If it was war, Locust Hill would look like Berlin after its surrender. Christie Kerr was that good. The people fortunate to be in the gallery for the final round of the 56th LPGA Championship have seen history made.

Golf Digest on Kerr’s record setting run

With this landslide victory, Kerr set a new record for lowest score in LPGA Championship history in relation to par (besting Betsy King’s 17-under at Bethesda CC in 1992), a new record for largest winning margin in LPGA Championship history (her 12-shot advantage was one better than King’s in ’92) and she is projected to become the first American to take the top spot in the Rolex World Rankings since its inception in 2006.

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Kerr romps to 12-stroke win at LPGA Championship – AP

“It’s a dream performance,” Kerr said Sunday after winning her second major title by a whopping 12-strokes at Locust Hill Country Club. “It’s like you wake up or you dream — I can’t even speak right now. Winning by two or three is great, but winning by 12 shots is ridiculous. It’s obscene.”

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Final Leaderboard – BBC

-19 C Kerr (USA) -7 S-H Kim (S Kor) -5 A Miyazato (Jap), J Shin (S Kor) -4 I-K Kim (S Kor), K Webb (Aus) -3 M Pressel (USA), I Park (S Kor), M Francella (USA), J Kang (S Kor)

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Sully on Sports – Buffalo News

It wasn’t a round of golf. It was a coronation. Cristi Kerr just completed one of the most dominant performances in major golf history, shooting 66 in the final round to win the LPGA Championship by 12 strokes at Locust Hill Country Club.

I imagine this was how it felt when Tiger Woods won the Masters by 12 shots in 1997 — or the U.S. Open by 15 strokes in 2000. No one is supposed to tear up the course this way in a major. But Kerr grabbed this tournament by the throat in the second round and never let up. She shot 68-66-69-66 on the par-72 Locust Hill layout. Kerr led by eight shots to begin Sunday’s round and played as if she were behind by a shot. On the final hold, Kerr landed the ball a few feet above the hole at the back of the green and made an easy three-foot birdie putt to finish in style.

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Twitter:

ANordqvist Finally done… It has been a long week at the LPGA championship! The tournament staff has done a tremendous job hosting the event…

ANordqvist …it has been a lot of hard work behind it. I couldn’t get the ball in the hole this week but looking forward to a week off b4 the us open!

TheVickyHurst Great week here in Rochester for the Wegmans LPGA!!! The course is amazing….. from the fairway and Greens..:D, can’t wait to be back:)

TheSandraGal Although I didn’t play on the weekend – I LOVE coming to Rochester! Thanks to @wegmanslpga and all the fans for a great event!!!

Brittany1golf Nothing good to say about today very disappointed in my attitude and my game. It makes me sad when I act like that! I’m taking tue off

minaharigae Rochester was an awesome course! Played pretty tough can’t wait to be back. Going to cleveland to meet the boy’s fam

ThePCreamer Congratulations Cristie on your win! You played awesome! Very Very impressive.

ThePCreamer Tough tournament for me. All I can say is that I am glad I am back playing and getting the rust off my clubs. Patience and time is key.

ThePCreamer Thank you Wegman’s for a great week. All the fans and volunteers I take my hat off for you! Already looking forward to next year.

Brittany1golf Thank you so much to Wegman’s for a great week. And to all the fans and volunteers. Can’t wait for next year.

ANNIKA59 Impressive performance from Cristie Kerr at the LPGA championship. Cruising to victory.

SophieGustafson Hit lots more fairways (and greens today) which made for a better score. Now on my way back to O-town. Might have to sleep in IAD tonight..

MariaJoUribe Had a great week @WegmansLPGA Great crowds and course, glad to see good scores. Definitely these girls rock.. Lpga <3

TheChristinaKim Many many thanks to the wonderful people with Wegmans for being the presenting sponsor of the LPGA Championship! Way to go, Cristie!!!

LPGA tour rookie Azahara Munoz, 2nd after three rounds

It’s already rained today, but play has resumed.

Cristie Kerr in control at LPGA Championship

Cristie Kerr was speaking on Friday about her desire to become the No. 1 player in the world, and how it has always been her dream. Well, by dinnertime tonight, if she’s standing on the 18th green at Locust Hill Country Club holding aloft the LPGA Championship trophy, and Ai Miyazato isn’t next to her as the runner-up finisher, Kerr’s dream will become a reality.

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Cristie Kerr relishes role as top American on LPGA Tour

There was no such thing as the Rolex world ranking prior to 2006, so thanks to the presence of Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa, no American player has ever ascended to the No. 1 spot.

Prior to the creation of the world ranking, the only way to gauge which player was No. 1 was to go by the season-ending LPGA money list.

And America hasn’t fared too well in that system, either. If you can believe this, the last American to win the money title was Betsy King in 1993.

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LPGA, Locust Hill won’t rush talks regarding future LPGA Championships

Tournament co-chairman Jerry Stahl said that any discussions concerning the LPGA Championship staying in Rochester beyond this year won’t begin right away.

“We won’t start talking until at least August,” Stahl said Saturday morning.

There are compelling arguments for the LPGA to both stay and go. The tour owns this major championship, so making it a premier event is a priority and that would certainly be easy to do if it stayed at Locust Hill.

Nowhere does the LPGA have larger galleries, or get more media coverage, than it does in Rochester.

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LPGA rookie Munoz upbeat despite trailing by 8

The last two completed LPGA Championships were won by rookies.

Azahara Munoz, a 22-year old Spaniard in her first year on the LPGA Tour, is tied for second place with one round to go in this year’s LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans.

Twitter:

BriVega 835am off 10 tomorrow, split tees, we are expecting some storms in the afternoon

ThePCreamer 1040 today with Natalie Gulbis. Lots and lots of birdies!

ThePCreamer once again even yesterday the galleries were large with the bad weather. Thank you Rochester for being loyal fans!!

ThePCreamer I am wearing the new adidas dress that I helped design! Let me know what you think.

natalie_gulbis Just got to course for Sundays final round of LPGA Championship. It’s pouring! Go away rain!

natalie_gulbis Cristie Kerr has an 8 shot lead. She is playing some amazing golf!

Brittany1golf Going to the course. It just stopped raining. there is only a 10 percent chance of rain today. What the heck. Please don’t rain today!!

Christie Kerr leads after two rounds of the LPGA Championship Presented by Wegmans

Early start today, 7 a.m., to try to beat afternoon rain.

American Christie Kerr had an awesome day yesterday and holds the lead after two days at -10, a 134. How awesome? She tied the tournament record with a 66.

Mika Miyazato and Inbee Park share second place at 139. Amy Yang and Brittany Lincicome were tied for fourth at 140.

UPI

Rochester Business Journal

Twitter:

TheChristinaKim Getting worked on by the physios inside the LPGA Fitness Trailer. Calling him every name in the book. In my head, of course…

Brittany1golf So I had another great day. Still only hit 10 fairways total in 2 days. LOL. I guess u don’t need to.

SophieGustafson Tough day today with only 5 fairways hit. Fought hard with 3 up-and-down on the last 3 to make the cut on the number. New day tomorrow!

Kstupples I really think this golf course doesn’t like me. The feeling wasn’t mutual until today

natalie_gulbis Looks Like a good day for golf today in Rochester. Stay away storms!

Juliegranada Got up and down from impossible places today! Putting and chipping r the best! Now just need to hit the fairway!

BriVega Frustrating day on the course, I am due for putts to drop! 810am tee time tomorrow!

Round one has three atop the leaderboard.

Stacy Lewis is tied with fellow American Cristie Kerr and South Korea’s Seon Hwa Lee for the top spot. They are one shot ahead of South Korea’s Inbee Park, Japan’s Mika Miyazato and Australia’s Lindsey Wright, who were the only other players under 70.

On a gusty day that was interrupted in the early afternoon by a fast-moving torrential downpour, many players struggled with the muscle-flexing Locust Hill layout…

“The course is tough,” said the newly minted 50-year-old, Juli Inkster, a Hall of Famer who has seven major championships on her résumé. “Then you throw the wind and the rain in. I was on the range this morning thinking I’d take even par, so I beat that (with a 1-under 71). You just can’t be in the rough.”

Democrat & Chronicle

Twitter:

TheChristinaKim Thank you to everyone for the encouragement! I had a hilarious day out there-will take -2, considering the conditions! The course was tough!

suzannpettersen I did a Tiger/Phil today!!! no birdies!! i want revenge tomorrow!!!

ThePCreamer I would like to thank all the fans that have been so great to me the past two weeks. Thank you for all your nice comments about being back.

ThePCreamer I have always said I have the best fans. I am glad to be back playing golf and it is so nice to play in front of you all! Thank you again.

natalie_gulbis Getting ready for round two at The LPGA Championship. I shot 72 in round one

OK, batter up! It’s day one of the LPGA. Cool, humid, cloudy with scattered showers.

The course has been tuned. Not to Pebble Beach standards, but it is a tighter and more difficult Locust Hill. Precision and consistency will be rewarded.

Let’s hope Paula Creamer’s hand is well, because she will have a shot at the title.

ThePCreamer My tee time today is 916 with Juli and Jiyai. Hope the rain holds off in the morning. Golf course is going to be VERY wet. Come out to watch

ThePCreamer Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! happy Birthday to Juli Inkster Happy Birthday to you!! Happy 50th. Glad i can spend it with u!

Kstupples Heading for course, got sherri + @SophieGustafson today

natalie_gulbis First round of the LPGA Championship here in Rochester NY

Brittany1golf Happy birthday to miss Juli Inkster . Hope she has a great day today

minaharigae Rain and chance of tstorms this morning but all clear for the afternoon? Isn’t that reversed? Oh well I’m not complaining I’m ready to go!

Some shots from yesterday, pro-am rained out. Click for a larger image.

Twitter talk from this morning and yesterday:

1. suzannpettersen Iam paired with Cristie Kerr and fellow nike player Amanda Blumenhurst tomorrow. At least i dont have to worry about what to wear!!
2. natalie_gulbis Practice day. It’s sunny and no clouds. Only played one hole in the pro am yesterday.
3. natalie_gulbis Weather delay for pro am. In playing with guys from Anheuser Busch
4. suzannpettersen i will be paired with Hunter Mahan!!!!! 
5. Meredith_DuncanPlaying oakmont today!!! 
6. MariaJoUribegood morning!! practice round at wegmans lpga great course and tournament. Cant wait to start it but dont want it to end. love it here

Paychex Shoot Out

Finishing in first place was Nicole Jeray’s team made up of Alie Ince (Fairport), Sara Quinn (Mercy) and Gabrielle Sacheli (Pittsford) with a 74 over nine holes.

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Pro-Am a thrill for Rochester-area golfers

“This was the best day of golf of my life,” said Hamilton, a data accuracy consultant for Equal Measure, which contracts with Wegmans. “The course is beautiful and the pro (Jean Bartholomew) was so welcoming and helpful. It’s beautiful, just a beautiful day. I never thought I would be on the tee with the Rolex clock. It was the best day of golf ever.”

Many of the participants, both amateur and professional, echoed Hamilton’s sentiments. The team of pro Sarah Jane Smith and amateurs Dave Fagner, Ron Indovina, Tom Mulvehill and Don Reeve had even more reason to be cheerful after posting a winning score of 54 net in the five-person scramble format.

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Is Michelle Wie’s career finally on course?

However, potential doesn’t mean a thing in golf. No matter how great everyone thinks you’re going to be, you still have to get that little dimpled ball into that tiny hole. As the years passed, and the pressure and expectations mounted on the can’t-miss-kid, that became increasingly difficult to do.

Finally, at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico, it all came together for Wie as she outlasted Paula Creamer, and the tournament’s namesake, for a two-stroke victory.

Rochester, NY — June 1, 2010 – The LPGA Championship Presented by Wegmans announced plans today to honor Betsy Rawls during the LPGA Major Championship. A member of the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame, Betsy Rawls is the winner of 55 LPGA events, including eight major championships (four US Women’s Open titles, two LPGA Championships and two Western Opens). Following her playing career, Betsy served as the Executive Director of the McDonalds LPGA Championship, raising record charity amounts for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Betsy will participate in opening ceremonies on Thursday.

Additionally, two LPGA and World Hall Fame Members and Rochester Champions have entered the LPGA Championship Presented by Wegmans field and will compete in June at Locust Hill Country Club.

Patty Sheehan is a four-time champion of the Rochester LPGA tournament and a three-time winner of the LPGA Championship. She has been a member of six U.S. Solheim Cup Teams over the years. Patty won back-to-back Rochester tournaments in 1989 and 1990. She has recorded 35 victories on the LPGA Tour. Patty was inducted into the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame in 1993.

Nancy Lopez is a three-time winner of the Rochester LPGA event and the LPGA Championship, winning both events in 1978. Nancy also won back-to-back Rochester tournaments in 1980 and 1981. Nancy, a 48-time winner on Tour was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. Nancy is a past participant and U.S. Solheim Cup Captain. Nancy has returned over the years to play in the Rochester LPGA Tournament. This will be the first time she has returned to play in the LPGA Championship in Rochester.

Patty and Nancy feel right at home when playing at Locust Hill Country Club. Both continue to be Rochester favorites even today. “Its going to be great fun to watch two past Rochester LPGA Champions tee it up at LHCC especially on this major championship course. We know our Rochester fans will come out and cheer for them once again”, stated Jerry Stahl, Tournament Co-Chairman.

Check the website for a listing of events and tee times. Tournament passes are still available and can be purchased at any Wegmans service desk, on line at www.wegmanslpga.org or by calling 585-427-7100.

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Locust Hill makes history as site of LPGA’s most coveted crown

Tournament officials of the Wegmans LPGA are keenly aware that they operate one of the most successful events on the LPGA Tour, and have done so for the better part of 33 years.

But there is no denying that things are going to be a little different, and the stakes are going to be precipitously higher, this week at Locust Hill CC.

It may be for only this one year, but Wegmans is the presenting sponsor, and Locust Hill is the site of the tour’s most prestigious tournament, the LPGA Championship.

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Locust Hill course gets challenging makeover for LPGA Championship

In preparation for the LPGA Championship, Locust Hill greens superintendent Rick Slattery met with LPGA officials in March and mapped out a plan to toughen the course.

Length was added, but only about 140 yards, which isn’t a whole lot over 18 holes. The only significant changes are a 30-yard addition at both the first and 10th holes, and about 20 yards at No. 3.

More importantly, 10 fairways were narrowed. That, in combination with all the trees on the property, long and lush rough, and speedy sloped greens, will put a heavy emphasis on driving accuracy.

Local high school female golfers pair with LPGA pros in a nine hole best ball shootout.

“The LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans is the second major of the season and will be played at the renowned Locust Hill Country Club, June 21 to 27, 2010. Locust Hill has hosted an LPGA event since 1977.” LPGA

There was some question at the end of last year’s LPGA event at Locust Hill if Rochester would ever see another LPGA tourney. This year’s event is the results of much hard work on the part of the LPGA, Wegmans and Locust Hill. The future of women’s professional golf in Rochester, however, remains in doubt.

LPGA golfer Christina Kim

LPGA golfer Vicky Hurst

LPGA golfer Karen Stupples

LPGA player Natalie Gulbis

Army Capt. Kelly Calway stretches before a track workout at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., May 28. Army photo/Jennifer Caprioli

Army Capt. Kelly Calway doesn’t don a cape, fight crime on a daily basis or possess any sort of superhuman powers.

Yet, Calway, the Army’s 2008 Female Athlete of the Year, indeed is a super heroine. She is defending her country and raising a family, while preparing to join the World Class Athlete Program.

Calway is attending the military intelligence Captain’s Career Course here. She’s assigned to Company A, 304th Military Intelligence Battalion.

Her choice to join the Army might have been inspired by her father, Maj. Gen. Robert Brown, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Europe, who encouraged her to enter the service. But her love for the military became apparent while she was enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at North Carolina State University. There, she realized how much she appreciated the Army community and its values.

She began running competitively at age 8, when her physical education teacher suggested she join the track team.

“I just fell in love,” she said, describing running as a “weird addiction.”

In August, 26-year-old Calway, her husband Chris, also a captain enrolled in the intelligence career course, and their daughter, will head to Fort Carson, Colo. While there, Kelly will spend about two years training to run marathons in the WCAP’s Track and Field section. Her goal is to make the Olympic trials, which will be held during the summer of 2012, in Houston, Texas.

“I get to go just train; my job is going to be a professional athlete in the Army,” she said, adding, “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Calway’s life-long goal is to compete in the Olympics.

In December 2007, she submitted her application and portfolio, and was accepted based on her running times. Calway aims to improve her time while at Fort Carson. Last year she reached her fastest time at the Boston Marathon, when she dashed across the finish line at 2 hours, 59 minutes and 45 seconds.

The athlete program assigned Kelly a coach, who provides a monthly schedule that requires Calway to run about 80 miles each week.

“It’s a lot of work; especially to be working fulltime and having a family,” she said. “I did it in college and it wasn’t that big of a deal, but now I have to make dinner and put my daughter to bed. It’s hard but totally worth it.”

Her seven-days-a-week running schedule doesn’t normally allow her any days off. “Occasionally I’ll get rewarded … my coach will write ‘get a massage,’ but it’s not enjoyable because I’m in a lot of pain,” she said. “Usually once a month I’ll get a day off.”

Calway says the amount of running she does affects many aspects of her life, including her social life.

“I try to do everything, but there are mornings when I can’t go out for a hike with friends because I have to run, but I do races and end up socializing there,” she explained.

Calway said she and her husband are “totally partners.” The couple folds laundry together, she said, and if she won’t be home in time to make dinner then Chris will make it.

“We have to share the responsibilities of everything,” Calway added, noting her husband is her No. 1 supporter.

Although it seems the Calways must maintain an organized lifestyle, Kelly jokingly disagreed by noting, “I have no organizational skills. We try, but we have to be flexible.”

For instance, when Kelly found out she was accepted into the athlete training program, Chris had to immediately request to be sent to Fort Carson too.

“We’re really lucky we’ve both been able to stay in [the military] with a daughter,” Chris explained, noting he and his wife were able to have alternating deployment cycles.

Calway’s goal-oriented nature has produced a positive impact on her life, her husband said.

“She always has a goal on her mind and every day is a small goal to achieve that big one,” Chris explained, noting his wife keeps a “goal book,” which was inspired by her father.

“It always inspires me to see a soldier that could just be mediocre, go to ‘superstar’ really quickly and be able to achieve all their goals,” the Army athlete said.

Kelly said she’s not sure what life after the program will bring, but she’d like to take command of the WCAP Company, and has visions of managing its social networking tools and recruiting program.

Calway has one piece of advice that she gives to everyone: “Hard work pays off.”

“Running more generally pays off,” she said, “so hard work, putting in the mileage and speed workouts definitely pay off.

“Setting goals and achieving them is always motivation.”

DVIDS
By Jennifer Caprioli

The Aryan race conquered India centuries ago, giving it many positive attribute. Perhaps the most important of these was the beauty of their women. Oh, and a warrior spirit. So, here’s a beautiful Indian woman with a warrior spirit.

Sonika Kaliraman

Sonika Kaliraman is a rarity – she is one of 200 Indian women who wrestle professionally, and one of only about 50 women who can represent India in international championships.

She is tall and graceful – and it’s hard to imagine her tossing opponents onto a wrestling mat.

But Sonika, 26, is the daughter of India’s wrestling champion, Chandgi Ram.

She has been living her father’s dream for 10 years now, and hopes for success in next year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi. She won gold at the Asian Women Wrestling Championship in 2000.

BBC

Sonika proudly talks about her family of wrestlers and her father, “I belong to a family of wrestlers and my father has been a very well known name in the Indian wrestling community. It was because of my father that I was forced to learn the game. Women’s wrestling is not popular in India. Since kushti is considered a male domain, my father encouraged me to excel in the game.”

SonikaKaliraman.com

The Soulja Girlz, the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)'s powder puff football team, set out to defend the opponent's passing attack, during the game Nov. 14 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Photo by Spc. John Stimac

Football season is well underway and the cheers and roars on Friday and Saturday nights at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, belong to the women.

The 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Soulja Girlz is one of 10 Powder Puff football teams that play twice a week at JBB.

Spc. Chanell Shropshire, supply clerk with the 13th ESC and a Jacksonville, Fla., native, said she and Cpl. Mariah L. Robins put the team together.

“We sent out a mass e-mail for anyone in the 13th ESC that wants to play,” said Shropshire. “If someone doesn’t have a team, they can play with us or any of the other teams as well.”

She said civilians are also allowed on the teams.

Shropshire said it is too late to sign up now, but another season may be in the works due to the success and positive response to this year’s season.

According to JBB’s flag football Web site, the rules follow the general guidelines of flag football. It is designed to be a game of speed, skill, ability and cunning, not a physical, pounding or pushing game. Good sportsmanship and fair play is of utmost importance and should be exercised at all times, said the site.

Shropshire said she enjoys the games because they relieve stress.

“This gives females an opportunity to play and it is something different than the usual female sports they offer here,” said Shropshire.

She said she believes this is the first powder puff football season here.

Robins, a supply specialist with the 13th ESC and a New Iberia, La., native, said the experience has been good for her so far. She said on her last deployment, she did not play any sports.

“Lots of companies in the past did not participate and there was really nothing else to play besides basketball for females,” she said. “I’ve seen them try to get flag football for females going before and this time they actually stuck with it.

“This is something different to get our minds off of all the stresses at work and it’s also a chance to meet new people from the other units as well.”

Robins said sometimes the games get competitive.

“I think we need a little bit of that on the field,” she said. “It makes it exciting and adds to the game. Overall, everybody out here shows good sportsmanship.”

The main reason they are out there is to have a good time, Robins said.

“I am happy that people are coming out here to support us,” she said. “We have gotten some unexpected visitors and I hope more people come out to support us in the future.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. John Stimac

Let’s go to the tape.

Elizabeth Ann Lambert is a 21 year old junior at the University of New Mexico. During the Lobo’s soccer semi-final match against BYU, she was video taped acting more like a WWE wrestler than a college soccer star.

She is seen yanking the long hair of BYU forward Kassidy Shumway, throwing the opposing player to the ground motionless. It is not the only violence on tape, just the most shocking.

Lambert has been suspended indefinitely by the league and her college. She released a statement of apology:

"I am deeply and wholeheartedly regretful for my actions," said Lambert. "My actions were uncalled for. I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation. I take full responsibility for my actions and accept any punishment felt necessary from the coaching staff and UNM administration. This is in no way indicative of my character or the soccer player that I am. I am sorry to my coaches and teammates for any and all damages I have brought upon them. I am especially sorry to BYU and the BYU women’s soccer players that were personally affected by my actions. I have the utmost respect for the BYU women’s soccer program and its players."

It was a close match, with BYU winning 1-0 in the end. BYU advances to the conference final with the win.

At the time of this story, the You Tube video had been seen more than 725,000 times. It has created an Internet sensation.

While still wearing combat boots, an Iraqi Army soldier assigned to the 45th IA Brigade, 11th IA Division kicks a soccer ball during a joint soccer tournament at Combat Outpost Carver, Baghdad, Iraq. Two semi-final games were played Oct. 12 to determine which teams will play in the championship game Oct. 16 in Salman Pak stadium. Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell

“It doesn’t matter where you come from,” said Dakar, Senegal, native, Spc. Mour Diop. “I wasn’t thinking about ‘Hey, they’re Iraqis!’ I was thinking about, we’re all friends when we step on the field.”

Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and Soldiers from the 45th Iraqi Army Brigade, 11th IA Division, teamed up together to compete in the semi-finals of the Panther Soccer Tournament, Oct. 12 on Combat Outpost Carver, here.

Each U.S. airborne company fielded a team intermingled with their IA counterparts to play against each other in the spirit of camaraderie and partnership.

Diop, a human resources specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, has been playing soccer for more than 30 years and, like most of the other paratroopers, enjoyed the time he spent with his IA counterparts.

“Even though we do missions together, it’s nice to get to know [the IA] on a first name basis,” said Sgt. Daniel Dukin, an infantry team leader from Queens, N.Y., “Out on mission, it’s a part of a job but here when we play together, it’s for fun.”

The competition was fierce as paratroopers and IA Soldiers from all over southeastern Baghdad came together to play soccer and enjoy lunch.

For Soldiers like Dukin, the impact of the day’s events is felt off the field as well.

“It brings us closer together when we go out there on mission together,” added Dukin, assigned to Company B. “Next time we see them out in sector; we can share a handshake and talk about the game.”

The event organizer and referee, 1st Lt. Paul Wistermayor from Denville, N.J., agreed that the implications of the soccer competition run deeper than just bragging rights.

“It lets us work closer with the IA and the easier it is for them to trust us and listen to us … then the better we become together as a team,” explained Wistermayor. “It’s just another step … another compilation of Soldiers working together.”

The tournament is the second one that the paratroopers have held with their IA counterparts and things weren’t always as easy.

“The first time we got together, it wasn’t as smooth, but four months of working together on and off the field, you can tell they make a good team,” added Wistermayor.

In preparation for the tournament, the paratroopers and IA soldiers have been practicing during their downtime at their different bases, which has made a huge difference in their communication and teamwork, explained Wistermayor.

Another difference that has improved relations is that each team had a professional appearance with matching uniforms donated by the program Kicks for Nick, a program set up by the parents of a fallen 82nd paratrooper.

“The uniforms add a little bit of professionalism and that pride factor that’s really important,” Wistermayor said. “When they wear that uniform again, they can look back on the memories they made with us.”

For now, the chance to make more memories isn’t over yet. Two of the four teams advanced to the finals Oct. 16 in a stadium at Salman Pak, here. For these soldiers, it really doesn’t matter where they are from but that they going there as a team.

DVIDS
Story by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell