Team Navy Archers Hit the Bullseye at Warrior Games

By Robin Hillyer-Miles, Fleet and Family Readiness Marketing Public Affairs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (NNS) -- Team Navy scored a gold medal in the individual archery (recurve) competition at the 2014 Warrior Games, Oct. 1, at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Navy Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Jonathan Adviento, who is a first-time Warrior Games competitor, advanced to the quarterfinals after contesting and oversetting a loss in the open shoot off. During the final match, Adviento outscored his Air Force opponent 90 to 87 to win the gold.

"I wasn't nervous at all," said Adviento. "I knew I would be going against seasoned archers with better equipment and better training facilities. All I could do was hope all the hours I spent in my garage and a local outdoor range on weekends would pay off."

"I cannot say enough good things about my competition. They all looked amazing and their performances were top-notch," he added.

Last March, while cleaning his gun after shooting practice, Adviento's left hand was severely injured when his gun accidentally discharged. He has undergone multiple surgeries and therapy, but he still has limited functionality of his hand and arm.

Adviento also was part of Team Navy's three-person archery (recurve) team, which narrowly defeated the Marine Corps 162 to 161 to win the bronze. Navy Machinist's Mate 1st Class Michael Dayton and Navy Chief Logistics Specialist Averill Malone, another first-time Warrior Games competitor, were part of the team, as well.

Navy Counselor 1st Class Misty Taylor, one of the two females competing for Team Navy in archery, enjoyed her first competition after learning to shoot a recurve bow in recreational therapy one year ago.

"Our archery team clicks well and gets each other's sense of humor," she said. "We work well together in both the team and individual events. All the other team coaches and the athletes have been positive and congratulating each other and us."

Taylor added, "it's almost our whole archery team's first year and next year we're coming back and taking all the medals."

Also, Team Navy defeated the Air Force 28 to 20 in wheelchair basketball Wednesday evening, ensuring the team a medal. The team will face off against the Army to determine which team will advance to the finals against the Marine Corps.

Thirty-nine seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors are competing on behalf of Team Navy this year. The Warrior Games are being held Sept. 28-Oct. 4. Approximately 200 wounded warrior athletes are participating in the competition.

Team Navy is sponsored by Navy Wounded Warrior (NWW)-Safe Harbor, the Navy and Coast Guard's wounded warrior support program. The team members have upper-body and/or lower-body injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairments, serious illnesses and/or post-traumatic stress.