75th ABW sports day

  • Published
  • By By Lee Anne Hensley
  • Hilltop Times staff
With the weather expected to be sunny with some clouds and a cool mid-50 degrees, tomorrow's 75th Air Base Wing Change of Command Sports Day is expected to be a perfect way to spend a Friday afternoon.

The event will be held from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Hess Fitness Center, the Warrior Health and Fitness Center, the Bubble and the running track across the street from the gymnasium area, and is open to all 75th ABW personnel and their families.

"This event was specifically requested by (Col. Linda Medler, 75th ABW commander,) as a way to mingle with the troops," before her official change of command ceremony that will be held Monday, April 20, said event coordinator and 75th ABW Activities Committee member, Master Sgt. Anthony Beasley, of the 75th Communications Group.

Adding to the event's incentive are myriads of fun sports activities, prizes and food -- all free. Each attendee will receive a free raffle ticket upon arrival and every 10 minutes Army and Air Force Exchange Services will give away a $20 gift card that is redeemable at any AAFES owned store, and at the end of the day they will give away a $100 gift card. Additionally, the Defense Commissary Agency will donate five cases of fruit plus other snack items, and Red Bull will provide free energy drinks and sodas. The 75th ABW Activities Committee will also provide more than 700 hot dogs and buns and a soda truck will keep the carbonated beverages flowing. For those inclined towards healthier drinks, the WHFC will have free Gatorade and water on hand as well.

To help work off the charitable calories, teams will compete in various sports categories such as three-on-three basketball, dodge ball and rock climbing at the WHFC, volleyball and racquetball at the Hess gym, Washers (a variation of horseshoes and corn hole games) at the Bubble and a tug-of-war competition and 50-yard dash to be held either at the track or the Bubble.

Beasley noted that there was one new addition to the competition. "Colonel Medler and the command chief (Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Candler) will hold a hamster ball race, which (the human-size hamster balls) will be donated from the Youth Center."

Several hamster ball race tournaments will take place at various times during the three-hour event in the center of the track field.

Prizes will be given at the end of the event, where first place winners will receive a T-shirt commemorating the event along with bragging rights as being the wing's top athletes.