.” As Mentele moves forward in both his military and swimming career it will be the team that helps him get there, a band of brothers that serves as a second family to him. “One thing that helps me so much is the team. We’re together 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” notes Mentele. “They push me on the days I’m lagging and give me the motivation to keep moving on. The sense of pride you feel when you accomplish goals together is something unlike anything else.” With his future goals set of qualifying for the NCAA Championships and setting Academy records, Mentele will have his team there pushing him. “I’m not too far from making the NCAA cut,” states the junior cadet. “I still have two seasons to go and I’m motivated to accomplish that goal.” In two years, when Mentele draws near the end of his collegiate swimming career and prepares to have his 2nd Lt. bars pinned to his shoulders, you may see him standing on the starting block in lane eight with the Army ‘A’ on his cap at the 2008 Olympics.