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737th EAS takes Rock Trophy Challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrice Clarke
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  With a 27-point lead ahead of the nearest competitor, the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron members won the Rock Trophy Challenge Feb. 1 and are the proud owners of the traveling Rock Trophy.

The base-wide fitness and sports competition was fierce with only four points separating the fourth-place competitor and the second-place competitor. With 124 points, the 737th EAS were the clear winners.

The event was spread across the month of January with each weekend a chance to participate in a sports event and a fitness event. The seven events in the tournament included the Rock Trophy Challenge, volleyball, the pump-n-run, indoor soccer, Rock Trophy Relay, basketball, and dodge ball. The main point of all the events was to promote fitness while fostering camaraderie and competition. The 737th EAS took this concept to heart.

"We are a close knit unit and we decided we wanted to compete and see the results of our hard hours at the gym," said Capt. Adam Cole, a C-130H Hercules pilot with the 737th EAS. "We took three separate event championships within the rock trophy events and I attribute that to our team coming together and deciding that when we do something we are going to come out on top."

Teams were awarded points for placing from first place to eighth place as well as across the board participation points. Any squadron that participated was awarded seven points no matter the size of their team or if they had more than one team. The majority of teams points came from a team's overall placement at the end of the event.

"One of my favorite events was the pump-n-run because it was the closest event," said Captain Cole. "We won the event by one second. It was a close event but as normal, we came out on top."

During the pump-in-run, one member of the three-member team had 30 seconds to do as many proper flat bench chest presses as they could, while the other two members ran a timed 1.5 mile. Time was taken off the runners combined time based on the amount of repetitions the lifter completed.

Basketball and dodgeball were the most participated in sports with 13 and 10 teams respectively.

"We had three teams for the first event," said Staff Sgt. Wanda Graham, 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron fitness center representative. "During dodge ball, the last event, there was a huge turnout of spectators and participants. The commanders, chiefs, first sergeants were all a part of the event either cheering on their teams or participating in the events."

The extra added competition was an eye opener for Captain Cole.

"You never know how tough the competition is going to be until you actually go out there and do the event. It was fierce competition from the base."

In that event, the win and the 15 first-place points went to the 387th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.

Airman 1st Class Jeremy Callaghan, a 387th ESFS member just came out to play some dodge ball.

"We came out to play some dodge ball," commented Airman Callaghan. "Every time we play dodge ball we win; we are kind of like a dynasty."

Win or lose, all of the participants had good things to say about how the fitness center ran the competition.

"The fitness center staff did an excellent job of organizing the event, setting the rules and making it all inclusive so every squadron on base could challenge the 737th EAS to no avail," said Captain Cole.

Squadrons looking to challenge the 737th EAS for the trophy have another six months before the competition returns. Be on the lookout though, according to Col. Scott Brewer, 386th Expeditionary Operations Group commander, this team and this squadron has what it takes to win.

"I'm real proud of the teamwork and effort that went into this championship," said Colonel Brewer. "Fitness, teamwork and the warrior spirit all attribute to this team winning."