Team Navy Coast/Guard Wins Bronze in Archery, Advance in Wheelchair Basketball

By Lt. Michael Fallon, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (NNS) -- Team Navy/Coast Guard's archers won the team's first medal in the second day of competition of the 2012 Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. May 2, 2012.

Team Navy/Coast Guard was represented in the individual and team recurve and compound archery events. The recurve team, represented by Navy Culinary Specialist Seamen Judy Boyce, Navy Machinist's Mate 1st Class Mike Dayton, and retired Navy Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Joshua Rosenberg, defeated the Air Force team in the bronze medal round of competition. Their performance achieved Team Navy/Coast Guard's first medal of the games and has reaffirmed the spirit of the athletes.

"That we have three members, rise up as a team to earn [a bronze] medal speaks volumes. They watched each others' backs and won as a team," said retired Master Chief Wilson.

Dayton, who narrowly lost the individual recurve bronze event earlier in the day, was excited that it all came together in the team event. "I may not have won an individual medal, but it's all about the team."

That unity extended into the evening competition. In the second day of wheelchair basketball games, Team Navy/Coast Guard defeated Special Operations Command (SOCOM) by a margin of 16-5. With this win, Navy/Coast Guard is in contention for the medal matches on Friday.

Retired Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Henry Sawyer responded "It doesn't matter who we play -- we're gonna win!"

An optimistic attitude and a spirit of commitment have been the essence of Team Navy/Coast Guard at these Warrior Games.

The 35 warrior athletes are participating as Team Navy/Coast Guard, sponsored by Navy Safe Harbor, the Navy and Coast Guard's wounded warrior support program, a key component of the Department of the Navy's 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative. The initiative is meant to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency, and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Department of the Navy.

The Warrior Games, hosted by the U.S. Olympic Committee's paralympics military program, provides an opportunity for wounded, ill, and injured service members to participate in competitive sports against members of other branches of service.