Stennis Strongman Builds Camaraderie
Story Number: NNS090422-10
Release Date: 4/22/2009 9:07:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist Kevin Murphy
USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- USS John C. Stennis Weapons Department won the Stennis Strongman 2009 competition when they out-muscled six other teams from USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9.
Sailors and Marines from five divisions and one squadron competed in Stennis' first strongman contest on the flight deck and in the hangar bay April 19.
Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Trent Carter, weighing 140 pounds, led weapons department's team and climbed 226 feet of rope in two minutes on the Viper CT rope climber.
Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Matthew White, weighing 290 pounds, led engineering's team and won best lift competition by dead-lifting 675 pounds.
"I've been doing strongman competitions for eight years," said White. "I am a competitor. That is what I do."
"He wanted to lift more, but we simply ran out of weights," said Joshua Burkhard, afloat fitness director, who coordinated the competition.
Each division had a four-man team. The eight-hour contest consisted of a four-man tractor pull, tug-of-war, bench press, dead lift and rope climb.
In the first test of strength, four-man teams from each division pulled a 13,080 pound flight deck tractor on the flight deck, with Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Handling (AW) Derrick Broadous sitting in the driver seat.
"The weight felt like someone was squeezing and choking my neck from the front," said Gunnery Sgt. Nicholas Brown, a member of the team from the "Death Rattlers" of Strike Fighter Squadron 323.
"I wish they would have let me pull an EA-6B Prowler down the flight deck," said White, whose team pulled in the fastest time of 26 seconds.
Another highlight was the individual bench press. Carter bench-pressed 265 pounds.
"I couldn't sleep when I heard about the competition," said Carter. "I love it. This contest was a lot of fun."
Throughout the contest, the teams cheered for each other, because even though they were on different teams, they were still one crew.
"I feel this is lifting the morale," said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Joseph Bottjer, from the supply department. "The competition brings us together. Even though we're all trying to win, all the heart and determination we put forth motivates us all and makes it fun."
The last event was the rope climber.
"That machine killed my arms," said Engineman 3rd Class Elson Espirtu. "It only hurt for a while, but tomorrow I'll be sore for sure."
The first, second and third place winners in the team and individual categories received cash prizes from Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
"I had a great time," said Burkhard. "I think the guys really enjoyed it. It challenged them and helped build camaraderie at the same time. They helped each other and came together like a family. I am looking forward to putting on another competition in the future."
