Athletes, Volunteers Are All Winners at Valor Games

On Wednesday, Cameron Indoor Stadium was once again filled with well-executed fast breaks, taut defense and cheering students. But this time, the players on both teams were winners.

The event was wheelchair basketball, part of the 2016 Valor Games Southeast, which held the second of three days of competition at Duke University. Hosted by Bridge II Sports, the Valor Games are for disabled military veterans and serves as an adaptive sporting event, helping the veterans build self-confidence and camaraderie and have an outlet for athletic competition.

“Our military are athletes,” said Ashley Thomas, executive director and founder of Bridge II Sports. “These adaptive sports are a big step in rebuilding the heart and mind.”

Veterans competed in wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing, archery and powerlifting. Around 125 athletes participated, with a similar number of volunteers staging the games and helping the athletes.

The games occurred under ideal conditions. Outside at the archery range, a warm, bright sun hung overhead the Cameron Indoor Stadium as groups of yellow-shirted volunteers moved around helping the blue-shirted competitors. A misting tent in front of the Card gym sprayed cooling water, as men and women stepped up to the archery station with smiles on their faces, ready for friendly competition.

Veterans took to the court at Cameron Indoor Stadium as part of the Valor Games Wednesday. Photo by DeVante Campbell

Inside Cameron, the famous stadium was divided between wheelchair basketball and indoor rowing events. Divided between blue and white teams, the basketball players showed enough crisp passing and dogged defense to impress Coach K.

While the athletics was the center of the event, the chance to meet and talk with fellow veterans was just as important.

“The Valor Games caught my attention, because it got me out of my house,” said Arodis Rodriguez, a retired staff sergeant from Fayetteville. “Seeing different vets from different eras inspired me. It shows us that we can still do things we think we couldn’t. Knowing is half the battle.”

“It’s great camaraderie,” said Craig Zaleski, retired Air Force master sergeant, who drove from Montgomery, Ala., to compete in the games. He hopes to participate in a future Invictus Games, international Paralympic-style multi-sport event for disabled veterans, created by Britain's Prince Harry. He said he was impressed by the reception the athletes received in North Carolina. “When we came in on the buses, we had an escort and people were pulling to the side to let us by. Hopefully, they know why they’re pulling over.”

“For the vets, this is a huge part of their recovery,” Meredith Blum, a manager with Bridge II Sports said. “For them to come out with other people with the same experiences. To help them through this recovery is an experience.”

The veterans weren’t the only ones getting joy out of the Valor Games. For the volunteers, many of whom were from Duke (see video above), it was a chance to give back to people they see as heroes.

“This is my second year volunteering at the games,” Kevin Oxendine said. “It inspires you as to what they can still do. They don’t see these as obstacles, they see them as a challenge.”

Eric O'Neal and DeVante Campbell are students at NC Central University who are working this summer as communications interns at Duke University.