As athletes head towards the midway point of the 2018 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado, they are leaning on each other more and more. From trainers to teammates to service animals, most athletes have a support network around them.
Editor’s Note: Six Grady College students from the Sports Media Certificate and Visual Journalism programs, are in Colorado covering the Warrior Games as part of their summer capstone courses.
Ron Gomez, athletic trainer of Camp Pendleton, California, treats Staff Sgt. Jose Panez, of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on Sunday, June 3, 2018, during the Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Gomez treated several athletes before, during and after the shooting event. (Photo/Christina R. Matacotta, Grady Sports Bureau)Sgt. Richard Martin and Sgt. Thomas Parkness, both of Fort Carson, Colorado, chat in a Humvee on Sunday, June 3, 2018, during the Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Martin and Parkness were showing the vehicle off at the Warrior Games expo. (Photo/Christina R. Matacotta, Grady Sports Bureau)Staff Sgt. Robert Dominguez, of Camp Pendleton, California, hands a medal to Parker Cruze, 6, from Springfield, Missouri, on Sunday, June 3, 2018, during the Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Both Dominguez and Cruze were supporting Team Marine Corps during their sitting volleyball match against Team SOCOM. (Photo/Christina R. Matacotta, Grady Sports Bureau)Staff Sgt. Jason Pacheco, from Las Vegas, passes the ball next to teammate Sgt. Eric Johansen, from Orland, California, on Sunday, June 3, 2018, during the Team Marine Corps vs. Team SOCOM sitting volleyball match in the Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Team Marine Corps lost the match. (Photo/Christina R. Matacotta, Grady Sports Bureau)Cpl. Lisa Johnston, of Team United Kingdom, embraces Rowena Langan, of Team Australia, after the teams’ sitting volleyball match on Sunday, June 3, 2018, during the Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Each member of Team Australia gave Johnston a hug after the match. (Photo/Christina R. Matacotta, Grady Sports Bureau)Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Norman, of Cameron, North Carolina, serves the ball during the Team Marine Corps vs. Team SOCOM sitting volleyball match on Sunday, June 3, 2018, during the Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Team SOCOM won the match. (Photo/Christina R. Matacotta, Grady Sports Bureau)Army member Billy Gaechter (left), from Fort Carson, Colorado, and Army member Lonnie Thompson (right), from Aurora, Colorado, wait to perform at the ninth edition of the Department of Defense Warrior Games hosted at the United States Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Approximately 300 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans will compete at the competition. (Photo/Zoe L. Smith, Grady Sports Bureau)Navy diver chief Julius McManus, from Delton, Mich., embraces Phoenix, his service dog, at the United States Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sunday, June 3, 2018. McManus is an athlete competing in the ninth edition of the Department of Defense Warrior Games. Phoenix assists McManus with mobility, post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. (Photo/Zoe L. Smith, Grady Sports Bureau)Greg Grimmer, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, watches a Department of Defense Warrior Games sitting volleyball match with his son, Colton Grimmer, 7, at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sunday, June 3, 2018. Grimmer is happy that his son, who has a prosthetic leg, is able to experience an event like the Warrior Games where approximately 300 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans come together to compete. (Photo/Zoe L. Smith, Grady Sports Bureau)
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Teamwork on Display at the Warrior Games
by Grady Visual Journalist, Grady Newsource June 5, 2018
