ARLINGTON, Va. -- U. S. Army Medical Command, Army Recovery Care Program is proud to announce the selection of more than 80 wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and veterans who will compete at the 2020 Army Trials.
The event will take place at Fort Bliss, Texas March 17 - 25 with wounded warrior athletes competing in 12 adaptive sports with hopes of earning one of the 40 coveted spots on Team Army for the 2020 Department of Defense Warrior Games hosted by the United States Marine Corps in San Antonio, Texas, September 21 -- 28.
The athletes participating in this year's event consist of Soldiers selected by their regional Warrior Transition Office, and veterans who were either enrolled in the Army Wounded Warrior Program, previously assigned to a Warrior Transition Battalion, and/or Purple Heart recipients.
While the end goal for Army Trials is creating the roster for Team Army this year, there are other goals the ARCP staff hope to accomplish.
"We are working hard to make this a good event for our wounded, ill and injured Soldiers. The competition is a big part of it, but the comradery and friendships that are built here at Army Trials are a major part of this event as well," said Dr. Katie Bentley, 2020 Army Trials Director.
"Our goal is to make this an event that truly benefits the 'whole person' and being able to be around and talk to people going through similar situations can really help someone with their recovery."
For first time participant Capt. Tony Storey, a Soldier assigned to the WTB, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Army Trials is a special opportunity for him to do just that.
"To be able to compete alongside and surround myself with athletes that have gone through countless physical, mental and emotional struggles for their country is rewarding for me," Storey said. "I hope to become a more humble and well-rounded person from this experience and also achieve my ultimate goal of making Team Army and competing at the Warrior Games."
Another first time participant, Cpl. Mary Velis also assigned to the JBLM WTB, has used adaptive sports as a way to be part of a team again and regain part of herself after breaking her ankle and being forced to leave her unit left her feeling defeated.
"One of the hardest battles I've been dealing with since I've been at the WTB has been the sense of losing my purpose and motivation," said Velis. "I considered myself to be an asset to my unit and I've always thought of myself as an athlete; losing both of those things after breaking my ankle was very difficult."
Velis, who played volleyball in college, is excited for the opportunity to showcase her athleticism again and represent her WTB at Army Trials.
"We have been putting in the work for so long. The extra [physical training], extra rounds of archery, you name it and we will finally get to see it pay off," Velis said of the preparation she and other Soldiers at her WTB have done. "I'm just ready to get there and do it. The WTB takes such pride in all of us and I want to represent them well."
Athletes will compete in archery, cycling, field, golf, indoor rowing, powerlifting, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby during the 2020 Army Trials. The announcement of those selected to represent Team Army at the 2020 DoD Warrior Games will be made later this spring.
Check out the complete list of athletes selected to compete at the 2020 Army Trials below.
The Army Warrior Care and Transition Program is now the Army Recovery Care Program. Although the name has changed, the mission remains the same: to provide quality complex case management to the Army's wounded, ill and injured Soldiers.
Active Duty:
Spc. Joshua Berry
Cpl. Chance Boleware
Sgt. 1st Class Barry Brown
Master Sgt. Deitra Bruton
Sgt. Christopher Campos
Sgt. 1st Class Hyoshin Cha
Sgt. Maj. Robert Clary
Capt. Olivia Cobiskey
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Robert Coleman
Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Coulter
Sgt. 1st Class Ian Crawley
Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Davis
Staff Sgt. Robert Davis
Staff Sgt. Michael Difrancia
Spc. Kalun Dominique
Sgt. 1st Class Scottie Ervin
Sgt. Juan Escobar
Staff Sgt. Yvonne Estrella
Sgt. 1st Class Gerardo Familia
Maj. Elliot Galloway
Spc. Shawn Garlinghouse
Staff Sgt. Michael Gatua
Capt. Mya Gordon
Capt. Brian Hancock
Sgt. Isaiah Harris
Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Henao
Spc. Kayla Jean Lois
Staff Sgt. Alfonzo Jones
Sgt. Tanner Kane
Staff Sgt. Jeffery Keith
Staff Sgt. Altermese Kendrick
Pfc. Austin Klugiewicz
Pfc. Ryan Kosen
Sgt. Laura Laird
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Leota
Spc. Ramon Limon
Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Lona
Spc. Ezra Maes
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Richard McCormick
Staff Sgt. Fernando Meza
Spc. Trevor Miller
Sgt. Christopher Montes
Sgt. 1st Class Erich Neujahr
Spc. Dereck O'Farrell
Sgt. 1st Class Earl Ohlinger
Pfc. Tai'Shane Owens
Maj. Obadiah Pilkington
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Reeves
Staff Sgt. Roger Riley
Sgt. 1st Class Tiffany Rodriguez-Rexroad
Sgt. Marc Seki
Sgt. 1st Class James Sickelbaugh
Sgt. Amber Smith
Spc. Keith Smith
Staff Sgt. Michael Spoor
Capt. Anthony Storey
Sgt. 1st Class Shaun Tichenor
Pfc. Jose Torres
Spc. Jasmine Tucker
Sgt. 1st Class Everett Turner
Sgt. Michael Vaughn
Cpl. Mary Velis
Sgt. Chance VonHolle
Staff Sgt. Geoffrey Wagner
Sgt. John West
Spc. Daniel Willard
Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Williams
Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Williams
Veterans:
Spc. Lauren Britt, Ret.
Staff Sgt. Adam Blow, Ret.
Sgt. David Crook, Ret.
Sgt. Maj. Aaron De Los Santos, Ret.
Spc. Angela Euson, Ret.
Maj. William Hammac, Ret.
Staff Sgt. Beth King, Ret.
Sgt. Christopher McGinnis, Ret.
Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Olson, Ret.
Staff Sgt. Megan Palko, Ret.
1st Lt. Christopher Parks, Ret.
Staff Sgt. Greg Quarles, Ret.
Staff Sgt. Joel Rodriguez, Ret.
Staff Sgt. Shawn Runnells, Ret.
Staff Sgt. Michael Shaw, Ret.
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