Sports Day generates healthy squadron rivalry

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  More than a thousand Airmen assembled, donned their game faces and teamed up with their squadrons to compete for a trophy -- and for bragging rights -- during the Wing Sports Day here Sept. 18.

Members from 16 squadrons competed in a variety of sports while spectators observed and rooted for their colleagues during the morale-boosting event.

"The goal of Sports Day is to get everyone out of the office and enjoy themselves and to build relationships that ultimately help us perform the mission," said 2nd Lt. Jesse Murillo, 49th Force Support Squadron. "Overall, everyone is pretty stressed out with a high operations tempo and every chance we get to get Airmen out to enjoy themselves is a chance we need to take."

The day began with a 1.5 mile formation run which included the greater part of Team Holloman's military members, evoking a sense of camaraderie throughout the squadrons.

"During the wing run, we were all in the same step, on the same path and going the same place, so the camaraderie naturally shines," said Lieutenant Murillo.

The rest of the day was occupied with basketball, volleyball, racquetball, bowling and golf tournaments; a three-mile relay; a four-person 100 meter swim relay; a bed race; and the ultimate crowd favorite -- the tug of war.

The 432nd Maintenance Group, Det. 1, was the small unit winner of the tug of war, tugging three teams into a knee-high pool of mud. One member of the winning team, Tech. Sgt. John Wayne Johnson, thought the greatest part, aside from seeing his fellow Team Holloman members dunked in mud, was the teamwork his unit displayed.

"The best part was seeing us come together as a team and overcome everybody else," said Sergeant Johnson. He also offered a piece of advice for next year's contestants: "Don't underestimate the little units."

The 2009 Wing Sports Day concluded with an awards ceremony where the winning squadrons, both large and small, were announced. Additionally, the Commander's Cup Trophy was presented to a large and small unit that garnered the most points during the intramural season from September 2008 to September 2009.

Two squadrons were given a trophy and the opportunity to call themselves the Sports Day winners of 2009.

"Airmen have fun partaking in these events and their squadron gets the bragging rights if they are the overall winners," said Staff Sgt. Kristina Adams, 49th Force Support Squadron, event coordinator.

The following are the winning squadrons:

49th Civil Engineer Squadron, 2009 Wing Sports Day winner, large unit
49th Force Support Squadron, 2009 Wing Sports Day winner, small unit
49th Civil Engineer Squadron, Commander's Cup recipient, large unit
49th Force Support Squadron, Commander's Cup recipient, small unit