Warrior Profiles

A little about Me

Q. What are your short and long term goals (personal, professional, recovery-related, etc.)?
A. For recovery my goal is to remain sober from alcohol, to get a year of sobriety. Long term is to achieve permanent sobriety. I would like to be able to decrease the amount of nightmares I have, as well as the headaches. Physical aspect, my sports goal is to be able to become a primary athlete for next year’s games as well as to improve in all the events and either make wheelchair basketball or the sitting volleyball team. I hope to make the US Soccer Paralympic team for 2017. Another short term goal is to make the Florida region sitting volleyball team. Long term is to be a high school coach and teacher

Q. How did your Service’s Wounded Warrior Program (Warrior Transition Unit, Wounded Warrior Regiment, Other Service Wounded Warrior Unit) assigned or previously assigned to enhance your recovery?
A. It enhanced my recovery by allowing me to be a mentor and share my story as well as be able to help other people. It also gave me a network of individuals that I could contact any time I’m in a time of crisis. It also helped me through the art and rock to recovery program- those two programs really helped me and I found my passion. It’s helped me with my physical fitness as well as my overall mental and spiritual resiliency because it helped me gain passion.

Q. What is the significance of sports/competition? How has it helped you? What does it mean to you?
A. The sports and competition mean a lot to me because not only is the military 1% of the nation but I’m competing against the top 1% of them. The top warriors are trying to be at their best, and I’m trying to be at my best. If you’re going to complete an event and get a personal record, it’s instant morale boost. Makes you feel great.

Q. What advice do you have for future athletes?
A. To give it 100 percent and then find a sport that they really like and master that sport. Also if they want to increase their physical and spiritual state, this program is perfect. It’s not just focused on sports- it focuses on all different types of things and it’s so positive. Train hard and remember at the end of the day you’re not just representing just yourself you are representing the United States Air Force.

Q. Who has supported you in your training? How?
A. In my training Larry O’Neil has supported me a lot. Larry has helped me with volleyball and I talk to him on the phone a lot- Lindsey and Daniel, the swimming coaches. Before I couldn’t even imagine swimming, let alone jumping off into the water. They have been a big inspiration. Richie and Eric, the track coaches have helped me out a lot to show me what I need to do to get where I need to be. The cycling coaches as well, and the army sitting volleyball coach. Wes Greer with the Rock to Recovery- he calls me all the time, and checks up on me, he doesn’t have to do that, but he does. Greg Miller with the painting, there’s a lot of times where he even helps me after a session. All of the team mates, Jen Stone, she keeps me motivated. Really the whole team has kept me motivated. Everyone with the program. My coaches have really helped to get me to the next level. My 3 daughters, Victoria, Madeleine, Katherine, have helped me- they are going to be my guests at the games. They have been a big inspiration. They challenge me and try to beat me.