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In pursuit of the infamous title as "Ultimate Champion"

By Lee M. Packnett, Warrior Care and TransitionDecember 11, 2017

In pursuit of the infamous title as "Ultimate Champion"
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ross Alewine rests after practicing cycling techniques before the cycling event at the Atlantic and Central Regional Trials at Fort Benning, Georgia, Dec. 3, 2017. Wounded, ill or injured active-duty Soldiers and veterans are exp... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
In pursuit of the infamous title as "Ultimate Champion"
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Ross Alewine practice for the shot put event for the Atlantic/Central Regional Trials at Fort Benning, Georgia on Dec. 2, 2017. Wounded, ill or injured active-duty Soldiers and veterans are expected to converge on Fort Benning's Warrior Tr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
In pursuit of the infamous title as "Ultimate Champion"
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Ross Alewine,(center) Fort Belvoir Warrior Transition Battalion receives a commander's coin from Regional Health Command -- Atlantic Deputy Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Erik H. Torring III (left) and RHC-A Command Sgt. Maj, Command Sgt. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- The Department of Defense Warrior Games Ultimate Champion is a pentathlon style event that pits warriors against each other in a variety of disciplines. Points are earned in each discipline with the athlete collecting the most points being crowned

Ultimate Champion of the Warrior Games.

Staff Sgt. Ross Alewine, a Williamston, S.C. native recovering at the Fort Belvoir Warrior Transition Battalion is seeking to become the first Team Army Warrior Games athlete to wear the Ultimate Champion crown. This is Alewine's second attempt at the crown. A year ago, he competed in all events and was recognized as a Regional Ultimate Warrior but due to surgeries, was not able to participate in Army Trials thus not making the Warrior Games team. This year, he again was recognized as an Ultimate Champion at the Regional Health Command -- Atlantic Warrior Games Regional Trials.

A veteran of two combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, Alewine is currently in the Medical Evaluation Board process transitioning out of the Army due to several injuries to include severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disease, shoulder and leg injuries. He credits his path to adaptive sports to Steve Smutak, Ft. Belvoir WTB military adaptive sports program director. "Steve got me out of a very dark place by encouraging me to participate in wheelchair basketball and I have been hooked ever since," said Alewine prior to participating in the air pistol event.

Alewine was one of six RHC-Atlantic regional trials participants to receive recognition as Ultimate Champions during the closing ceremony and awards presentations. Each participated in the eight (track, field, air rifle and pistol, swimming, archery, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball) events required for recognition as an Ultimate Champion.

"Last year, I did it {Ultimate Champion} but could not compete at {army} trials due to my surgeries, it is hard and everybody does not do it, I want to represent the Army as the best," Alewine said while discussing his quest to become an Ultimate Champion.

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