Kuczer sets archery records at DOD Warrior Games

By Shannon CollinsJune 24, 2015

Kuczer sets archery records at DOD Warrior Games
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Kuczer sets archery records at DOD Warrior Games
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Kuczer sets archery records at DOD Warrior Games
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Kuczer sets archery records at DOD Warrior Games
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Trials athletes compete in the first women's only archery category in Warrior Games history at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, March 31, 2015. From left are Jasmine Perry, Chasity Kuczer and Laurel Cox. Previous competitions combined women and men... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Kuczer sets archery records at DOD Warrior Games
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QUANTICO, Va. (Army News Service, June 23, 2015) -- Army Spc. Chasity Kuczer was the first-ever female gold medalist in archery at the Department of Defense Warrior Games, June 22, and the highest individual scorer in coed competition, winning two golds.

"It was amazing," to beat the men, Kuczer said. "I was nervous at first, but I just kept going and then the better my score was, the more confident I got. I just did me. I did it one arrow at a time and doing my best came through."

During the final round for the gold, Kuczer was two points ahead and then a male challenger scored a 10. "I had one that was right on the line at the end where I would've had a three-point lead, but I got a 9 and he got a 10, but I was still a point ahead..."

"She was amazing," Army Coach Jessie White said. "We knew she could shoot well. She's got a natural talent and ability, and she just held her own, didn't back down and did what she came to do."

GROWING UP SHOOTING

During her youth in Seymour, Wisconsin, Kuczer practically grew up with a bow in one hand and a shotgun in the other.

Army Reservist Spc. Chasity Kuczer, who is serving at the Warrior Transition Battalion on Fort Knox, Kentucky, said she's been shooting archery since she was 4 and grew up shooting shotguns, rifle and skeet.

"I did archery competitions; I went to nationals in 2010 for trap, skeet and sporting clays," she said. "I also went to nationals for archery in 2008. I was the top four in the state and then the top 25 percent at nationals."

For shooting competitions, she said she used 22-caliber rifles. She also loved to shoot skeet, but now it's difficult for her because of her injury. She works on both the electrical and mechanical systems of Army trains in the Army Reserve.

"I know how to operate a train as well," she said with a smile.

INJURY AND RECOVERY

Because of her work on the trains, lifting heavy objects and going up and down steps, she suffered a bilateral labral tear and had to have surgeries on her hips.

"I have problems with my hips, sciatica, nerve damage and problems with my lower back," she said.

The hardest part for Kuczer, as she recovered from her surgeries, was not being outdoors - skeet shooting.

"The surgeries kind of put me back but adaptive sports at the WTB [Warrior Transition Battalion] made me realize I can do other events. I can still be very active and partake in other sports," she said. "I just needed to stay strong and positive."

Kuczer was all smiles during the Army Trials on Fort Bliss, Texas, as she earned her first gold medal in the women's compound in archery. She also earned gold medals in the women's classified 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter backstroke, 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter freestyle.

She will also be competing for the Army Team in air rifle, seated shot put and discus, swimming, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball at the Warrior Games this week.

"The DOD Warrior Games is the most positive thing to come out of my injury so far," Kuczer said. "It's given me a new outlook on everything. I'm actually smiling. I'm meeting people with similar injuries, and I'm competing again. It's like a cherry on top of a sundae. It's great."

Related Links:

Adaptive Sports help Wounded Soldiers Compete in DoD Warrior Games

Army News Service Online

Army team gets all the gold during DOD Warrior Games archery

Army.mil: Human Interest News

2015 DOD Warrior Games

Army Warrior Transition Command

BIO: SPC Chasity Kuczer

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