AFW2 announces 2019 Warrior Games team Published March 22, 2019 By Shawn Sprayberry Air Force Wounded Warrior Program JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, or AFW2, is proud to announce the 2019 Air Force Warrior Games team. A team of coaches and staff selected 40 primary and ten alternates at the 6th Annual Air Force Trials at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March 7th. The 40-person team will go on to compete at the Department of Defense Warrior Games in Tampa, Florida, June 21-30. The DoD Warrior Games is a Paralympic-style competitive event featuring 11 different sports: archery, cycling, track and field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track, wheelchair basketball and, for the first time in Warrior Games history, indoor rowing, powerlifting and time-trial cycling. “While the Warrior Games is a competitive event it is more about resiliency and recovery, these competitors are going out to show everyone how adaptive sports have helped them and will walk away with their personal bests in whatever sport they compete in,” said Col. Michael Flatten, AFW2 director. “I am hoping they bring home a lot of medals but, in the end, I am really hoping they see themselves as part of a team that will help them achieve their very best.” An emotional interview with retired Tech. Sgt. Chunte Gonzalez displayed the common theme of pride in being part of the team. She said, “To represent the Air Force again, I can’t even describe in words what that means to me. It is more than an honor. I just want to make the Air Force proud, just like I did when I served. It feels so good.” The team is made up of a mixture of active, Guard and Reserve Airmen and veterans. “We’re really excited by this new team,” said Marsha Gonzales, AFW2 support branch chief. “Over 50 percent are AFW2 members who have never competed with us before. I certainly echo Col. Flatten’s comments, the Warrior Games is meant to highlight how important adaptive sports are in recovery. Our team will do well no matter what and we look forward to seeing them compete alongside their brothers and sisters in arms.” The primary athletes are: Master Sgt. Blanca Baquero-Cruz Airman 1st Class John Berry Staff Sgt. Bryon Brightman Retired Senior Airman Brett Campfield Retired Staff Sgt. Kristina Coble Retired Staff Sgt. Christina Davila-Lucier Retired Master Sgt. Joshua Faine Tech. Sgt. Steven Fourman Retired Tech. Sgt. Larry Franklin Senior Airman DeMarcus Garrett Master Sgt. Lisa Goad Retired Tech. Sgt. Chunte Gonzalez Staff Sgt. Kevin Greene Master Sgt. Kenneth Guinn Retired Master Sgt. Shanon Hampton Retired Capt. Quinn Harrington Retired Capt. Lawrence Hufford Retired Chief Master Sgt. Garrett Kuwada Tech. Sgt. Roann Leatz Retired Staff Sgt. Jordan Lee-Fatt Master Sgt. Melissa Martinez Retired Tech. Sgt. Jayson McCoy Retired Maj. Lisa McCranie Retired Capt. Kristen Morris Retired Tech. Sgt. Melissa Nueva Retired Senior Airman Joseph Pate Retired Staff Sgt. Seth Pena Retired Tech. Sgt. Michele Prindle Retired Senior Airman Lucas Purser Retired Tech. Sgt. Ricardo Rivera Retired Master Sgt. Andres Rodriguez Retired Tech. Sgt. William Royster Retired Tech. Sgt. Joshua Smith Staff Sgt. Melinda Smith Senior Master Sgt. David Snyder Tech. Sgt. Justice Stevens Senior Airman Brandon Sullivan Staff Sgt. Aaron “Craig” Taylor Master Sgt. Brian Williams Capt. Heather Wright The alternate athletes are: Senior Airman Karah Behrend Staff Sgt. Brian Biviano Senior Airman Faith Donato Tech. Sgt. Nicole Favuzza Retired Maj. Kenneth Hinton Master Sgt. Roger Hopkins Lt. Col. Jason Howell Retired Master Sgt. David Lee Retired Staff Sgt. William Preston Follow the action at https://dodwarriorgames.com/ or on AFW2’s social media sites at www.facebook.com/airforcewoundedwarrior, www.twitter.com/afw2, and www.instagram.com/afw2. AFW2 will keep you updated throughout the weeks and days leading up to the competition with athlete profiles and information about upcoming competitions.