FORT HOOD, Texas - The six battalions from 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division engaged in battles here at Fort Hood - not in military operations, but on the playing fields.
Batteries, troops, companies and Soldiers competed in a two week head-to-head competition in seven events.
"The purpose of the "Greywolf Smackdown Challenge" is to raise the esprit de corps of Soldiers in the brigade, promote military cohesion, and to serve as a going away event for the command team," said Maj. Sheldon Morris, the brigade assistant operations officer.
Teams competed for points; ten for first place, seven for second place, five for third place and three for fourth place.
Evans Sports Complex Field hosted softball competition, where Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3HBCT, took home bragging rights for softball, with A Company, 3rd Battalion "Warhorse," 8th Cavalry Regiment, taking second.
The highlights of the softball tournament were the two 300 foot homeruns hit by Staff Sgt. Richard Erickson, from Chicago, over the center field fence, at the Evans Sports Complex Field.
"With the wind swirling I didn't think that I would be able to hit one homerun, let alone two," said Erickson, a career counselor with HHT, 3HBCT.
The basketball finals were held at Abrams Gym. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion "Steel Dragons," 82nd Field Artillery Regiment outhustled B Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion "Gladiators" to secure the title.
Hood Stadium hosted the finals for flag football, soccer and the track and field events.
B Battery "Bulls" used the pass to clinch the flag football championship against A Battery "Rock", 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment.
In soccer highlights, Sgt. Travis Downey, the goalie for D Co., 1st Bn., 12th Cav. Regt., scored the winning goals in a shootout against HHC, 1/12 Cav. to help lock-up the championship.
"Everyone was getting tired and had played their hearts out, so it felt good to help the team by scoring the winning goal," said Downey, an infantryman, from Mansfield, TX.
New to the Army and battalion, Pvt. Darius Porter, with C. Co., 3BSTB, used the GSC to demonstrate that he could be part of the team.
"My participation and performance in GSC allowed the first sergeant and the other non-commission officers in the company to see what I can accomplish if given an opportunity," said Porter, a combat engineer, from Atlanta.
In the 100 and 400 meter races, Spc. Robert Davis and Spc. Winston Predestin, from C Co., 3BSTB, took home first place. Pfc. Lonnie Smith, from B Forward Maintenance Co., 215th Bde. Support Bn., won the 200 meters race; Pvt. Maurice Temple, from B Co. BSTB, won the shot put; 1st Lt. Marcus Harness, from B Co., 3rd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt., won the discus throw; Maj. Sheldon Morris, from HHT, 3HBCT, won the long jump; and Sgt. Richard White and Staff Sgt. David Rizzo, both with C Co., 1st Bn., 12th Cav. Regt., won the 5-mile buddy run.
The Greywolf Smackdown Challenge culminated on April 16, with 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment's former commander Lt. Col. Benjamin Matthews and MSG George Bullard, receiving the commander's cup and a plaque from Col. Gary Volesky, 3HBCT former brigade commander.
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