BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Dirt kicks up as the runner slides into home. The catcher is too late to tag the runner out. The dugout erupts. The runner is safe, and just won a very close game of kickball.
Team Buckley hosted the 2019 Sports and Field Day to promote healthy competition among the many different units and tenant units at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., Oct. 8, 2019.
“For that one day, they all get to get out of the office and have some fun,'' said Gerald Cummings, the Buckley Fitness Center sports program manager.
The event began at 8 a.m. with opening words from Col. Richard Bourquin, 460th Space Wing vice commander, followed by a quick safety brief from Cummings. The sporting events started shortly after the briefing at the fitness center, track, softball fields, and Panther Hall.
“This is a great opportunity to get away from your desk for a little bit and participate in some friendly competition,” said Bourquin. “Get to know your unit and the units around you a little better and build that connection.”
Some events were done individually, and some as a team. Around 460 participants belonging to 14 units competed in a collection of sporting events such as: archery, 400 meter sprints, 7-on-7 soccer, 3-on-3 basketball, volleyball, racquetball, rowing, and even eSports.
“We provided a variety of sporting events to reach all audiences, compared to just having traditional sports that would only have reached a small amount of individuals,” said Cummings.
Units competed against each other with a point system that tracked the entry, placement, and volunteers from each unit. 25 points were awarded for participating in an event as an individual or a team.
If a team finished in first place for an event, they would receive 100 points, 75 for second place, 50 for third place, and 25 for fourth place. Each unit had the opportunity to volunteer an individual for 5 points each, with the cap being at 25 points.
Trophies were handed out to the top three teams. For first place, there was a tie between the 460th Civil Engineer Squadron and the 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion. Both teams had a total of 565 points, with the runner up being the 460th Contracting Squadron with 462.5 points. Third place belonged to the 460th Space Wing with a total of 387.5 points.
“Today was amazing,” said Staff Sgt. Aaron Kind, a 460th Comptroller Squadron financial operations technician. “We got to come out and be really competitive, but still have a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to next years event.”